Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2016-2017 - 4
PILOT'S GUIDE FROM THE PUBLISHER The time to equip with ADS-B avionics is now! Repair shops ready to help aircraft owners comply with U.S. mandate W elcome to the 14th edition of the Pilot's Guide to Day 2020 will arrive sooner than you think . With more than Avionics, a consumer's directory loaded with educa100,000 general aviation airplanes to equip by the deadline, tional articles, timely information and data about the the capacity for repair stations to meet the U .S . installation wonderful world of avionics technologies . This free publication is demands is shrinking each day . distributed to thousands of pilots and aircraft owners each year, In fact, the time to equip has never been better than now . helping them to make better buying decisions and locate nearly I encourage all owners of U .S .-registered, fixed-wing, single1,300 AEA member companies in more than 40 countries . engine piston aircraft to take advantage of the FAA's newly Founded in 1957, the Aircraft Electronics Association has announced $500 rebate program . According to the FAA, the served the general aviation industry for rebates will be available in the fall of 2016 . more than 50 years . A truly international Act quickly, because the rebates will be organization, the AEA membership includes available on a first-come, first-served manufacturers and distributors of avionics basis for one year, or until 20,000 rebates and instruments, and government-certified are claimed, whichever comes first . You repair stations specializing in maintenance, can learn more details about the FAA's repair and installation of avionics and elecrebate program beginning on page 46 . tronic systems in general aviation aircraft . For quite some time, it's been widely Each government-certified repair station reported that aircraft owners and repair brings with it a degree of oversight that canshop customers in the U .S . have been not be matched in the private sector . After asking the FAA for some type of financial all, pilots and aircraft owners don't want just incentive since the ADS-B Out mandate anyone working on their airplane or helicopwas announced in 2010 . Now the aircraft ter, as life depends on it . owners have them via the FAA's rebate The certification standards, which now program, and the time to equip is now, parare higher than ever, guarantee specific ticularly with a variety of innovative ADS-B PAULA R. DERKS capabilities and functions continuously solutions at all price ranges on the market . President, Aircraft Electronics Association Publisher, Pilot's Guide to Avionics implemented for a facility to be, and remain, Another thing for aircraft owners to keep approved by its civil aviation authority . in mind is that the longer they delay the Owners and employees of AEA member installation, the more likely they will pay repair stations regularly attend technical training workshops higher installation costs as we get closer to the deadline . Not on the latest avionics products . As AEA members, they have only do we face a potential logjam and capacity issue in 2018 access to an organization that helps train qualified technicians and 2019, the repair stations may start charging higher installaand provide stable business practices and safe operations, tion fees based upon supply and demand . Combined with the which pays dividends to aircraft owners and pilots . timing of the FAA's rebate program, aircraft owners are facing a As a result, the services provided by these governmenttremendous opportunity to get compliant during the next 12 to 15 certified repair shops are becoming increasingly important . months . An AEA member shop is ready to help, so don't delay . For example, consider the ADS-B Out compliance date of Enjoy the Pilot's Guide to Avionics . Complimentary copJan . 1, 2020, from the Federal Aviation Administration in the ies of this publication may be requested while supplies last at U .S . While it's a little more than three years away, New Year's AEAPilotsGuide .net . q -4-