Avionics News May 2014 - 71

THE VIEW FROM WASHINGTON
Continued from page 15

And speaking of NextGen, did you get a chance to stop
by the NEXA Capital Partners booth? In January, the
association announced a partnership agreement with the
NextGen GA Fund to accelerate the rollout of NextGen
by providing access to quick, affordable financial incentives to aid aircraft owners. The NextGen GA Fund will
finance NextGen installations, using stipulated equipage
families to include WAAS-capable GPS, ADS-B In,
ADS-B Out, RNAV/RNP avionics, data communications,
SWIM, flat-panel displays, antennas, electronic components, instrument panel modifications, and installation
and certification costs. The Fund is a public-private partnership formed between the U.S. Congress, the aerospace
industry and the private-sector investment community.
Congress approved of this program by granting federal
loan guarantees found in Section 221 of the Federal
Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2012.
And while you were on the exhibit hall floor, did you
join the sporting in and around the silent auction area?
If you walked by the auction without hanging around
to watch the friendly sporting activity all geared toward
supporting academic scholarships for the next generation
of technicians, you missed the fun. Each year, there are
a dozen or so AEA members who compete for the silent
auction items simply for the sport of it.
And this year's leadership panel focused on technology
- advancing yesterday's technologies while keeping an eye
on tomorrow. Starting as a "simple" FAA Part 23 rewrite,
this activity has grown into an international movement with
the cleaning up of Part 23, leveraging consensus standards
as acceptable means of compliance, and the newly accepted
ASTM International standard for angle of attack indicators. The Part 23 efforts have become the model for future
planned reviews in other categories of aircraft. This session
provided the results of the Part 23 review and report from
the aviation rulemaking committee. It also provided an
overview of the ASTM International efforts in supporting
general aviation, avionics and UAS, and the advancements
for next generation safety-enhancing technologies.
Part two of the leadership panel looked toward the future.
The emerging drone market could create a tremendous new
revenue stream for AEA members. To prepare for these
opportunities, the AEA leadership panel presented a full
course on drones - from applications to certification, training and sales.
The professional development opportunities at this year's
event were second to none. But this was a "Tale of Two

Conventions." Through fate of unpredictable weather this
winter, I was honored to share a special event with friends
and acquaintances. Two weeks before the convention, I was
supposed to be in Washington, D.C., to receive a journalism award. The National Air Transportation Association
recognized me for this column published each month in
Avionics News to promote standardization, consistency and
professionalism in our industry. I am still a bit shocked that
I was selected for this year's award. It is really unusual for
one association to recognize another association, and this
also was the association that Paula Derks recruited me away
from 13 years ago.
Unfortunately, because of the icy weather in Washington,
I wasn't able to attend the awards ceremony as scheduled.
As a backup, the award was presented at this year's AEA
Convention, which was awesome in its own right. But
this is where the unexpected happened. First, thanks to
FedEx and overnight deliveries, Derks was able to have
the award delivered to Nashville for "take two." Then, my
longtime friend and associate, Michael Sundheim, arrived
to represent the National Air Transportation Association
at the awards luncheon to personally present the award.
I was very thankful, as the two of us previously served
as directors of an organization back in the mid-1990s
dedicated to promoting the technical skills of aviation as
a viable career called "Make It Fly," and we have worked
together in parallel for the past 20 years.
Much to Derks' chagrin, I was speechless when presented the award. Well not exactly, as I accepted the
award on behalf of the AEA team who produces Avionics
News each and every month (and make an old mechanic
sound literate). But mostly, I accepted the award on
behalf of you, the readers of the magazine. Without you,
the articles we publish are nothing more than meaningless
words written on a piece of paper.
This is where the twist of fate takes an unexpected turn.
So far, all of this could have taken place in Washington,
D.C. But when the weather changed fate, it also created
the opportunity for you to share in this award. For the final
two days of the convention, I was routinely stopped and
warmly congratulated about the recognition. And all I can
offer is a very humble thank you.
Well our work isn't done. We will continue to train and
educate on these pages. We will continue to challenge the
authorities, and, perhaps most important of all, we will
continue to promote your professionalism.
Without a doubt, my greatest accomplishment is simply
the opportunity to serve you and this industry. Thank you,
and see you at next year's AEA International Convention
& Trade Show. q
avionics news

may

2014

Avionics News May 2014

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