To help incentivize owners of general aviation aircraft meet the FAA's ADS-B Out equipage mandate in the United States, the Aircraft Electronics Association will randomly award five aircraft owners with $1,000 toward an ADS-B compliant upgrade during the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture Oshkosh, July 22-28, in Wisconsin. This year marks the sixth-consecutive year that the AEA has made the $1,000 award available to five aircraft owners. 

Aircraft owners may enter to win one of the five $1,000 awards in Hangar B at Wittman Regional Airport, booth No. 2035/2036, beginning July 22. The AEA will announce one winner each day from July 22 through July 26 via its social media outlets on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Aircraft owners must be at least 18 years old to register to win. Each of the five winners must use an AEA-member avionics repair station to complete the installation. One entry gives each aircraft owner a chance to win one of the five daily drawings. More...

Published annually by the AEA, the 2019-20 edition of the AEA Pilot’s Guide will be unveiled with free distribution at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, July 22-28. AEA staff members will distribute thousands of complimentary copies to pilots and aircraft owners at the AEA’s AirVenture booth, No. 2035/2036 in Hangar B at Wittman Regional Airport.

This year marks the 17th 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.

In addition to the initial distribution at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, thousands of copies of the AEA Pilot’s Guide will be distributed at several industry trade shows and to all AEA member companies at no charge. 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 Educational Foundation announced the names of the individuals who were awarded scholarships worth more than $100,000 for the 2019-20 academic year.

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 $30,000 each. Requests for complete scholarship packages for the 2020-21 academic year can be made after Oct. 1, 2019, at aea.net/scholarship. More...

Do ADS-B Out systems require recurrent checks similar to 14 CFR 91.413 for transponders? No, ADS-B does not require any new recurrent inspections. However, transponders still are required to be inspected and checked per the instructions of 14 CFR 91.413. This was confirmed in the ADS-B Out final rule on May 28, 2010 (Federal Register Vol. 75, No. 103). Learn more in this month's edition of Avionics News. More...

The government of Canada introduced the Service Fee Act in 2017 to create more transparency for Canadians. This Act requires each department to publish service standards, provide an annual report on performance, provide an annual increase on fees and when a service standard is not met, to return a portion of the fee to the applicant. 

In June 2018, Transport Canada published new service standards, and as of April 1, 2019, introduced its first annual fee increase. The increase will be based on the consumer price index. For this year, the increase is 2.2%. Not all fees will see an increase though, as Transport Canada has decided to identify “low material fees.” These will not see an annual increase. More...

Inside the AeroLEDs booth at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, bright white, red and green lights blink and flash, catching the attention of passersby. Far from ordinary, the lights represent an expert fusion of optics, modern technology and years of thoughtful design and engineering.

Based in Boise, Idaho, AeroLEDs designs and manufactures LED aircraft landing, taxi, recognition and navigation lights. The company started in 2005 focused on a landing light designed for experimental aircraft.

“As pilots and builders, we’ve been attending Oshkosh since 1994,” said Nate Calvin, chief executive officer and co-founder. “Since AeroLEDs first attended in 2006, we’ve found it to be a great place to display existing products and listen to prospective clients concerning their requests for future enhancements and new products, and what we can do better. We introduced our first product to the experimental market at Oshkosh and utilized it as a launch platform for new products that service the Part 23, 25, 27, military and special use markets.” More...

Basic Wiring & Avionics Installation (This Class is Sold-Out!)

Aug. 5-7, 2019

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.

ADS-B 2.0 Configuration, Testing & Troubleshooting

Aug. 8, 2019

Lee's Summit, Missouri

This updated version of the “ADS-B: All the Ins and Outs” 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 Training

Aug. 9, 2019

Lee's Summit, Missouri

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.

Avionics Installation and Integration Training (This Class is Sold-Out!)

Aug. 19-21, 2019

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/comm/GPS, Garmin GTX 345 transponder and an Aspen EFD1000 primary flight display.

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

Aug. 22, 2019

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

Aug. 23, 2019

Lee's Summit, Missouri

Attendees will be introduced to the regulations, documentation, test equipment and maintenance practices associated with performing RVSM maintenance. This course assumes the attendee has good operating knowledge of Federal Aviation Regulations 91.411 and 91.413.

The Regulations of Maintenance

Sept. 19-20, 2019

San Diego, California

Held in conjunction with the University of Kansas Aerospace Short Course Program

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.

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?

One individual who submits the correct answer will be randomly awarded a $100 Visa gift card, courtesy of Southeast Aerospace, and the winner will be announced in the next edition of AEA Wired.

In addition, each award recipient in 2019 will be entered to win a random drawing for a $500 Visa gift card at the end of the year, also from Southeast Aerospace. Email your answer...

For individuals interested in pursuing professional opportunities in the avionics industry, the career listings page on the AEA website is your one-stop resource. The AEA careers page 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 career listings and see what's on your horizon. Are you up to the challenge? More...

Is your business hiring? Looking for a new avionics technician or A&P mechanic? Want to buy or sell a business in the general aviation industry? Post these professional opportunities to a target-rich environment: the AEA's career listings website. For $200 a month, you can place a listing online AND receive a print advertisement in Avionics News for FREE! For more information, 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.