The Aircraft Electronics Association recently published its first-quarter 2022 Avionics Market Report. In the first three months of the year, total worldwide business and general aviation avionics sales amounted to $634,546,020.43, or more than $634 million as reported by the participating companies.

First-quarter sales increased 4.8% sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2021, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of increasing sales. The figure represented an 11.6% increase in total sales compared to the first-quarter 2021 amount of $568,810,353, or more than $568 million. This increase was driven by a 34.6% increase in forward-fit sales compared to the same time frame one year ago. The more than $354 million in forward-fit sales was the largest sales total in that category since the third quarter of 2019 when more than $366 million in forward-fit sales were reported. More...

On May 19, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association unveiled its first-quarter 2022 General Aviation Aircraft Shipment and Billing Report. During the first three months of 2022, when compared to the same period in 2021, aircraft unit deliveries increased across each aircraft segment while the overall value of the aircraft shipments was slightly lower.

Year-over-year airplane deliveries rose 14.7% in the first quarter; however, total airplane billings declined 5.9% as much of the new production was smaller aircraft. Similarly, helicopter deliveries increased 7% over last year, while total helicopter billings declined 17.3%.

Turboprop airplane deliveries saw the largest percentage year-over-year increase at 31% with 110 units during the first quarter. When compared to the first quarter of 2021, piston airplane shipments increased 13.9% with 263 units, while business jet shipments increased 4.4% with 118 units. More...

The Aircraft Electronics Association announced the recipients of the annual Avionics Training Excellence Award, which recognizes AEA member companies for their total commitment to continued education as evidenced by participation in AEA-approved training. A total of 42 member companies received the 2021 AEA Avionics Training Excellence Award.

For a member company to be eligible for the AEA Avionics Training Excellence Award, all its technicians must have completed at least one AEA-approved training event in the previous year, which includes in-person courses conducted at AEA headquarters; the AEA International Convention & Trade Show; the AEA Connect Conferences; the Avionics News Technical Training Exam; online training via the AEA's Aerospace Education Resource Online (AERO) system; AEA virtual-live training courses; original equipment manufacturer training from AEA member companies; and AEA partner training. To see the list of recipients, click here.

At first thought, you might not imagine a designer working on an interior for a high-end automobile and another working on the cabin of a private jet would face similar challenges. Well, surprisingly, there are more than a few commonalities.

One, in particular, is the environment’s audio system. Whether you’re stuck in traffic or zipping along at flight level 410, the people in either cabin want excellent quality from their sound system. And they’re willing to pay for it. No two airborne audio professionals know that any better than ALTO Aviation’s co-founders, Don Hamilton, president, and Steve Scarlata, vice president of engineering and research and development. More...

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) recently published a request to participate in an industry survey regarding the maintenance regulations. The following is from the CASA notice:

The general aviation sector has been asking for less complex maintenance rules that reduce costs. We are moving to deliver on that this year as part of our GA workplan. This includes finalising Part 43 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations governing aircraft in private and aerial work operations. We want your feedback to ensure the final policy (consulted earlier) has been accurately reflected in the regulation, its associated Manual of Standards and advisory materials.

We understand that regulations can be difficult to read, so we've made it easier for you to have your say by including the draft Plain English Guide to Part 43. To expand on more significant topics, we've also included information sheets and guidance materials. To complete the survey, you can choose to comment on as many topics as you like. If you do not have enough time to complete the consultation in one go, don't worry. You can save your input and come back later. Have your say by visiting the Consultation Hub before 19 June 2022. More...

Would you like to get some value out of that surplus equipment sitting idle in the corner? Or maybe you need specialized machinery to spool up your production line or perhaps spare parts and test equipment for your maintenance repair organization? EquipNet can help. Based in Canton, Massachusetts, just outside Boston, EquipNet enables companies around the world to buy and sell pre-owned industrial, manufacturing, packaging and laboratory equipment.

EquipNet started nearly 25 years ago with just two employees. Today, 130 employees operate out of nine regional headquarters – in Canton, Massachusetts, for the United States; Bridgend, South Wales, United Kingdom, for Europe; Bogotá, Colombia, for Latin America; and Mumbai, India, for Asia-Pacific – with additional offices in Denver, Colorado; San Jose, California; Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil; and Monterrey, Nuevo León, México. More...

As customer service manager at Aspen Avionics in Phoenix, Arizona, Heidi Foster manages hundreds of details a day for the company’s network of nearly 700 dealers. Thankfully, five years in the U.S. Army as an aviation operations sergeant prepared her well for the monumental organizational feats that she employs every day to keep up with it all.

At just 31 years old, Foster has squeezed a lifetime of experiences into those three decades. She grew up in Columbus, Wisconsin, a small town east of Madison, and joined the Army at 17, leaving for active duty just one week after her high school graduation. During her service, Foster was stationed at Fort Rucker and at Fort Campbell with the 7-17 CAV 159th CAB, 101st Airborne Division as well as in Afghanistan and Germany. More...

Aviation has been the life’s work of David Thompson for 46 years, from serving on the front line in the Royal Air Force to heading up business development and customer support services for some of the industry’s most well-known global companies. He has worked and traveled all over the world – in Holland and Scotland, France and Luxembourg, China and Singapore, Canada and the United States, and many more places beyond the bordering farmlands of his current home in the quaint village of Grasby, England.

You can’t help but be impressed by Thompson’s resume. It’s filled with aviation heavyweights the likes of BAE Systems, Heli-One, Vallair and Vector Aerospace. In late 2021, at a time when he was pondering his retirement, Thompson joined Bedford, Texas-based REB Technologies as director of business development and strategy. Family-owned and managed, REBTECH designs, manufactures and provides integration services of night vision illumination systems to military and civil aviation customers and flight departments around the world. Wanting to expand the company’s international night vision-compatible lighting business, REBTECH looked to Thompson for help. More...

This final rule establishes regulations that conform with the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act, which sets forth statutory requirements to implement regulations for maintenance technician training. Consistent with the statute, this final rule adopts new requirements for issuing aviation maintenance technician school certificates and associated ratings and the general operating rules for the holders of those certificates and ratings.

Beginning as early as 2015, the FAA has proposed multiple options to modernize aviation maintenance technician schools only to struggle finding consensus among the industry. The United States Congress incorporated the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act within the Consolidated Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 116-260), which includes Section 135 of the Act, titled "Promoting Aviation Regulations for Technician Training," and directed the FAA to "issue interim final regulations to establish requirements for issuing (AMTS) certificates and associated ratings and the general operating rules for the holders of those certificates and ratings in accordance with the requirements of Section 135."

The interim final rule produces a performance-based regulation that empowers the technical educational organizations to develop and manage a curriculum, which better supports industry’s needs and to satisfy the quality systems required of certified academia by state educational departments without duplication with FAA requirements. More...

The Federal Aviation Administration is seeking applications for two Aviation Workforce Development Grant programs aimed at developing and inspiring a more diverse pool of aviation maintenance technicians and pilots to join the next generation of aviation professionals. This is the FAA’s second funding opportunity for these programs. A total of $10 million is available for the grants.

The Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers Workforce Development Grants will prepare aviation maintenance technicians. The Aircraft Pilots Workforce Development Grants will educate students to become pilots, aerospace engineers or unmanned aircraft systems operators. Eligible entities can submit applications at grants.gov through June 10, 2022. More...

Garry Joyce recently completed a successful three-year term as chair of the AEA’s board of directors. Under his leadership, the association completed a strategic planning process to set the course for the years ahead while navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain constraints, and workforce development challenges.

Joyce is the co-owner of IAE, which is located at Little Staughton Airfield in Bedfordshire, United Kingdom, and he is the first AEA chairman from outside North America. He reflects on his time as AEA chairman and looks ahead to the future in this episode of AEA Amplified, sponsored by Genesys Aerosystems, a Moog Company. Listen...

The AEA Connect Conferences are where aviation's technology experts gather for technical training from leading avionics, instrument and test equipment manufacturers. These two-day events allow technicians and business owners the opportunity to learn industry best practices; connect with regional sales and product support representatives; satisfy training requirements; see the latest products and services; and receive important updates on the most current regulatory news affecting their business.

To see the dates and locations for the AEA Connect Conferences scheduled for 2022, along with registration links for attendees and exhibitors, click here.

Certified Repair Station Training (Sold-Out)

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.

Avionics Installation for Experimental Aircraft (12 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.

Avionics Testing Fundamentals (12 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 at course completion.

Transponder Service Training (14 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 at course completion.

NAV/COMM Equipment Service Training (13 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 (19 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 (10 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 (22 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.

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.