Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics
Aircraft Electronics Association - AEA Wired
May 27, 2015
Keeping the general aviation industry connected
The Current 

News from the general aviation industry

 

 

More than $125,000 in Scholarships Awarded for 2015-16 Academic Year

The Aircraft Electronics Association's Educational Foundation recently announced the names of 24 individuals who were awarded individual scholarships worth more than $125,000 for the 2015-16 academic year. This year, the AEA administered the inaugural Marshall Temple Memorial Scholarship for the first time. The AEA Educational Foundation awards scholarships to students pursuing a career in the general aviation maintenance and aircraft electronics industry. The intent of these scholarships is to identify and reward those individuals who best exemplify the qualities that lead to success in the aviation industry. The Foundation was created in 1990 to enhance, promote and secure the future of aviation maintenance and the AEA by furthering the education of students, technicians, members of the AEA and others as determined by aviation industry needs. Since its inception, the AEA scholarship program has awarded more than $1.5 million in scholarships. Numerous awards are available, ranging from $1,000 to more than $40,000 each. Requests for complete scholarship packages for the 2016-17 academic year can be made online after Oct. 1, 2015. More...

 

 

FAA logo 2014 General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey

The 37th annual General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey is now taking place. 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 receives 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 protected]More...

 

 

AEA Elects new Board Members

Members of the Aircraft Electronics Association recently elected the following representatives to serve on its board of directors for a three-year term that began April 2015 and concludes April 2018.

  • Jim Alpiser, Garmin
  • Bryan Archer, Galaxy Aviation
  • Tim Kelly, Honeywell International
  • David Loso, Jet Aviation St. Louis
  • Cory Relling, Aspen Avionics
  • Tim Shaw, Rocky Mountain Aircraft
  • Kim Stephenson, L-3 Aviation Products More...
Regulatory Update

All the latest from the international aviation authorities

 

 
Part 135 Transponders Frequently Asked Questions
An active question during this year's AEA International Convention & Trade Show follows: What was and was not considered an alteration regarding transponders on Part 135 aircraft? Learn the answer in this month's Avionics News. More... 


NextGen's Next Big Thing
In a recent report from the FAA, as we move into the summer thunderstorm season, NextGen technology is helping to keep departing airplanes on schedule as they fly out of Newark, New Jersey, into some of the busiest and most congested airspace in the U.S. The agency said that FedEx, United Airlines and UPS have been participating in trials with the FAA in Newark and Memphis to demonstrate Data Communications capabilities and benefitsMore...

 

On the Radar 

Upcoming AEA and industry events


 

EAA AirVenture, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 20-26
For seven days from sunrise to well past sunset, Oshkosh is filled with dazzling displays of aerobatics, informative programs and hands-on workshops, diverse aircraft spanning all eras of flight, concerts and more. More...


AEA Connect, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Aug. 10
AEA members gather in Latin America for a special one-day networking event between avionics facilities, manufacturers and ANAC. This event takes place one day prior to the start of LABACE. Registrations may be made in advance online until Aug. 1. More...
 

AEA Latin America Regional Meeting, Bogota, Colombia, Aug. 19-20
The fifth annual AEA Latin America Regional Meeting takes place at the Radisson AR Hotel. Registrations may be made in advance online until Aug. 7. More... 


AEA U.S. Central Regional Meeting, Kansas City, Missouri, Sept. 10-11
The first of three AEA Regional Meetings in the U.S. takes place in the Show-Me state at the Embassy Suites at KCI Hotel. Registrations may be made in advance online until Sept. 2. More...

The Connection

Meet the leaders in the general aviation industry

 


Changes Shape Bright Future for Flame Enterprises

Since 2001, Flame Enterprises has grown from $40 million in sales to $100 million by making sure customers have the parts they need, when they need them. The Chatsworth, California-based distributor stocks relays, circuit breakers, switches and other electromechanical components utilized by maintenance shops, subcontractors and aircraft manufacturers worldwide. More... 

 

A Conversation With Tim Irving of Aero Charter

Locally owned and operated since 1978, Aero Charter is based at the Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield, Missouri, and provides complete aircraft support services for business and private aircraft. The company offers worldwide flights with the majority of its clients flying throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and South America. Recently, Avionics News spoke with Tim Irving to learn more about his work at Aero Charter as well as his life outside the office. More...
 
In the Classroom 

Professional development opportunities

 

 

Avionics Installation and Integration Training, Aug. 17-19

Presented by Don Dominguez of Radioman Avionics, this course is designed for technicians who have completed the AEA's Basic Wiring and 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 touchscreen nav/com/GPS, Garmin GTX 33 ES remote transponder and an Aspen EFD1000 primary flight display. More...

 

 

Pitot-Static and Transponder Certification Training with ADS-B Implementation Session, Aug. 20

Attendees will learn the proper methods for conducting pitot-static and transponder certification testing. 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. It also includes a transponder tuneup course. The contents of this course can be incorporated easily into approved training programs for certified repair stations. And with so many questions surrounding ADS-B, this course will provide the answers and what you need to know to meet the mandate. More...

 

 

RVSM Maintenance and Advanced Transponder Training, Aug. 21

Attendees will be introduced to the regulations, documentation, test equipment and maintenance practices associated with performing RVSM maintenance and will follow with an in-depth look at Mode S transponders. This course assumes the attendee has good operating knowledge of Federal Aviation Regulations 91.411 and 91.413. More...

 

The Raw Feed

Industry buzz on social media

 

 

AEA Convention Highlights Now on YouTube

Thanks to the production efforts of the Aero-News Network, YouTube viewers can now watch ANN's coverage of the 2015 AEA Convention in Dallas, which took place April 8-11. Catch up on the event's highlights, including the popular New Product Introductions session. Watch as Hal Adams of Accord Technology introduced the NexNav Micro-i GPS source solution to nearly 1,900 convention attendees. More...

 

The Static

News from AEA member companies

 

 
ACSS, a division of L-3 Aviation Products, announced that its XS-950 Mode S Transponder and TCAS Surveillance System have been certified by Airbus to DO-260B, the highest level of ADS-B Out capability. 

GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORP. announced a partnership among its Appleton, Wisconsin, facility, the Appleton Area School District and the local community to bring the company's Student Leadership Program education initiative to high schools in Appleton. In addition, the Gulfstream G500 successfully completed its first flight May 18, and the company named COBI LANE general manager of its service center in Las Vegas. 

UNIVERSAL AVIONICS SYSTEMS CORP. made several announcements at EBACE. The company's InSight Integrated Flight Deck is the first in the business aviation market to utilize the Jeppesen Airport Mapping Database. In addition, Universal Avionics joined forces with ROCKWELL COLLINS to offer a new ADS-B incentive program, designed to allow operators to combine the Rockwell Collins TDR-94(D) Mode S Transponder with Universal Avionics SBAS-Flight Management System. Finally, Universal Avionics is offering aircraft operators two new upgrade incentive programs for the SBAS-Flight Management System and UniLink UL-800/801 Communications Management Unit. The programs are designed to help operators follow the path to ADS-B Out and Link 2000+/Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications compliance.

TRUE BLUE POWER, a division of Mid-Continent Instrument Co. Inc., is partnering with Avmax Group of Companies to pursue a TCCA and FAA Part 25 STC for the installation of the True Blue Power TB44 (46 amp-hour) Advanced Lithium-ion Battery on Bombardier Dash 8-100, -200, and -300 aircraft. 

DUNCAN AVIATION and HONEYWELL AEROSPACE are collaborating to develop STCs for ADS-B solutions for Honeywell's Primus 1000/2000 and SPZ-8000 flight decks on multiple Hawker 800 series aircraft and select Cessna Citation 560 aircraft with Honeywell's Primus II radio system. In addition, Duncan Aviation is celebrating 20 years as a Dassault Authorized Service Center for all Falcon model aircraft.

SAFE FLIGHT INSTRUMENT CORP. and NEXTANT AEROSPACE announced that Safe Flight's AutoPower, Automatic Throttle System, is in the final phase of certification with production deliveries scheduled to begin this quarter.

ALTO AVIATION introduced a new retrofit DECU upgrade solution specifically designed to update Legacy IFE systems, totally independent of CMS. 

ROCKWELL COLLINS said it is offering fixed pricing per flight hour for its Corporate Aircraft Service Program for up to three years, effective immediately and continuing through the end of 2015. The company also entered into a strategic partnership with ICG to offer its eRouter (ERT-100 and ERT-120) smart cabin routers to the company's ARINCDirectSM business aviation customers. Also, Rockwell Collins was selected to provide the FalconCabin HD+ cabin management and entertainment system for Dassault's new Falcon Jet 5X and Falcon Jet 8X business aircraft.

HONDA AIRCRAFT's HondaJet made its first appearance in Europe at EBACE and began a demonstration tour following a similar tour in Japan.

TRUENORTH AVIONICS announced at EBACE that AMAC Aerospace has installed the company's Simphonē Mobile GSM System for a Boeing 747-8I aircraft completion.

SPIRIT AERONAUTICS returned a Cessna Citation 650 aircraft back to its owner after a total interior refurbishment utilizing carbon fiber accents and design elements. The design and details included elements found on much larger aircraft such as carbon fiber inlays, blackened wood laminates, multilayer high-build gloss coatings, new Corian countertops and multilayer foam seats with clean minimalist lines and tight stitching. 

FLYING COLOURS CORP. announced an order for the completion of three, brand-new Bombardier Challenger 650 aircraft.

JET AVIATION ST. LOUIS designed and commissioned the manufacture of a testing machine for flutter dampers on Challengers, becoming one of a few facilities in North America capable of testing flutter dampers.

VECTOR AEROSPACE announced the opening of its new MRO facility in Singapore and signing of MOU with Republic Polytechnic.

DUNCAN AVIATION and SAFRAN ENGINEERING SERVICES created a new STC for FANS-1/A, an avionics system that provides direct data link communication between the pilot and the air traffic controller. The solution will cover the Bombardier Challenger 601-3A/3R business aircraft. 

COBHAM SATCOM announced that more than 100 Dassault Falcon Jets have been upgraded to the AVIATOR 700D, a retrofit solution for the Aero-HSD+ equipped aircraft. 

BECKER AVIONICS partnered with Telegenix. On certain product lines, the two companies will combine their capabilities and expertise in mission critical systems in order to provide the air traffic control industry with turnkey voice communication solutions.

B. COLEMAN AVIATION signed an agreement with UNIVERSAL AVIONICS SYSTEMS CORP. establishing the company as an authorized dealer for Universal Avionics' product lines. 

BANYAN AIR SERVICE celebrated its 10th annual AMT Day on May 21, which pays tribute to Charles E. Taylor, the first aircraft maintenance technician, who built Orville and Wilbur Wright's engine. 

WESTERN AIRCRAFT, a Greenwich AeroGroup company, added DEREK FREEMAN as its avionics sales manager. 

AERO DYNAMIX named TONKA HUFFORD chief operating officer. 

PENTASTAR AVIATION named MARK SCHENKEL controller. 

EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY named DR. JOHN R. WATRET interim president following the recent retirement announcement from President and CEO DR. JOHN P. JOHNSON. Dr. Watret, who joined Embry-Riddle in 1989, will begin his appointment on June 1. 

WOMEN IN AVIATION, INTERNATIONAL received a $10,000 grant from The UPS Foundation. The grant will be used to provide teaching materials for Girls in Aviation Day, an international outreach program planned for Sept. 26, 2015. 

ANODYNE ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURING CORP. was chosen by SkyTrac Systems as its primary repair facility.

GA Caucus

Industry advocates on Capitol Hill

 


In 2009, General Aviation Caucuses were formed in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate to inform congressional members and staff about the importance of general aviation to the nation's economy and transportation system. Today, the House GA Caucus has grown to become one of the largest caucuses in the House of Representatives. A listing of current House and Senate GA Caucus members is available on the AEA website. More...


 

Aircraft Electronics Association
About the AEA
Founded in 1957, the Aircraft Electronics Association represents nearly 1,300 member companies in 43 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. 


Contact:
Aircraft Electronics Association
3570 NE Ralph Powell Road
Lee's Summit, MO 64064
Phone: 816-347-8400
Fax: 816-347-8405
Email: [email protected]
Web: aea.net 
Advertising:
Lauren McFarland, director of marketing
Phone: 816-347-8400
Email: [email protected]

The "AEA Wired" e-newsletter is published twice a month by the AEA.