Avionics News March 2016 - 79
LEFT: After college,
Randy Pickron
served as an aircraft
mechanic in the U.S.
Marine Corps.
FAR LEFT:
Randy Pickron spent
his early years
working at a small
town airport in
Sylvester, Georgia,
managed by his
father.
"I always gravitated toward the mechanical side," said
Pickron, chief inspector for Southeast Aerospace. "I was
a sponge. The pilots, mechanics and inspectors spent lots
of time teaching me. They always had time to answer my
questions."
Located in Melbourne, Florida, Southeast Aerospace
offers component and integrated services for the aviation
industry, including avionics and instruments sales, MRO,
engineering, and aircraft modifications.
By age 13, Pickron stood next to technicians, helping
them with 25-, 50- and 100-hour inspections, and helped fill
and ready aircraft during crop dusting season.
"It was a great time," said Pickron who also serves as
director of training and a bench technician at Southeast
Aerospace. "I learned a heck of a lot."
After a couple of years in college, Pickron joined the
Marine Corp, servicing helicopters for the first time. The
Marines fostered his interest in aviation and turned him into
the type of person Pickron says he's proud to be.
Changing technology
With 50 years since those early days, Pickron has seen
much in aviation evolve and change. The biggest and best
change so far, according to Pickron, is synthetic vision.
"As a kid at the airport in Sylvester, I would sit in one of
my dad's aircraft looking at all the analog gauges and dials
and think I was Buck Rodgers in the 23rd century flying a
spaceship," he said. "Look at glass cockpits today. There's
synthetic vision and ADS-B. With synthetic vision, you can
see a 3-D depiction of the sky in the cockpit. It's a huge
jump. Wow, where is it going to be 20 years from now?"
Pickron also marvels at the speed of today's air travel,
especially with the promise of commercial flights that cruise
the globe in just a few hours.
"It's exciting to think about what's coming," he said. "I
OPPOSITE PAGE:
At Southeast
Aerospace in
Melbourne, Florida,
Randy Pickron wears
many hats, including
chief inspector,
director of training
and avionics bench
technician.
never foresaw this, ever. To me, the reliability of the engines
is another big change. I think our airframes are getting a
thousand times better than what they were. Everything
just seems to be one big jump in improvement from my
perspective."
Today's tools and equipment offer far more functionality,
flexibility and mobility than decades ago, according to
Pickron. Big, bulky test sets dedicated to just one type
of system, such as comms or navs, took up enormous
amounts of space in shops.
"Now you can damn near test the whole aircraft with
one piece of equipment," he said. "Pilots are seeing similar
benefits in the cockpit. When my dad flew, he carried a
huge case full of charts. Today, pilots use an iPad. It's made
cockpit management a lot more efficient."
Exciting adventures
Through aviation, Pickron not only found a challenging
career, but also exciting adventures and the opportunity to
visit 50 U.S. states and seven countries around the world. In
1978, Pickron worked in Isfahan, Iran, for Bell Helicopter
International as an instructor for the forward air security
command. He taught six students about SAS and AFCS
systems, and radar altimeters.
"Prior to the revolution, the first six months were
fantastic," he said. "I had a lot of good students who wanted
to learn. It was fun waking up in the morning and teaching
these guys about the helicopters. Because of the revolution,
we had to pick up our toolboxes and leave."
Continued on following page
avionics news
*
march
2016
79
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News March 2016
No label
Avionics News March 2016 - Intro
Avionics News March 2016 - Cover1
Avionics News March 2016 - Cover2
Avionics News March 2016 - No label
Avionics News March 2016 - 2
Avionics News March 2016 - 3
Avionics News March 2016 - 4
Avionics News March 2016 - 5
Avionics News March 2016 - 6
Avionics News March 2016 - 7
Avionics News March 2016 - 8
Avionics News March 2016 - 9
Avionics News March 2016 - 10
Avionics News March 2016 - 11
Avionics News March 2016 - 12
Avionics News March 2016 - 13
Avionics News March 2016 - 14
Avionics News March 2016 - 15
Avionics News March 2016 - 16
Avionics News March 2016 - 17
Avionics News March 2016 - 18
Avionics News March 2016 - 19
Avionics News March 2016 - 20
Avionics News March 2016 - 21
Avionics News March 2016 - 22
Avionics News March 2016 - 23
Avionics News March 2016 - 24
Avionics News March 2016 - 25
Avionics News March 2016 - 26
Avionics News March 2016 - 27
Avionics News March 2016 - 28
Avionics News March 2016 - 29
Avionics News March 2016 - 30
Avionics News March 2016 - 31
Avionics News March 2016 - 32
Avionics News March 2016 - 33
Avionics News March 2016 - 34
Avionics News March 2016 - 35
Avionics News March 2016 - 36
Avionics News March 2016 - 37
Avionics News March 2016 - 38
Avionics News March 2016 - 39
Avionics News March 2016 - 40
Avionics News March 2016 - 41
Avionics News March 2016 - 42
Avionics News March 2016 - 43
Avionics News March 2016 - 44
Avionics News March 2016 - 45
Avionics News March 2016 - 46
Avionics News March 2016 - 47
Avionics News March 2016 - 48
Avionics News March 2016 - 49
Avionics News March 2016 - 50
Avionics News March 2016 - 51
Avionics News March 2016 - 52
Avionics News March 2016 - 53
Avionics News March 2016 - 54
Avionics News March 2016 - 55
Avionics News March 2016 - 56
Avionics News March 2016 - 57
Avionics News March 2016 - 58
Avionics News March 2016 - 59
Avionics News March 2016 - 60
Avionics News March 2016 - 61
Avionics News March 2016 - 62
Avionics News March 2016 - 63
Avionics News March 2016 - 64
Avionics News March 2016 - 65
Avionics News March 2016 - 66
Avionics News March 2016 - 67
Avionics News March 2016 - 68
Avionics News March 2016 - 69
Avionics News March 2016 - 70
Avionics News March 2016 - 71
Avionics News March 2016 - 72
Avionics News March 2016 - 73
Avionics News March 2016 - 74
Avionics News March 2016 - 75
Avionics News March 2016 - 76
Avionics News March 2016 - 77
Avionics News March 2016 - 78
Avionics News March 2016 - 79
Avionics News March 2016 - 80
Avionics News March 2016 - 81
Avionics News March 2016 - 82
Avionics News March 2016 - 83
Avionics News March 2016 - 84
Avionics News March 2016 - 85
Avionics News March 2016 - 86
Avionics News March 2016 - 87
Avionics News March 2016 - 88
Avionics News March 2016 - Cover3
Avionics News March 2016 - 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