Less than one week remains to take advantage of early-bird registration for the 63rd 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 place to be for the introduction of new avionics products and services coming to market in 2020. The event takes place March 24-27, 2020, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Attendees must register by Dec. 31, 2019, to receive the early-bird discount price of $675 (AEA member rate) for a full convention registration. The early-bird promotion offers a $180 per person savings off the on-site registration fee. The attendee full registration package includes: four days of seminars and technical training sessions; exhibit hall entrance for two full days with lunch; and networking with manufacturing and distributors. More...

It may be the holiday season, but many AEA member repair stations are busy with work to equip thousands of aircraft with ADS-B Out avionics to comply with the Federal Aviation Administration's deadline of New Year's Day.

By Jan. 1, 2020, aircraft must be equipped with ADS-B Out to fly in most controlled airspace. For all the details about the FAA's equipage mandate, visit the Equip ADS-B website. More...

Since the Federal Aviation Administration announced its requirement, ADS-B has been on a business trajectory whose apogee is the mandated deadline of Jan. 1, 2020. Installation demands increased with the deadline’s proximity, so it was no surprise when not one avionics repair station responding to last year’s Aircraft Electronics Association Rate & Labor Survey expected their business to decline in 2019.  More...

For those who attended the National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in October, you certainly noticed the unmanned aircraft systems and urban air mobility exhibits and conversations. The one element most concerning to me was the cry for the worldwide civil aviation authorities (including the International Civil Aviation Organization) to hurry up and regulate this new industry. Be careful what you wish for. More...

Europe’s aviation’s technology experts will Connect with their industry peers at the 34th annual AEA Europe Connect Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Cologne, Germany, Jan. 23-24, 2020. Join us for the premier avionics event that connects shop owners, managers and lead technicians in Europe. Registration is now open to avionics professionals who want to attend and for companies to exhibit.

Get the latest technical information from leading avionics, instrument and test equipment manufacturers, and satisfy repair station training requirements. Learn about new products, their application, certification and installation. From selling to installation, configuration and certification testing, the AEA Connect Conference is where aviation's technology experts gather to answer your questions. And with an exhibit hall filled with the latest avionics technologies and services, attendees have the opportunity to see, touch and feel new products and visit face-to-face with the OEMs. More...

The Aircraft Electronics Association will award more than 20 scholarships totaling more than $100,000 for the 2020-21 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. Numerous awards are available, ranging from $1,000 to more than $35,000 each. Scholarship applications are available online, and the deadline to submit an application is April 1, 2020. More...

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. More...

While the German leadership team at TQ Aircraft Electronics hopes to capture a sizeable portion of North America’s general aviation avionics market, they’re not in a hurry to do so. They’re taking time to learn the local market before diving in too deep, too fast. It’s a strategy that takes patience for sure, but just might pay a healthy dividend in the decades to come.

“Just as in the beginning of our company, we are starting out small,” said Frank Denk, president and chief executive officer of TQ Systems USA and TQ Aircraft Electronics. “We want to build not only the best products we can, but also ensure those products meet the needs of today’s customers. It’s a goal we feel is very much achievable.” More...

Congratulations to Jack Shields of Atlas Aircraft Center, 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 unit is an Aeronetics HSI-8000.

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! 

Avionics Installation and Integration Training

Jan. 27-29, 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 touchscreen nav/comm/GPS, Garmin GTX 345 transponder and an Aspen EFD1000 primary flight display.

Pitot-Static and Transponder Testing and Inspection with ADS-B Implementation

Jan. 30, 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 to meet the mandate.

RVSM Maintenance and IFR6000 Operations

Jan. 31, 2020

Lee's Summit, Missouri

Attendees will be introduced to the regulations, documentation, test equipment and maintenance practices associated with performing RVSM maintenance for aircraft. This course assumes the attendee has good operating knowledge of Federal Aviation Regulations 91.411, 91.413 and 91.227 paragraph (d). The afternoon session 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.

Avionics Installation for Experimental Aircraft

Feb. 17-19, 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.

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? 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 [email protected]. 

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.