The Aircraft Electronics Association recently unveiled the dates and locations for its 2021 AEA Connect Conferences, which now includes Europe. From selling to installation, configuration and certification testing, the AEA Connect Conferences are two-day events where aviation's technology experts convene for regulatory and technical training from leading avionics, instrument and test equipment manufacturers. It is the perfect opportunity for avionics technicians to meet with their regional sales and product support representatives, as well as learn about new products.

See the complete schedule for each event, a list of exhibiting companies, along with a list of major OEMs and their technical training topics at aea.net/connect. Online registration is available for both attendees and exhibitors.

The schedule is as follows:

According to FlightAware, business aviation traffic in the United States has increased more than 37% over last year and more than 20% compared to 2019 data.

During the week of Aug. 9-16, FlightAware reported 12,978 flights per day compared to the 9,445 flights per day reported in 2020 and 10,792 in 2019.

FlightAware defines business aviation traffic as any turbine general aviation flights that are not commercial or cargo airlines. More...

The 65th annual AEA International Convention & Trade Show will take place at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, March 28-31, 2022. A direct link to make hotel reservations in the AEA room block at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside 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...

Hundreds of general aviation pilots and aircraft owners will flock to Manassas, Virginia, this weekend for the first AOPA Aviator Showcase of 2021. The AEA will be exhibiting at the event in booth No. 51 at Harry P. Davis Field from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Attendees are invited to stop by the booth and pick up a complimentary copy of the newly released 2021-22 edition of the AEA Pilot's Guide. Free copies of this month's Avionics News also will be available at the booth.

The AOPA Aviator Showcase is a single-day consumer-focused event designed to connect pilots and aircraft owners to the general aviation industry. According to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, tickets to the event are still available if you drive; however, registration is closed for those flying in. Attendee registration is required; no walk-ups. More...

Outside Metro Technology Centers Aviation Career Campus in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, an airworthy MD-80 donated by American Airlines sits on the ramp next to two Sabreliner T-39s and a Beechcraft King Air 90. It’s an impressive suite of aircraft, especially for a publicly supported technology school.

Inside, there’s more. In the hangars, classrooms and labs of the sprawling 86,409-square-foot facility, students learn about aircraft maintenance and electronics with the help of extensive tooling, equipment and additional aircraft, including a Beechcraft Baron, Piper Warrior and Arrow, Mooney M20, a Cessna 150, two 152s, three 172s and a Cardinal, as well as a Bell OH-58 helicopter. Students can also learn aircraft sheet metal structure manufacturing, fabrication and repair as well as take courses on unmanned aircraft systems. More...

Congratulations to John Ward of Daytona Aircraft Services, who won a $100 Visa gift card, courtesy of Southeast Aerospace, for submitting the correct answer in this month's Mystery Make and Model challenge featured in the previous issue of AEA Wired. The unit is a Terra TDI-10 ADF indicator.

Avionics technicians can put their "inside" knowledge to work in the next issue of AEA Wired, so stay tuned for the next Mystery Make and Model challenge! All correct answers submitted throughout 2021 will be entered to win a random drawing for a $500 Visa gift card at the end of the year, also from Southeast Aerospace.

The United States Department of Transportation reopened the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection program application process on Aug. 4, 2021, for four weeks, closing on Sept. 1, 2021, at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. All eligibility requirements remain the same, including the requirement to have an active registration in the System of Award Management before submitting an AMJP application.

The initial application period for the AMJP program closed, as planned, July 13. However, the DOT decided to reopen the application process because some businesses may not have understood the relationship between the AMJP and the Employee Retention Tax Credit programs.

If you submitted an AMJP application before the original July 13 deadline and received confirmation that your application was received, then you do not need to resubmit. The DOT will continue to evaluate and act upon these applications. More...

In December, Zachary Hopkins will graduate from what’s likely the first initiative of its kind in the country – an autism-friendly avionics training program at Broward College in southern Florida. The new program exemplifies how the school celebrates diversity and inclusion and empowers students of all abilities by providing them with pathways to employment.

“Electronics was something I was interested in, but not airplanes specifically,” Hopkins said. “I was open to the idea and willing to see what the options were.”

In launching the program, Broward College partnered with a local organization called HAAPE (Helping Adults with Autism Perform and Excel), which creates, funds and nurtures employment programs by collaborating with companies and other organizations. More...

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 owner of private aviation service and support operations at seven airports in Germany found one kind of avionics business rising and another fading away during the pandemic, a situation that put a premium on shifting to a new strategy.

This is what happened to Laurent Gauthier who is the sole owner and chief executive officer of the European Air Service Group, a financial holding company that services 1,000 private and business aircraft in Germany. This 15% market share makes EASG the largest operator of its kind. Two of the locations do major avionics upgrade work, one at Friedrichshafen in southern Germany and one near Hannover in the northern part of the country. More...

Question: My local Flight Standards Office does not offer field approvals. What are my options?

Answer: Many Flight Standards inspectors have a false belief that approvals are either a field approval or a supplemental type certificate. But this is a false narrative.

The FAA’s Major Repair and Alteration Data Approval job aid does provide some guidance on alterations and repair, as there is policy that would drive an otherwise major alteration to be treated as a major change in type design and requires a supplemental type certificate. However, absent from this, FAA AC 43-210A describes a standardized procedure for requesting approval of technical data associated with major repairs/major alterations. Figure 2-1 of the AC lists possible resources for approved data relevant to major repairs or major alteration. This list can prove beneficial when trying to find a source of approved data to support your “major” project. More...

Since this month’s Avionics News is the annual education edition, it seems like the ideal time to review the regulatory training offered by the Aircraft Electronics Association. And since we are only a few weeks after the 2021 AEA International Convention & Trade Show took place in Dallas, a review of the topics covered during the Regulatory Rise & Shine sessions is appropriate.

All the regulatory training – whether in a classroom setting at AEA headquarters, offered as a session at the annual convention or an AEA Connect Conference, or in Avionics News – has one purpose: to support you and your business. The regulatory training, wherever you choose to attend, should support your employee training program as required by the AMO regulations. More...

Apprenticeships are the new on-ramps for next-generation talent and have been getting attention from the current and former White House administrations. Federal programs, some already in place and others on the way, will leverage apprenticeship programs to help fill the skilled labor gap.

For small-business owners, there are incentives and grant funding that come with this type of talent development. And now with the AEA’s program recognition and multiple paths to repairman certification, the foundation is set for companies to hire, train and retain the qualified workers they have long sought. More...

The Aircraft Electronics Association's Educational Foundation recently announced the names of the individuals who were awarded scholarships for the 2021-22 academic year.

The AEA Educational Foundation annually awards scholarships to students pursuing a career in avionics or aircraft maintenance, as well as students from AEA member companies. The Foundation was created in 1990 to enhance, promote and secure the future of aviation maintenance by furthering the education of students, technicians, members of the AEA and others as determined by aviation industry needs.

Since its inception, the AEA has awarded more than $1.5 million in scholarships. Individuals interested in one or more of these scholarships for the 2022-23 academic year may download an application after Oct. 1, 2021. 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...

The AEA’s new online training platform called AERO, short for the Aerospace Education Resource Online system, allows users to train at their own pace with the ability to pause and resume courses at their convenience. In addition, AERO operates like a personal learning management system with a history of training and the ability to print certificates from completed courses.

All previous online training from the AEA has been migrated to AERO and is available exclusively to AEA members at aea.net/aero with a member login and password. AEA AERO will continue to add 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...

Primary Flight Display Installation & Integration (8 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/comm consisting of dual Garmin GI 275, a Garmin GTN 650 touch screen, 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.

Bench Basics 101 (New course: 10 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.

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.

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 (SOLD-OUT)

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.

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.

IFR6000 and IFR4000 Operations (14 seats remain)

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 system and to operate the IFR4000 for ILS, VOR, COMMs and ELT.

Avionics Installation for Experimental Aircraft (7 seats remain)

This in-person 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.

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.

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 support inflight connectivity system installations and maintenance. This eight-hour training enables aircraft technicians and operators to gain understanding on the basic airborne networks, IFC systems, and the services they provide.

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. 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 FAR 91.411 and 91.413 checks.

Certified Repair Station Training (15 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.

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.