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Keeping the general aviation industry connected
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ASTM's Standards Now FREE for AEA Shops
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In an ongoing effort to provide valuable tools to help repair station members maintain the GA fleet, the Aircraft Electronics Association has negotiated a contract to allow access to all of the ASTM aviation standards. The available standards include those for the continuing airworthiness of the general aviation fleet, from light-sport aircraft to the new Part 23, as well as the foundational maintenance of electrical wire interconnect systems for the legacy GA fleet. This unique partnership also will include access to standards for technician certification.
More information can be found on the AEA website with a member login and password. After connecting to the website, click on the button to access Compass. Once at the Compass site, you must register an account that will be set up under the AEA's access. Once you are registered and logged in to Compass, you will be able to search for standards, etc.
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Next AEA Members-Only Webinar Set for April 28; Previous Webinars Now Available Online
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The AEA has scheduled a series of webinars to cover all the regulatory topics that were missed at the AEA Convention. Members can participate on the AEA website at
AEA.net/webinars with their member login and password. If you missed the April 21 webinar on Part 43: The Business of Aircraft Maintenance, it is now available to review by scrolling down the page to past webinars. Below is the schedule for the next few weeks, and more sessions will be added later in the spring.
FAA Drug and Alcohol Inspection Items: Be prepared for your next audit –
Tuesday, April 28 (3 p.m. EDT)
Did you know that inspectors are not required to provide advanced notice of an audit? During this presentation, attendees will learn the best methods to keep their anti-drug and alcohol misuse prevention program on track. This includes going through the audit checklist, understanding program requirements and keeping organized for a violation-free inspection.
Beyond ADS-B Installations: Continued Airworthiness –
Thursday, May 7 (3 p.m. EDT)
As the ADS-B mandated Jan. 1, 2020, deadline has now come and gone, it is time to look toward the continued airworthiness of these new systems. What checks and inspections are required of the new systems? How to manage software updates with approved “paired” systems such as GNSS or transponders? What are the post-validation requirements for changes within approved ADS-B systems? This session is designed to answer your questions about the continued airworthiness of the ADS-B installed technology.
Part 145: How to Implement and Manage a Repair Station Capability List –
Tuesday, May 12 (3 p.m. EDT)
Knowing a business’ capabilities is a fundamental element of any successful business. This session looks at the regulatory requirement of 14 CFR 145.215 and the practical application of this requirement for all limited rated repair stations.
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Avionics Training Excellence Award Application Deadline Extended to May 1
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The annual Avionics Training Excellence award recognizes AEA members for their total commitment to training. Pilots and aircraft owners may not be aware of the avionics industry’s dedication to technician training. For decades, the AEA has led the way with comprehensive programs to cover everything from the basics to advanced avionics instruction. A total commitment to training by AEA member companies and the recognition of the Avionics Training Excellence Award are an easy way for members to demonstrate their dedication to professional career development and assure their customers of a higher level of service.
To qualify, an AEA member company must submit a completed application for recognition form and provide proof of participation in an AEA-recognized training event for every employed technician from January to December of the award year. This year’s deadline has been extended to May 1, 2020.
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AEA Names 2020 Award Winners
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Two prestigious industry awards were recently announced, and each recipient will be honored during one of the AEA Connect Conferences scheduled for later this year.
Each award winner was selected in a vote by the full AEA membership, which means the winners are truly recognized by their peers for their service and participation in the industry and the association.
Kevin Miesbach of Duncan Aviation was named the 2020 AEA Member of the Year, while EDMO Distributors was honored as the AEA Associate Member of the Year.
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Transport Canada Response to the COVID-19 Crisis
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As a result of the pandemic, Transport Canada Civil Aviation has responded quickly to the needs of the industry in order to allow all those able to continue some form of business to do so within the bounds of the requirements. TCCA has also effectively switched to having most staff members work remotely, maintaining a high level of coordination and contact.
TCCA has issued several exemptions and interim guidance documents that officially allows operators and maintainers to operate without the worry of exceeding some time limit or expiry date. These exemptions include PPC check extension periods, aerodrome emergency plan testing extensions and AME licensing extensions.
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2019 GA and Part 135 Activity Survey
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The 42nd annual General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey is now underway. It is the Federal Aviation Administration's primary source of information about the size and activity of the general aviation and on-demand Part 135 fleet. The survey is conducted on behalf of the FAA by Tetra Tech, an independent research firm, and all survey responses are confidential. Tetra Tech would like to hear from everyone who received an invitation to complete the survey to prepare accurate statistics on aviation activity. The GA Survey is a scientific sample of aircraft from the Civil Aviation Registry. If you have questions, please contact Tetra Tech at 800-826-1797 or email
infoaviationsurvey@tetratech.com.
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Aero-News Spotlights New Avionics Products
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Unfortunately, the AEA's New Product Introduction session was canceled in late March when the AEA Convention could not take place in Nashville due to the coronavirus outbreak.
For more than a decade, Aero-News Network has provided live coverage of the AEA's New Product Introduction session during the convention's opening day. This ever-popular event typically involves dozens of new product reveals that are showcased in rapid-fire succession. Although this session did not take place this year, Aero-News produced its own video program that captures the highlights from those companies that chose to move forward with the introduction of a new product. The media outlet's "Avionics Innovation Preview 2020" program is available at
Airborne-live.net.
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CASA Announces Assistance to Maintenance Organisations
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In a 31 March 2020 notice, Shane Carmody, chief executive officer and director of aviation safety, announced CASA's assistance to organisations involved in the continuing airworthiness of aircraft during COVID-19. The following is from Carmody's notice.
"The actions of various levels of government to stop the spread of COVID-19 continue to evolve rapidly, and I am conscious that you have many challenges in front of you as you adapt to this changing environment.
"In recognition of these difficulties, CASA has been phasing in the introduction of various general exemptions for a number of authorisations or permissions related to the continuing airworthiness of aircraft. These are designed to proportionally manage safety risks while providing relief."
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Registration Open for AEA Connect Conferences
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Join aviation's technology experts at one of the upcoming AEA Connect Conferences later this year. Online registration is available for both attendees and exhibitors. The schedule is as follows:
Sept. 10-11: AEA Canada (Calgary, Alberta)
Sept. 23-24: AEA East (Naples, Florida)
Oct. 19-20: AEA Central (Kansas City, Missouri)
Oct. 27-28: AEA West (Irvine, California)
Nov. 10-11: AEA South Pacific (Queenstown, New Zealand)
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Request Your FREE
AEA Pilot’s Guide
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The
AEA Pilot’s Guide is a consumer’s directory loaded with educational articles, timely information and data about the ever-changing world of avionics technologies. In addition to a complete directory of AEA-member government-certified repair stations, avionics manufacturers and distributors located in more than 40 countries, the publication features educational articles to help pilots and aircraft owners make better buying decisions. Individuals residing in the United States may request a free copy while supplies last.
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On the Radar: Upcoming Industry Events
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FAA UAS Symposium
Baltimore, Maryland
June 16-18, 2020
The Symposium will bring together representatives from the FAA, other government agencies, industry, and academia. The presenters and panelists will discuss the latest information and advancements related to the diverse uses of unmanned aircraft, and how these new entrants are being safely integrated into the National Airspace System.
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EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
July 20-26, 2020
Experience the largest annual gathering of aviation enthusiasts. From unique, historic aircraft to world-class daily air shows, you don’t want to miss the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration. The AEA will be distributing free copies of this year's
AEA Pilot's Guide in Hangar B, booth 2035/2036.
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AUVSI XPONENTIAL
Boston, Massachusetts
Aug. 10-12, 2020 (tentative rescheduled date)
At the world’s largest event for unmanned and autonomous systems, explore today’s proven capabilities and tomorrow’s advancements through hands-on exhibits and interactive demos.
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AEA Canada Connect Conference
Calgary, Alberta
Sept. 10-11, 2020
Join shop owners, managers and lead technicians for the latest regulatory and technical training at the Sheraton Cavalier Hotel. Advance registration is open through Sept. 2 for individuals to attend and for companies to exhibit.
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AEA U.S. East Connect Conference
Naples, Florida
Sept. 23-24, 2020
Join shop owners, managers and lead technicians for the latest regulatory and technical training at the Naples Grande Hotel. Advance registration is open through Sept. 18 for individuals to attend and for companies to exhibit.
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AEA U.S. Central Connect Conference
Kansas City, Missouri
Oct. 19-20, 2020
Join shop owners, managers and lead technicians for the latest regulatory and technical training at the Hilton Kansas City Airport. Advance registration is open through Oct. 14 for individuals to attend and for companies to exhibit.
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GigaFlight Quickly Connects With Customers
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In Greendale, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee, GigaFlight Connectivity offers high-performance specialty electronic cables, connectors and cable assemblies for use in military, commercial and general aviation aircraft. But they’re hardly the only ones.
There are 33 electronic cable manufacturers in Wisconsin, according to the Wiring Harness Manufacturer’s Association based just across the Wisconsin-Illinois border outside of Chicago. Most are located near the state’s largest city and supply the aerospace and aviation industries. In the four-state region – Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana – the tally jumps to 173.
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HUD Virtual-Reality Trainer From Collins Aerospace
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The new Collins Aerospace HUD VR trainer is as much a high-end gaming system as it is a professional-level aircraft systems simulator. The system consists of a high-end laptop computer that is combined with a unique implementation of virtual-reality technology, rehosted avionics software, and stunningly accurate out-the-window imagery. All of which is managed by Collins Aerospace’s proprietary CORE simulation architecture.
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$100 Mystery Make and Model Challenge
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Congratulations to Brad Miller of Textron Aviation Service, who won a $100 Visa gift card, courtesy of Southeast Aerospace, for being the first person to submit the correct answer in this month's Mystery Make and Model challenge featured in the previous issue of
AEA Wired. The control head is a C-506A.
Avionics technicians can put their "inside" knowledge to work in the next issue of
AEA Wired. Stay tuned for the next Mystery Make and Model challenge!
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Avionics Training and Professional Development Classes
Register quickly, as most classes sell out!
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Certified Repair Station Training
June 1-5, 2020
Lee's Summit, Missouri
This weeklong course provides an interactive environment to learn, understand and implement the regulations that govern repair station design and operations. Current quality managers, technicians, mechanics, and repairmen who are involved in the management of a repair station as well as individuals looking to establish a 14 CFR Part 145 repair station should attend. This course will include a complete review of the FAA guidance and policy regarding the procedures to assure a repair station is operating within the criteria of its manuals.
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Basic Wiring & Avionics Installation
June 15-17, 2020
Lee's Summit, Missouri
This course is designed for certificated repairmen, new avionics technicians, aviation maintenance technicians and recent graduates interested in improving or acquiring the skills necessary to perform avionics installations. This three-day seminar employs in-depth theory and hands-on lab exercises to immerse the attendee in the best practices used to plan, manage, and install a general aviation avionics panel.
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Basic Pitot-Static & Transponder Theory, Testing & Troubleshooting
June 18-19, 2020
Lee's Summit, Missouri
This course is designed for entry-level avionics technicians or those looking for basic training on pitot-static and aircraft transponder systems. This two-day course covers the history and theory of operation of pitot-static instruments and transponders, as well as system setup, hands-on testing, and the troubleshooting skills necessary to perform Federal Aviation Regulations 91.411 and 91.413 checks.
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Avionics Installation for Experimental Aircraft
Aug. 5-7, 2020
Lee's Summit, Missouri
This course is designed for the homebuilder or avionics technician who is looking for guidance in completing an avionics installation on an experimental aircraft. While the Garmin G3X Touch system is used as an example in the course, the wiring principles and general guidance can be applied to any experimental avionics system. From the do-it-yourselfer to the avionics shop looking to carve a niche, this class has something for everyone.
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Avionics Installation and Integration Training
Aug. 12-14, 2020
Lee's Summit, Missouri
This course is designed for technicians who have completed the AEA’s Basic Wiring & Avionics Installation Course and/or have a couple years of basic avionics installation practice and are looking for more experience integrating common general aviation installations. Technicians will learn how to plan, install, interface, configure and check out an installation consisting of a Garmin GTN 650 touch screen nav/com/GPS, Garmin GTX 345 transponder and an Aspen EFD1000 primary flight display.
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Bench Basics and Flight Line Troubleshooting
Aug. 17-19, 2020
Lee's Summit, Missouri
This course is designed for technicians who have completed the AEA’s Basic Wiring course and/or have a couple of years of basic avionics installation practice, familiar with basic soldering skills and are looking for experience in LRU bench testing and avionics flight line testing. ADS-B transponder systems, nav/ILS and VHF comms will be the focus of study. Technicians will fabricate a general-purpose test panel, a bench test harness, and a transponder test harness that they will use in the course. Attendees will keep their fabricated test panel and harness projects.
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Pitot-Static and Transponder Testing and Inspection with ADS-B Implementation
Aug. 20, 2020
Lee's Summit, Missouri
Attendees will learn the proper methods for conducting pitot-static and transponder tests and inspections. This full-day course offers hands-on training, including a regulatory review and an explanation of the proper administrative procedures for completing these critical certifications. With so many questions surrounding ADS-B, this course will provide the answers and what you need to know.
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IFR6000 Operations
Aug. 21, 2020
Lee's Summit, Missouri
This course is designed to provide maintenance personnel with the knowledge and skills required to operate the IFR6000 to verify and maintain Transponder, UAT, TCAS, and DME systems.
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The Regulations of Maintenance
Oct. 22-23, 2020
Orlando, Florida
Understanding the regulations of the repair station is only part of the equation. Like pieces of a puzzle, each regulation is needed to fit together in order to fully view the repair station’s requirements. Understanding the regulatory relationship between the business (Part 145); the maintenance it performs (Part 43); the parts it uses (Part 21); as well as the needs of customers (Part 91) are essential to provide regulatory compliant services in aviation maintenance. This session will cover the basics of the maintenance and modification regulations, but more importantly, it focuses on their integrated relationship with the business.
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News from AEA Member Companies
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Safe Flight Instrument Corp. of White Plains, New York, developed and manufactured a 3-D printed four-way ventilator splitter to aid hospitals treating COVID-19 patients.
Carolina GSE announce a new affiliation with Flight Data Systems. Carolina GSE will become an authorized reseller for flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder testing equipment.
AeroBrigham announced the recent installation of the newly released Garmin GI 275 electronic instrumentation into the Air Tractor Fire Boss AT802A/B amphibious scooper air tanker.
Gulf Coast Avionics recently completed and delivered its first three-display Garmin G500TXi touchscreens and GFC500 digital autopilot upgrade on a legacy single-engine Piper 6X.
West Star Aviation is continuing to operate at all of its full-service and satellite locations as an essential business in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company instituted multi-level safety and mitigation procedures as a way to better protect employees, customers and their assets.
Aspen Avionics announces the readers of
Flieger Magazine selected Aspen’s Evolution E5 EFI the best new product in the avionics category.
Thomas Global Systems received EASA STC approval for its TFD-7000 Series plug-and-play LCD flight displays for Boeing 757 and 767 cathode ray tube-equipped aircraft. It is the first EASA-approved retrofit of its kind for Boeing 757-200/300 and 767-200/300 aircraft.
Satcom Direct is launching a new webinar series to ensure customers remain continually informed and updated about SD products, services and partner relationships. Grouped by product category, the inaugural webinars will explain the latest SD updates and product enhancements by delivering content created in direct response to customer queries and information requests.
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Duncan Aviation announced that Pete Marte has accepted the position as manager of the company’s satellite avionics shops in White Plains, New York, and Oxford, Connecticut. In the last year, Duncan Aviation’s Engineering & Certification Services team has responded to requests for an array of projects, including completing 18 new and amended STCs for customers in the industry, with eight additional projects in progress, and more than a dozen new proposals for STCs in the initial stages. Duncan Aviation will host a webinar about Data Comm with Universal Avionics, April 28, at 10 a.m. CT. Duncan Aviation recently worked with a longtime customer to refurbish a Gulfstream IV-SP to better operate as a corporate shuttle for up to 14 passengers. Duncan Aviation also is making masks and gowns for front line workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Mark White has accepted the position of Gulfstream sales representative at the company’s full-service facility in Provo, Utah. Duncan Aviation also was named the Honeywell Channel Partner of the Year and Dealer of the Year for 2019.
Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems will relocate its Nashville operation to nearby Smyrna Airport. Located just 12 miles from its current location, and still only minutes to downtown Nashville, the Stevens hangar will be part of the Hollingshead Aviation FBO campus.
ACI Jet announced a new program for aircraft that have been sitting in extended ground time and require de-preservation, system servicing and operational checks, and other required maintenance prior to being approved for return to service. The mobile Return to Service program offers program participants a guaranteed labor rate reduction of 10% for inspections and maintenance required to return aircraft to service after long-duration ground time.
FlightSafety International now provides the ground school portion of its recurrent training programs online through the instructor-led LiveLearning training system. The company also announced that FlightSmart, the company’s new integrated pilot performance evaluation and training tool, has successfully completed acceptance testing at the Columbus Air Force Base. FlightSafety International was awarded a new contract to provide multi-country KC-46 aircrew and maintenance training.
Avotek is helping schools by recently launching Avotek-Online and went live with 20 courses to help present AMT material to students. With the current move to online learning, these courses are available in different combinations. Schools may purchase access to each subject individually, according to the subject area in Part 147 presented. This option gives the flexibility to match the material to the curriculum.
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AEA Opens the Door to Your Future: AEA.net/Jobs
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For individuals interested in pursuing professional opportunities in the avionics industry, the job listings page on the AEA website is your one-stop resource. The AEA jobs board provides informational links on how to get AET certified, an avionics technician job summary and wage review, along with scholarship opportunities within the industry. Search the AEA's job listings and see what's on your horizon. Are you up to the challenge?
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Need to Post a Job? The AEA Works for You!
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Is your business hiring? The AEA jobs board makes it easier for AEA members to find their next avionics technician, quality manager, inspector, sales representative or engineer.
AEA members may submit a free job posting after entering their username and password at
AEA.net/Jobs. Member companies that optionally choose to upgrade their job posting for a premium will have preferred online placement and also will be published in the next edition of
Avionics News. For more information about premium job listings, contact Rachel Hill, AEA advertising executive, at
rachelh@aea.net.
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Founded in 1957, the Aircraft Electronics Association represents nearly 1,300 member companies in more than 40 countries, including government-certified international repair stations specializing in maintenance, repair and installation of avionics and electronic systems in general aviation aircraft. The AEA membership also includes manufacturers of avionics equipment, instrument repair facilities, instrument manufacturers, airframe manufacturers, test equipment manufacturers, major distributors, engineers and educational institutions.
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Contact:
Aircraft Electronics Association
3570 NE Ralph Powell Road
Lee's Summit, MO 64064
Phone: 816-347-8400
Fax: 816-347-8405
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Advertising:
Rachel Hill, AEA director of advertising
Phone: 816-366-5109
The "AEA Wired" e-newsletter is published twice a month by the AEA.
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