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

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

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http://AEAPilotsGuide.net

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2016-2017