Avionics News August 2014 - 30

In addition to comparing its business performance to
the rest of the industry, Garmin employs it when making
decisions about the future, according to Alpiser. "This is
By Dec. 31, 2013, several more companies agreed
helpful information to definitively know if our industry
to participate in the new AEA Avionics Market Report:
is growing, contracting or running stable," he said.
Accord Technology, Aircell, Alto Aviation, Anodyne
The report has similar value for individual shops, acElectronics Manufacturing Corp., Cool City Avionics,
cording to Derks. As it does for the OEMs, the report's
FreeFlight Systems, Genesys Aerosystems, Honeywell
numbers work in concert with each shop's analysis of
Business & General Aviation, ICG, Jupiter Avionics,
their own business when considering increasing their caLatitude Technologies, L-3 Aviation Products, PS Enpabilities and/or staff. And it can support their business
gineering, Sandia Aerospace, Shadin Avionics and Trig
plans when seeking financing or investment. "If they
Avionics. In addition, L-3 and ICG
are located on an airport, they will
joined the report's guiding ad hoc
be better armed when going to the
committee, bringing its membership
airport board because they can show
to 10.
what their business brings to the loIN ANY INDUSTRY,
The companies that participate in
cal economy," Derks added.
HARD NUMBERS
the report may change quarterly or
The reported information is
annually, Derks warned, so anyone
equally important in the legislative
AND QUANTIFIABLE
making a comparative analysis of
arena, as well.
STATISTICS
the data should keep this in mind.
"The report is an important tool
Each report lists its contributing parwe use to help educate lawmakers
MEASURE ITS
ticipants, and "I'm still working on
and the general public on the valuthe handful of missing companies."
able contribution our industry makes
NATIONAL AND
"Participation of all OEMs is necto economic growth, the increased
GLOBAL ECONOMIC
essary to fully quantify the economsafety of aviation and technological
ic impact of our industry," said Kim
advancement," Stephenson said. "We
IMPACT AND VALUE
Stephenson, L-3's senior manager of
choose to pursue this through the
TO THE ECONOMY.
aftermarket business development.
AEA, as it represents our industry
"Every OEM's contribution is relwith the credibility and global recogevant. Because each avionics OEM
nition that GAMA (General Aviation
benefits from the publication of the
Manufacturers Association) reprecombined data, it makes sense for all to participate. The
sents the aircraft manufacturing industry."
AEA does not impose a 'pay-to-play' requirement for
On this aspect of the AEA Market Report, Mayfield is
associate membership; instead, it relies on the volunbluntly concise: "The collective 'clout' of our segment
tary support and participation of members. The effort is
is more significant than that of individual companies
minimal, and the resulting report is invaluable to each of
when we voice responses to regulations or government
us. The AEA has been vigilant with continued commupolicies."
nication of what type of sales should be included in the
Ultimately, participating in the AEA Avionics Market
report, and we believe the information is accurate."
Report is part of being a good steward to the industry,
The report also has clear benefits for individual busiaccording to Alpiser. "By sharing this data, we feel organesses.
nizations, particularly the AEA, can better represent the
"The report provides our business with a multiplier
avionics industry to the general public," he said. "The
effect when it comes to the contributions we, as avionics
development of cutting-edge avionics products is immanufacturers, have on the aerospace industry as a whole
portant work and has a significant impact on the global
and provides us with an observable measurement of
economic environment. Collectively, we should be proud
quarterly and annual performance," said ICG's Mayfield.
of the work we do and support the AEA Avionics Market
"This serves as both an incentive and a confirmation of
Report that helps others to understand the true impact of
our own internal initiatives and market analysis."
the avionics industry." q
BUILDING FROM THE BASELINE
Continued from page 29

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Avionics News August 2014

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