Avionics News April 2014 - 11

In Memory of Lamont Durante

By Joe Caesar, with contribution from Ed Furst Jr.

The avionics industry has lost another pioneer and
As fast as avionics technology was advancing
true friend.
from the equipment manufacturers, the AEA had to
Lamont Durante, age 59, passed away Feb. 22, after a
adapt the education and training for new installation
lifelong battle with the debilitating effects of diabetes. He
requirements and procedures. Each year, a new
leaves his wife of 36 years, Rubyann; daughters Elizabeth
advancement in avionics technology came along. The
and Kristin; and two grandchildren, Colin and Mason. For
equipment required special installation requirements
more than 30 years, Durante was an instrumental figure
and installation regulations, which were being written
in the avionics industry, and he served on the Aircraft
as fast as the equipment became available. At that
Electronics Association board of directors
time, the ACOs seemed the last people to
from 1997 to 2000.
be informed on new technology - we all
In the early days of the avionics and
had to educate each other and Durante's
electronics industry, there were few major
contribution became invaluable.
independent avionics installation, repair
The thing I remember most that set him
and certification centers in the country.
apart from the norm - he had no animosity
The larger organizations were among many
toward anyone and always seemed available
smaller, independent avionics installation
to help on an avionics project, often at his
centers located across the U.S. that
own expense.
supported and led the way for new avionics
He felt the AEA was like a brotherhood,
Lamont Durante
product installations and Federal Aviation
and he was always eager to assist equipment
Administration certification.
manufacturers and competitors alike. His
Believe it or not, there was a time before cellphones
feeling was to let the industry compete on price; not by
and laptop computers. In avionics terms, this meant
hoarding STCs. The ACOs were extremely jammed with
electro-mechanical instruments and navigation by Loran
projects in those days, and it was extremely difficult to
C and DME. Flying was from VOR to VOR, and if you
get a new STC installation approved. Durante was the
were really cutting edge, there was VLF Omega and
one person who was instrumental in setting the practice
weather radar. EFIS and GPS was a distant dream. Back
of selling his avionics equipment installation STCs at a
then, the buyer of a new corporate jet could include an a
reduced cost to anyone who would also share and pass
la carte list of avionics equipment options from several
the practice along to other AEA members. This went
different manufacturers, a practice unheard of today.
a long way toward making available difficult avionics
We all are aware of the tremendous technological
STC installations to several AEA members and helped
advances in avionics capability and safety. But for those
reduce the logjam for the ACOs.
of us who remember, the paths taken to achieve these
Durante was true to his profession and studied to
avionics installations and FAA certifications were not
improve his knowledge, becoming an authority on any
easy. That's where Durante came in. As an avionics
avionics subject matter.
technician and eventually the avionics manager at
In his spare time, Durante was a proud volunteer
Atlantic Aviation in Wilmington, Del., Durante was
firefighter for the Christiana Township in Delaware,
active in the AEA, along with the early AEA regional
and he actually drove the fire truck. People who first
directors like Ed Furst Sr., Ed Stead, Tom Kokozinski,
met him often wondered why he always wore red
Dutch Arver, Don Hall, George Lewison, and others
suspenders; now you know.
who helped define and guide the organization through
During his career, he worked at Global Wulfsberg,
many of the difficult avionics business issues of the day.
Atlantic Aviation, Spirit Avionics, Garrett Aviation
Durante also served as an advisor to the General
Augusta, Midcoast Aviation, Savannah Air Center,
Aviation Manufacturers Association, assisting with
West Star Aviation, and Capital Avionics in Florida. He
policy and requirements for many of the certification
will be long remembered by his friends in the AEA and
and regulatory issues of the day.
at home in Delaware. q

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Avionics News April 2014

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