Avionics News July 2013 - 13

AEA Discusses Safety Issues
with FAA Administrator
Recently, Paula Derks, Aircraft Electronics Association
president, met with Michael Huerta, Federal Aviation
Administration Administrator, to share safety initiatives along
with other trade associations.
Other associations represented at the meeting in Washington,
D.C., included the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association;
Experimental Aircraft Association; General Aviation
Manufacturers Association; Helicopter Association
International; International Council of Air Shows;
National Agricultural Aviation Association;
National Air Transportation Association;
National Business Aviation Association; and the
United States Parachute Association. In addition,
a representative from the National Transportation
Safety Board participated in the discussion.
The primary purpose of the meeting was to reaffirm the commitment to general aviation safety by all parties, and the recognition of the industry’s dedication in the past
and continued future efforts.
The meeting objectives included recognizing that the general aviation accident rate has significantly improved during
the last 20 years because of industry and FAA efforts, with
these efforts continuing; recognition of the significant amount
of work that has already been undertaken and is ongoing;
with recent trends a concern, safety is an ongoing effort that
requires a global and long-term view; and agreement on the

support needed from the FAA in the “key areas” that associations will continue to address.
“Safety has always been a large part of the AEA’s mission,”
Derks said. “In my remarks to Administrator Huerta, I shared
many of the AEA’s safety initiatives, including our SMS
(safety management system) program and our extensive list of
training courses offered to members. The AEA conducts more
than 100 hours of technical training courses annually at
various international locations, which brings together
original equipment manufacturers and avionics technicians.
“Realizing the budget constraints the FAA is
currently facing, the AEA simply asks the FAA to
recognize the value of our training programs by
encouraging and allowing the FAA’s aviation safety
inspectors in the field to attend these valuable training
courses. Aviation safety inspectors are responsible for approving and signing off important installations, and there is no better opportunity to learn about these new systems and integration than at the same venue as avionics technicians. The AEA
stands ready to work alongside this coalition and the FAA to
roll up our sleeves and work on keeping the U.S. aviation system safer than ever.”
Following the meeting, the FAA released a fact sheet on
general aviation safety, which is published in its entirety beginning on page 64. q

The second and third AEA Regional Meetings of 2013
will take place in the month of August.
The third annual AEA Latin America Regional Meeting
is set for Aug. 12-13 at the Bourbon Convention Hotel
Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo, Brazil. A full meeting registration
is $310 USD per attendee, and the deadline for advance
registration is Aug. 8. The two-day event is scheduled
prior to the 10th annual Latin American Business Aviation
Conference & Exhibition, which is scheduled for Aug.
14-16. Please note the AEA conference is separate from the
LABACE show, and both events require separate registrations. Attendees will have the opportunity to attend both the
AEA conference, and then stay for LABACE, the world’s

second largest business aviation convention and the largest
in Latin America.
In addition, the AEA Canada Regional Meeting takes
place at the Delta Ottawa City Centre in Ottawa, Ontario,
Aug. 27-28. A full meeting registration is $285 USD per
attendee, and the deadline for advance registration is Aug.
22. The exhibitor registration fee is $545 USD and includes
two booth personnel and display table in the exhibit hall.
The Delta Ottawa City Centre’s prime downtown location
is within walking distance of an array of entertainment, cultural and artistic venues.
For complete meeting details or to register, visit the AEA
website at www.aea.net/regional. q

AEA Regional Meetings Continue Internationally

avionics news • • july
avionics news
july

2013

http://www.aea.net/regional

Avionics News July 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News July 2013