Avionics News March 2012 - 30
feature
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Laura Nolan (right), owner of Nolan Avionics, with her parents and coworkers, Betty and Larry.
Nolan Avionics is an Heirloom Business
W
S T O R Y
B Y
S C O T T
M .
S P A N G L E R
hen Larry Nolan decided to sell his eponymously named avionics shop in 2008, his daughter, Laura, said there was no way it was leaving the family, even if it meant surrendering her budding career as a Federal Aviation Administration avionics inspector. A member of the family since 1975, Nolan Avionics is the family heirloom. A fixture on Oklahoma’s Durant Regional Airport, the shop is where Laura grew up and started her aviation career. Her older brother, Steve, owned it for several years in the mid-1990s. Now, it is her turn to nurture the business. The family work ethic prepared her for taking the reins of one of the state’s oldest continuously certificated repair stations. While three different Nolans have owned the business, according to Laura, its uninterrupted heartbeat is its matriarch, Betty, a certified public accountant. “Mom keeps the business running regardless of who’s in the shop. None of us – my dad, my brother, me – would be where we are without her.” The patriarch agrees. With an associate degree,
•
march
Larry was teaching electronics at Elkins Institute outside Dallas in the mid-1960s. “My wife persuaded me to go back to school to get my (bachelor’s) degree.” That brought the Nolans to Durant, Okla., home to the Aviation Sciences Institute at what is now Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Earning credit for his aviation ratings, an A&P-IA and flight instructor with instrument and multiengine ratings, Larry quickly earned his bachelor’s degree in electronics technology, and then a master’s degree in education. With a post-graduate degree in management, accounting and business administration, Betty joined the faculty at SOSU. She recently retired as an assistant professor of accounting, according to Larry, but she still teaches a couple of classes every semester at a nearby junior college. Larry joined the SOSU faculty in 1970 and retired in 1997. This led to Nolan Avionics, he said, because it fulfilled two important needs: “I needed a job in the summer, when I wasn’t teaching, and I wanted to work on my own airplanes.” He became interested in aviation and electronics in
30
avionics news
2012
Avionics News March 2012
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News March 2012
Point of Communication
AEA Now
The View from Washington
International News and Regulatory Updates
WAAS GPS
Member Profile
All in the Family
Survey Reveals Hiring Trends For the Aviation Industry
A Conversation With...
Meet the AEA Awards Nominees
Aviation Aces
Member Profile
The ABCs of Jeppesen
Business Basics
Air France Flight 447
Theory & Practice
Legal Ease
What's New
Marketplace Classifieds
Avionics News March 2012 - Cover1
Avionics News March 2012 - Cover2
Avionics News March 2012 - 1
Avionics News March 2012 - 2
Avionics News March 2012 - 3
Avionics News March 2012 - Point of Communication
Avionics News March 2012 - 5
Avionics News March 2012 - AEA Now
Avionics News March 2012 - 7
Avionics News March 2012 - 8
Avionics News March 2012 - 9
Avionics News March 2012 - 10
Avionics News March 2012 - 11
Avionics News March 2012 - 12
Avionics News March 2012 - 13
Avionics News March 2012 - 14
Avionics News March 2012 - 15
Avionics News March 2012 - The View from Washington
Avionics News March 2012 - 17
Avionics News March 2012 - International News and Regulatory Updates
Avionics News March 2012 - 19
Avionics News March 2012 - 20
Avionics News March 2012 - 21
Avionics News March 2012 - WAAS GPS
Avionics News March 2012 - 23
Avionics News March 2012 - 24
Avionics News March 2012 - 25
Avionics News March 2012 - Member Profile
Avionics News March 2012 - 27
Avionics News March 2012 - 28
Avionics News March 2012 - 29
Avionics News March 2012 - All in the Family
Avionics News March 2012 - 31
Avionics News March 2012 - 32
Avionics News March 2012 - 33
Avionics News March 2012 - Survey Reveals Hiring Trends For the Aviation Industry
Avionics News March 2012 - 35
Avionics News March 2012 - A Conversation With...
Avionics News March 2012 - 37
Avionics News March 2012 - Meet the AEA Awards Nominees
Avionics News March 2012 - 39
Avionics News March 2012 - 40
Avionics News March 2012 - 41
Avionics News March 2012 - 42
Avionics News March 2012 - 43
Avionics News March 2012 - Aviation Aces
Avionics News March 2012 - 45
Avionics News March 2012 - 46
Avionics News March 2012 - 47
Avionics News March 2012 - Member Profile
Avionics News March 2012 - 49
Avionics News March 2012 - 50
Avionics News March 2012 - 51
Avionics News March 2012 - The ABCs of Jeppesen
Avionics News March 2012 - 53
Avionics News March 2012 - 54
Avionics News March 2012 - 55
Avionics News March 2012 - 56
Avionics News March 2012 - 57
Avionics News March 2012 - Business Basics
Avionics News March 2012 - 59
Avionics News March 2012 - 60
Avionics News March 2012 - 61
Avionics News March 2012 - Air France Flight 447
Avionics News March 2012 - 63
Avionics News March 2012 - 64
Avionics News March 2012 - 65
Avionics News March 2012 - Theory & Practice
Avionics News March 2012 - 67
Avionics News March 2012 - 68
Avionics News March 2012 - 69
Avionics News March 2012 - Legal Ease
Avionics News March 2012 - 71
Avionics News March 2012 - 72
Avionics News March 2012 - 73
Avionics News March 2012 - What's New
Avionics News March 2012 - 75
Avionics News March 2012 - 76
Avionics News March 2012 - 77
Avionics News March 2012 - Marketplace Classifieds
Avionics News March 2012 - 79
Avionics News March 2012 - 80
Avionics News March 2012 - Cover3
Avionics News March 2012 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-10
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-9
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-8
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-7
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-6
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-5
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-1
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-12
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-11
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-10
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-9
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-8
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-7
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-6
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-5
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-8
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-7
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-6
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-5
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-2
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-8
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-7
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-6
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-5
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-2
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-8
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-7
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-6
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-5
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-2
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-8
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-7
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-6
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-5
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-02
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-01
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-8
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-7
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-6
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-5
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-2
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-8
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-7
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-6
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-5
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-2
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/52-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/52-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/52-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/52-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/52-8
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-7
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-6
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-5
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-1
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-12
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-11
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-10
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-9
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-8
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-7
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-6
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-5
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-1
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-12
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-11
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-10
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-9
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-8
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-7
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-6
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-5
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-1
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-12
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-11
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-10
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-9
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-8
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-7
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-6
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-5
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-1
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/48-12
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/48-11
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com