If you are a serious avionics professional, the place to be on the morning of June 22 is the AEA New Product Introductions session at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas during the AEA International Convention & Trade Show.

The New Product Introductions session is one of the most popular events every year during the convention and has evolved into a must-see showcase for members and the media. Avionics manufacturers know the key to a successful product launch means bringing their products to the AEA Convention & Trade Show. In addition, the opening session and New Product Introductions will be livestreamed by Aero-News Network as part of its convention coverage. To see the list of more than 30 companies committed to launching new products at AEA Dallas, click here.

The AEA Trade Show is your opportunity to connect with manufacturers, distributors, technicians and business leaders. Two full days of exhibits, 120 companies and all the latest product information await.

Click here to see a full list of exhibiting companies.

The exhibit hall is currently 95% sold-out. If your company want to exhibit and reserve one of the remaining booths, download the Exhibitor Prospectus.

If you haven't already registered to attend the AEA Convention in Dallas, please do so in advance to avoid long lines at on-site registration.

Don't miss the most important 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 2021. Click here to register.

The AEA does not work with any housing agencies to make hotel reservations on your behalf. We strongly suggest you work directly with the hotel when making your room reservations. The AEA's special room rate is available until June 1, 2021, or until the room block is full.

Hilton Anatole

2201 Stemmons Freeway

Dallas, TX 75207

Phone: 800-445-8667 (Group Code: AEC)

Room Rate: $219 per night

The AEA has unveiled the dates and locations for its 2021 Connect Conferences in the United States. Online registration is available for both attendees and exhibitors. The annual AEA Connect Conferences are two-day events that personally connect general aviation industry professionals. The schedule is as follows:

The AEA continues to monitor travel restrictions and guidance from authorities around the world and will make a determination whether Connect Conferences can take place in Europe, Canada, and South Pacific. More...

The AEA is one of 24 organizations from the aviation industry asking Congress to consider wide-ranging and comprehensive legislative proposals on aviation sustainability issues. In a letter dated May 18, 2021, the aviation groups urged the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the U.S. House Science, Space and Technology Committee to consider legislative efforts in four key areas:

The group, which includes union, business and leisure passenger groups, forwarded a document outlining a series of proposals and urged congressional leaders to include the provisions in upcoming infrastructure legislation. More...

Honeywell recently went looking for an experienced MRO to partner on the development of a Federal Aviation Administration supplemental type certificate to change out the original CRTs with new-generation liquid-crystal displays.

Fortunately for all concerned, Honeywell already had a well-established relationship with Duncan Aviation. With hundreds of successful STCs in its portfolio, the Honeywell/Duncan Aviation STC partnership was the proverbial no-brainer.

“During our conversations with Honeywell, they had been trying to phase out the old DU-870 CRT displays and upgrade the Embraer Legacy-series with the new DU-875 LCD units,” explained Shawn Carraher, manager of engineering and certification business development for Duncan Aviation. “They were no longer supporting the old CRTs and needed an STC to enable operators to change out the obsolete units." More...

In 2021, EDMO Distributors is celebrating the golden anniversary of its everyday embodiment of its motto, “Quality and Excellence, Whatever it Takes,” in serving the 5,000 or so civilian, commercial, and military avionics shops with a multitude of products and components. In recognition of this accomplishment, it only seems fitting to remember the founders who joined their first names in 1971 to give their new company its unique moniker.

Ed Landsberg and Morris Brown were, respectively, the southern and northern California dealers for King Radio, according to EDMO President Mike Schmidt. Looking to grow their businesses, they incorporated their distribution company as EDMO Burbank. “For the first two years, it was just the two of them. Morris worked out of his home in San Jose. Ed is still with us, but Morris died” sometime after Ed bought his half of the company in 1975.

In the 1980s, several key employees joined the company, including Fred Lopez and Tim Gump, partners who are on its board of directors. Today, its team is comprised of 40 people in two locations. More...

Common sense and regulation combine to make even the most-basic redundancy a must for safe flight. For the convert to a glass cockpit, such redundancy is of paramount importance. For the instrument pilot qualified and current, willing and able to fly through clouds and on a single powerplant, backups and redundancy for the critical avionics and other systems powered by electricity should be considered a must.

And for the financially capable aircraft owner, even older analog-instrumented general aviation aircraft can be retrofitted with a comparable level of electrical-system sophistication. Then that safety becomes a matter of managing the load on the electrical system. The older a GA aircraft, the more likely it is that a single old generator provides the juice needed. Depending on the voltage regulator used, managing power during warmup, taxi and runup means keeping an eye on the ammeter. More...

The countdown to AirVenture Oshkosh 2021 is in full swing, and EAA Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board Jack Pelton offers a preview into the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration. While some areas may look different at Oshkosh this year, the feeling will be the same as the aviation community reunites to celebrate flight. Tune in for a glimpse at how planning for this year’s event is taking off in this episode of AEA Amplified, sponsored by Genesys Aerosystems, a Moog Company.

Subscribe and listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Podbean or Spotify. More...

Safety. Aviation safety. Flight Safety. Safety on the ground.

All of these topics earn repeat treatments in the magazines we read, the workshops we attend, and the output of organizations across the spectrum of general aviation. And we continue to see incremental improvements borne of advanced technologies and human perseverance.

But one element of aviation safety still seems resistant to these efforts. The human interface – where our modern avionics meets the pilot. And the results are a mixed bag. More...

In an industry as unique and complex as aviation, accomplishing even the most routine business activity can be complicated by federal regulations, a service provider’s lack of knowledge and experience, industry trends and scarcity of resources. Even now, just purchasing insurance to cover an aircraft or an aviation-related business, for example, bears the weight of recent accidents, a single aircraft OEM’s poor decision-making and the effects of a worldwide pandemic.

Given that, we asked Steve Bruss, president and owner of Wings Insurance, to provide some advice and insight about the current insurance market. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the brokerage firm specializes in selling insurance coverage for general aviation aircraft, helicopters, maintenance providers, fixed base operators, flight schools and corporate and commercial fleets. Its reach also extends to other areas in aviation such as unmanned aircraft systems and manufactured products in the aerospace industry. More...

As reported by the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority, the UK CAA and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency have concluded negotiations on the Technical Implementation Procedures (the TIP), which was signed on 17 May 2021.

The signing of the TIP, which sets out the measures the aerospace sector must take in order to design and produce new aerospace parts moving between the UK and the EU, signals the continued close working relationship between the two organisations now that the UK has left the European regulatory system.

A copy of the TIP is now available on the above link or on the UK CAA International cooperation website. More...

The Federal Aviation Administration’s 43rd annual General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey is underway, reporting on calendar year 2020. The GA Survey is the only source of information on the general aviation fleet, the number of hours flown, and the ways people use general aviation aircraft.

Data from this survey are used by governmental agencies and industry to:

The FAA and industry need accurate data on a broad range of aircraft. Participation is voluntary, and everyone who is contacted is encouraged to respond to the survey so that all aviation activity is represented. If you have questions, contact Tetra Tech at 800-826-1797 or email infoaviationsurvey@tetratech.com.

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.

In addition, the AEA introduced its Pilot's Guide Showcase, an all-new digital stage highlighting everything from features and functions of the latest avionics equipment to the installation and service available from AEA member repair stations. Located at PilotsGuideShowcase.net and specifically designed for avionics consumers such as general aviation pilots and aircraft owners, the digital platform features product demonstrations, how-to videos, select tutorials via recorded flight demonstrations and spotlights AEA's network of technology experts.

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...

Congratulations to Cesar Camacho of Gulf Coast Avionics, 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 an Aeronautics 421-D.

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.

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.

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 for Experimental Aircraft (11 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 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.

Certified Repair Station Training (5 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.

This course is designed for avionics technicians or apprentices who want to learn more about aircraft instrument systems and better understand their operation, installation considerations, and maintenance to become more effective troubleshooters. From simple mechanical gauges to complex electrical and electronic systems, this course covers nearly every instrument system in an aircraft.

Basic Wiring & Avionics Installation (11 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 (11 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.

Primary Flight Display Installation & Integration (15 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: 14 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.

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.

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.