Wading out of the inaugural year of COVID-19, those responding to the Aircraft Electronics Association’s 2021 Rate and Labor survey are overwhelmingly optimistic about their business future. With their number and geographic spread consistent with preceding surveys, about 60% expect their retrofit business to increase in the coming year, according to Mike Adamson, AEA president and chief executive officer. Approximately 40% expect business to remain the same, and you can count those predicting a decline by hand, with leftover fingers.

This optimism may be the result of an unfulfilled fear that customers would cancel scheduled work and new customers would not call during the lockdown. Like homeowners who kept remodelers busy, aircraft owners invested in expanding their operational capabilities, and the survey’s growth predictions indicate that shops expect this to continue. More...

On Nov. 8, the U.S. Department of Transportation re-opened the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection program application process one last time. It will end Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 (at precisely 7:59 p.m. Eastern time). For this final round of applications, DOT will process applications in the order received.

DOT has decided to reopen the application process because of continued questions about the relationship between the AMJP and the Employee Retention Tax Credit programs. Although the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 authorized the continuation of ERTCs beyond July 1, 2021, it did so through a separate statutory provision, rather than extending the original provision under the CARES Act. Therefore, ERTCs accrued after July 1, 2021, do not affect DOT’s ability to award an AMJP agreement to an otherwise eligible applicant.

All other requirements remain the same, including the requirement to have an active registration in the System for Award Management before submitting an AMJP application. More...

Applications are now being accepted for AEA members interested in running for a position on the AEA board of directors. To apply, your company must be an AEA member in good standing, and you must complete an application form by Dec. 17, 2021.

The applications are reviewed by the AEA Trusteeship Committee, which assembles a final slate of nominees for a vote before the full membership. The slate is assembled based on applicant experience, expertise, and areas of need for the AEA board.

A director’s term is for three years, and directors are expected to attend the AEA International Convention & Trade Show (where the annual spring board meeting is convened), as well as the annual fall board meeting. During the year, directors may be asked to volunteer time to serve on committees or complete special projects.

Member voting takes place via the AEA website in January and the winners of the election will be notified in early 2022. More...

Question: What documentation is

required for parts?

Answer: There are three answers to this question: First, the regulatory answer from a U.S.-based Part 145 repair station (and independent Part 65 maintenance organizations); second, a foreign-based FAA Part 145 covered under a Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement; and third, what your customers contractually require of you. To see the full answer in this month's Avionics News, click here.

Attention avionics technicians! How well do you think you know your avionics inside and out? New and old? Then put your knowledge to work.

What is the product make and model shown in this image?

Southeast Aerospace will award a $100 Visa gift card to a random winner from among the correct entries submitted, and the winner will be announced in the next edition of AEA Wired.

In addition, all correct answers from 2021 will be entered to win a random drawing for a $500 Visa gift card, also from Southeast Aerospace. Email your answer...

Based in Kirkland, Washington, Icom America is a distributor for Icom Inc., a publicly held company in Japan that specializes in communications equipment for aircraft and watercraft as well as amateur radios, land mobile communications systems and wide-band receivers. Icom’s products are sold in more than 80 countries around the world. Icom America brings the products to customers in most of the Americas.

On the aviation side, Icom’s communications systems include hand-held radios used by general aviation pilots as backup comms as well as commercial airline ground crews. Its A220 panel-mount transceiver is an easy installation for experimental and light-sport aircraft.

“Icom’s reputation in the amateur radio and commercial two-way markets led us to create products for the commercial airport market, particularly construction and crash vehicles as well as ground crew operations,” said Novak, who has worked for Icom for 27 years. More...

It would be tough to find a pilot or aircraft technician who is not familiar with Shadin Avionics. But few of us know the story behind Shadin Avionics’ beginning and how the company evolved. It’s time to change that.

“Shadin Avionics was started back in 1978 by Rasheed Reda; he’s an entrepreneur that saw a need for a more accurate fuel management system,” explained Dan Nelson, president of Shadin Avionics. “He introduced his first fuel monitoring system, and it proved to be very accurate, reliable and popular. It was officially called the Digiflo, but everyone in the industry knows it as the Shadin.

“It’s amazing that the Shadin has been around for nearly 45 years now. Rasheed stepped away from the company in 2004, and The Wright Group acquired it. Over the next few years, it just kind of lost its identity.” More...

David Davies, chief executive officer of Constant Aviation, is a big believer in the role apprenticeships can play in workforce pipeline development and the overall success of aviation organizations.

Constant Aviation, an MRO with bases in Cleveland, Ohio, and Orlando, Florida, recently partnered with Western Technical College in El Paso, Texas, to provide students with an opportunity to get on-the-job training and work toward their A&P certifications after completing programs at Western Tech. The two organizations are also working together to support emerging technologies, including unmanned aircraft systems. Constant Aviation recently worked with the technical college to modify curriculum to fit the MRO’s needs.

“These programs can feed our apprenticeship program with a higher skill level and additional training compared to bringing apprentices from other walks of life,” said Davies, describing advantages of the partnership. More...

The Aircraft Electronics Association Educational Foundation will award more than 20 scholarships for the 2022-23 school year to students pursuing a career in avionics or aircraft maintenance, as well as students from AEA member companies.

Since its inception, the AEA scholarship program has awarded more than $1.5 million in scholarships. The deadline to submit a scholarship application is April 1, 2022. Scholarship applications are available at aea.net/scholarship.

If you are not quite ready to take the AET test, AEA has you covered.

Avotek, an AEA member and training partner, offers online courses to help avionics technicians prepare for the AET exam and is offering a member discount of 40% off.

The Fundamentals of Aircraft Electronics Part I - Electricity and Electronics and The Fundamentals of Aircraft Electronics Part II - Maintenance Practices and Aircraft Fundamentals are the essential guides to aircraft electronics associated with AET certification.

To access the coupon codes, you will need to be logged in to the AEA website. AEA members get 40% off each course with the coupon codes. More...

The AEA’s online training platform called AERO, short for the Aerospace Education Resource Online system, allows users to train at their own pace and operates like a personal learning management system. More than a dozen new courses that took place at this year's AEA Convention in Dallas are now available, including OEM technical sessions, Pitot-Static and Transponder Certification training, Electrical Load Analysis, and Marketing Beyond the Runway. Convention attendees may access the sessions recorded at AEA Dallas for free, and those AEA members who could not attend the convention may purchase them.

Training content is exclusive to AEA members at aea.net/aero with a member login and password. AEA AERO will continue to add and update content to help members accomplish their training goals. Members with questions about the new AERO online training system may contact Aaron Ward directly at aaronw@aea.net. More...

Registration has opened for the 65th annual AEA International Convention & Trade Show, the largest gathering of general aviation avionics manufacturers, distributors and government-certified repair stations in the world. It is the platform of choice for the introduction of new avionics products and services coming to market in 2022. The event will take place at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, March 28-31, 2022.

Attendees must register by Dec. 31, 2021, to receive the early-bird discount price of $695 (AEA member rate) for a full convention registration. The early-bird promotion offers a $180 per person savings off the on-site registration fee. More...

A direct link to make hotel reservations in the official room block at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside for the 2022 AEA Convention is available at aea.net/convention.

The AEA encourages all attendees and exhibitors to secure their hotel rooms soon, as the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four will take place in New Orleans immediately following the conclusion of the AEA Convention. Plan ahead and secure your hotel accommodations well in advance of the show. More...

Published annually by the Aircraft Electronics Association, the 2021-22 edition of the AEA Pilot's Guide was recently unveiled. This year marks the 19th annual edition of the AEA Pilot's Guide, a consumer's directory loaded with educational articles, timely information and data about the ever-changing world of avionics technologies. The publication helps pilots and aircraft owners make better buying decisions and locate nearly 1,300 AEA member companies in more than 40 countries, including government-certified repair stations specializing in maintenance, repair and installation of avionics and electronic systems in general aviation aircraft. It also includes the manufacturers and distributors of these products, as well as technical schools and universities, engineers and consultants for the industry.

Individuals residing in the United States may request a free copy of the AEA Pilot's Guide at aeapilotsguide.net/request.asp while supplies last. More...

Certified Repair Station Training (9 seats remain)

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.

Primary Flight Display Installation & Configuration (13 seats remain)

Technicians will learn how to plan, install, interface, configure and check out an installation of a primary flight display, EHSI and GPS/Nav/Com consisting of dual Garmin GI 275, a Garmin GTN 650 touchscreen, and a Garmin GTX 345 transponder. Designed for technicians who have experience with avionics installation practices and are looking for more training integrating common general aviation installations.

Avionics Testing Fundamentals (15 seats remain)

This course is designed for technicians who have experience with basic avionics installation practice, familiar with basic soldering skills and are looking for experience in LRU bench testing and avionics troubleshooting. Bench testing nav, VHF comm and transponders will be the focus of study. Technicians will fabricate a general-purpose test panel that they will use in the course. Attendees will keep their fabricated test panel upon course completion.

Transponder Service Training (11 seats remain)

This course is designed for technicians who have experience with basic avionics installation practice and are looking for experience in transponder LRU bench testing, transponder flight line testing and aircraft troubleshooting. ADS-B transponders systems will be the focus of study. Attendees will keep their fabricated wire harness upon course completion.

Nav/Comm Equipment Service Training (10 seats remain)

This course is designed for technicians who have experience with basic avionics installation practice and are looking for experience in avionics flight line testing, LRU bench testing and aircraft troubleshooting. VOR, localizer, glideslope, marker beacon and VHF comms will be the focus of study.

Pitot-Static, Transponder, and ADS-B: Testing & Inspection (10 seats remain)

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.

Basic Wiring & Avionics Installation (14 seats remain)

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.

Basic Pitot-Static & Transponder Theory, Testing & Troubleshooting (15 seats remain)

This course is designed for entry-level avionics technicians or those looking for basic training on pitot-static and aircraft transponder systems. The 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 FAR 91.411 and 91.413 checks.

Avionics Installation for Experimental Aircraft (15 seats remain)

This course is targeted for the homebuilder or avionics technician who wants to learn about performing an avionics installation in an experimental aircraft. The class focuses on the Garmin G3X Touch system, and a simplified example harness is constructed as part of the hands-on portion of the class. While the G3X Touch system is the primary focus, 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.

Aircraft Instrument Systems (15 seats remain)

This course is designed for avionics technicians or apprentices who want to learn more about aircraft instrument systems and better understand their operation, installation considerations, and maintenance to become more effective troubleshooters. From simple mechanical gauges to complex electrical and electronic systems, this course covers nearly every instrument system in an aircraft.

ADS-B Configuration, Testing & Troubleshooting (15 seats remain)

This course is designed for currently employed repair station personnel and installers of ADS-B systems. Approximately 7% of all general aviation ADS-B installations are non-compliant based on the FAA’s ADS-B Performance Monitoring System. This course focuses on the proper configuration and testing of ADS-B installations to ensure your installation meets the performance requirements and regulations. Also included are troubleshooting tips and tricks that will help you resolve the common problems found in ADS-B installations.

Digital Databus Theory & Analysis (15 seats remain)

As today’s modern airplanes become much more technologically advanced, so must the professionals who maintain them. The advanced avionics and instrumentation systems used in these aircraft rely on various forms of digital databus communication. Understanding digital databus theory is becoming more and more important for avionics technicians, and even A&P mechanics, to effectively test and troubleshoot these highly advanced aircraft systems.

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. Free resume posting is available. Are you up to the challenge? More...

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.