Avionics News January 2014 - 23

FACILITIES: 13,763-square-foot facility at
the Capital Region International Airport
in Lansing, Mich., includes hangar, office,
storage and shop space

WHAT THEY DO:
Beacon Aviation is an FAA-certified
repair station, providing avionics,
airframe and powerplant services for
single- and twin-piston aircraft.

EMPLOYEES: Eight
FOUNDED: 2003 by Charles Cooper
AEA MEMBER SINCE: 2008

Beacon Aviation of Michigan founder,
Charles Cooper, repairs the HSI system on a Corsair.

Balancing Act
Cooper and his wife, Amy, started Beacon Aviation in
2003, with the help of two other shareholders, including Les
Ojala who currently serves as maintenance manager for the
service center. Cooper bought out the other shareholder in
2007.
Cooper's niece, Nicole Marchek, often helps at the shop,
filing and processing documents, and assisting with shipping
and receiving.
"I have two sons, but they don't want to have anything to do
with it," said Cooper, who finds balancing all of the business
elements to be one of his biggest challenges. "I think they
see how much work it is to own your own business. You have
to deal with the FAA, making sure you're in compliance.
There's a lot of paperwork. You have to keep all of your

customers happy while keeping your pricing competitive.
Everything has to be organized and in its place."
As many Aircraft Electronics Association members know,
learning the requirements of a new FAA Flight Standards
District Office takes time, too. Beacon Aviation originally
opened in Mason, Mich. After five years, Cooper moved the
company 15 miles north to the Capital Region International
Airport in Lansing.
"The lease agreement for that facility was very, very
expensive," Cooper said. "We moved up here to lower our
overhead. It's actually a larger facility. We currently use 12,000
square feet, but we can expand into another 13,000 square
feet if needed. We had to change FSDOs when we moved up
Continued on following page

avionics news

*

january

2014

23



Avionics News January 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News January 2014

Point of Communication
AEA Now
The View From Washington
International News and Regulatory Updates
The In Crowd
Member Profile
Sales and Service
A Conversation With...
Make Way for LCDs
Lithium Batteries 101
Member Profile
Autopilot Upgrades
Aviation Aces
NCATT Becomes Part of ASTM International
Essential Documentation
What Do Dealers Want?
Legal Ease
Business Basics
What's New
Marketplace Classifieds
Avionics News January 2014 - Intro
Avionics News January 2014 - Cover1
Avionics News January 2014 - Cover2
Avionics News January 2014 - 1
Avionics News January 2014 - 2
Avionics News January 2014 - 3
Avionics News January 2014 - Point of Communication
Avionics News January 2014 - 5
Avionics News January 2014 - AEA Now
Avionics News January 2014 - 7
Avionics News January 2014 - 8
Avionics News January 2014 - 9
Avionics News January 2014 - 10
Avionics News January 2014 - 11
Avionics News January 2014 - The View From Washington
Avionics News January 2014 - 13
Avionics News January 2014 - International News and Regulatory Updates
Avionics News January 2014 - 15
Avionics News January 2014 - 16
Avionics News January 2014 - 17
Avionics News January 2014 - The In Crowd
Avionics News January 2014 - 19
Avionics News January 2014 - 20
Avionics News January 2014 - 21
Avionics News January 2014 - Member Profile
Avionics News January 2014 - 23
Avionics News January 2014 - 24
Avionics News January 2014 - 25
Avionics News January 2014 - Sales and Service
Avionics News January 2014 - 27
Avionics News January 2014 - 28
Avionics News January 2014 - 29
Avionics News January 2014 - 30
Avionics News January 2014 - 31
Avionics News January 2014 - A Conversation With...
Avionics News January 2014 - 33
Avionics News January 2014 - Make Way for LCDs
Avionics News January 2014 - 35
Avionics News January 2014 - 36
Avionics News January 2014 - 37
Avionics News January 2014 - Lithium Batteries 101
Avionics News January 2014 - 39
Avionics News January 2014 - 40
Avionics News January 2014 - 41
Avionics News January 2014 - Member Profile
Avionics News January 2014 - 43
Avionics News January 2014 - 44
Avionics News January 2014 - 45
Avionics News January 2014 - Autopilot Upgrades
Avionics News January 2014 - 47
Avionics News January 2014 - 48
Avionics News January 2014 - 49
Avionics News January 2014 - 50
Avionics News January 2014 - 51
Avionics News January 2014 - Aviation Aces
Avionics News January 2014 - 53
Avionics News January 2014 - NCATT Becomes Part of ASTM International
Avionics News January 2014 - 55
Avionics News January 2014 - Essential Documentation
Avionics News January 2014 - 57
Avionics News January 2014 - What Do Dealers Want?
Avionics News January 2014 - 59
Avionics News January 2014 - Legal Ease
Avionics News January 2014 - 61
Avionics News January 2014 - Business Basics
Avionics News January 2014 - 63
Avionics News January 2014 - 64
Avionics News January 2014 - 65
Avionics News January 2014 - What's New
Avionics News January 2014 - 67
Avionics News January 2014 - 68
Avionics News January 2014 - 69
Avionics News January 2014 - Marketplace Classifieds
Avionics News January 2014 - 71
Avionics News January 2014 - 72
Avionics News January 2014 - Cover3
Avionics News January 2014 - Cover4
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