Avionics News February 2015 - 9

AEA hosts Part 23
Aircraft Retrofit Forum

On Thursday, Dec. 18, the Aircraft Electronics
Association played host to a Part 23 Aircraft Retrofit Forum
at its international headquarters in Lee's Summit, Missouri.
Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration's
Headquarters Maintenance Branch and the Small
Airplane Directorate met with industry leaders to examine the retrofit market and the regulations, guidance and
policies affecting it, with a primary focus on light general aviation aircraft.
Avionics repair stations specializing in Part 23 installations were in attendance, along with representatives
from avionics manufacturers that produce equipment for
the Part 23 market.

The aviation industry struggles with retrofitting the current fleet of Part 23 and legacy CAR 3 aircraft. While the
FAA has developed and published many documents for the
installation of avionics and other systems such as Advisory
Circular 43.13, the FAA does not adequately address the
removal and replacement of currently installed systems.
This one-day forum began the process of developing guidance regarding the retrofit of the current general aviation
fleet, including updated guidance on the evaluation of
alterations (determination of major/minor).
A follow-on report from this event will be available
during the AEA International Convention & Trade Show
in Dallas. q

U.S. Congress funds Department of
Transportation through September 2015
The U.S. Congress avoided a government shutdown
by passing an omnibus spending bill in mid-December
to fund the Department of Transportation, which
includes the Federal Aviation Administration, through
the end of the fiscal year, or Sept. 30, 2015.
The legislation includes $15.84 billion in fiscal year
2015 funding for the FAA, slightly higher than the
$15.76 billion budget for 2014 and $440 million more
than the White House request of $15.4 billion. It also
includes $6 million for continuing research and testing
of alternatives to leaded avgas.
The spending package includes language regarding
the Small Airplane Revitalization Act, which became
law in November 2013. Specifically, the FAA is
expected to use the resources as requested in the bud-

get request to support the completion of a final rule
that advances the safety and continued development
of small airplanes, as required by the act, which set a
2015 deadline for the reform of aircraft certification
rules.
In addition, Congress extended both the research
and development tax credit and bonus depreciation
deduction through Dec. 31, 2014; both had previously
expired at the end of last year. Businesses may claim
tax credits for their research investments through the
research and development tax credit, while the bonus
depreciation deduction helps companies purchasing a
general aviation aircraft to deduct 50 percent of the
depreciable value of the aircraft in the first year.
President Obama signed the legislation into law. q

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Avionics News February 2015

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