Avionics News June 2013 - 31

What’s Working For You?
Paula Derks, AEA president, set this year’s
convention’s theme during her annual State of the
Association address on Tuesday, March 26: “Let’s Get
To Work!” Noting the AEA Convention’s most recent
appearance in Las Vegas was 2004, a year in which
the general aviation industry posted its third-highest
billings ever, Derks contrasted the industry’s situation
nine years ago against its current state. A lot of things
have changed.
Most significant among them, of course, is the
overall state of the worldwide economy. Longgone U.S. tax incentives also are a factor, as is the
increased demand from an economy the Boston
Globe characterized in early 2005 as having its “best
performance in five years despite slowing in the final
stretch.” The results, Derks pointed out, included a
“surge in nearly every sector,” helped along by eagerly
anticipated entries into the market of both very light
jets and light-sport aircraft. No one knew at the time
that 2004 would be something of a high-water mark for
both the U.S. domestic and international economies,
followed by entry into the Great Recession, as many
have labeled the economic downturn beginning in
2007. Meanwhile, both very light jets and light-sport
aircraft have arrived, but not in the hoped-for numbers.
“When we look back on those glory days of 2004
to 2007...we didn’t stop working,” Derks reminded
attendees. “We’re all still here. This room is full.” She
also pointed out the last nine years aren’t the
first time either the general aviation or
avionics industries faced hard times. How
did executives and industry icons, such as
Ed King or Chuck Peacock, AEA founder,
and Monte Mitchell, former AEA president,
cope with the very same challenges of their
era, she asked.
“They embraced what was
working and they overcame...
any challenges that they
had,” she answered. Her
presentation identified
AEA members like Hal
Adams, chief operating
officer of Accord

Kent McIntyre of Bevan-Rabell Inc. in Wichita,
Kan., is the 2013 AEA Member of the Year.

Technology, and Clive Law-Brown, of Hamilton Aero in
New Zealand, as avionics industry executives who have
recognized difficult economic times, responded to them
effectively and who are willing to share what they’ve
learned.
Derks went on to set the tone for the rest of the
convention by asking AEA members, “What’s working

for you? What work needs to be done to drive business
growth right here and now?” She encouraged attendees
to share with others present at the convention in Las
Vegas the best practices and ideas that are working for
their respective companies.

Measuring The Market
In her address, Derks also announced the new
AEA Avionics Market Report, the industry’s
first comprehensive “snapshot” of its worldwide
economic impact. Stemming from a seed planted at
the previous year’s convention, the Avionics Market
Report reflects aviation electronics sales
figures as communicated directly from
the 20 participating avionics and
instrument manufacturers.
The total year-end 2012
avionics sales figure as
represented by the 20
manufacturers was
$6,279,317,197.54, or nearly
$6.3 billion.
Continued on following page

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Avionics News June 2013

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