Avionics News January 2022 - 4

AEA NOW
s aviation's technology experts, the members
of the Aircraft Electronics Association for
more than 65 years have worked together
PO INT O F CO MMUNICATIO N
AEA'S NEW
MISSION AND VISION
A
to bring innovative products to market and make flying
safer. Government-certified repair stations and approved
maintenance organizations around the world are the sales
channel for their OEM partners to deliver the newest
electronics, instruments, flight decks, and cabin connectivity
solutions so the flying public can reach their
destination as safely and efficiently as possible.
When the AEA was established in 1957, our
mission was to help bring the manufacturers
and their channel representatives together
for a common voice and further develop the
relationship and business practices for each.
Today, our purpose is very much the same,
and the maintenance of this vital relationship
between the shops and OEMs is foundational.
To improve on our long history of adding
MIKE ADAMSON
value for members and the industry, and to
provide guidance for the future, the AEA board of directors
embarked on an extensive strategic planning initiative. We
were fortunate in some ways with our timing, as the initiative
began right before the pandemic started. This allowed us to
closely monitor challenges and opportunities the industry has
never seen before in real time. Our decision-making could
happen in step with these very serious market influences. The
long-term value of that is priceless when you are preparing
for the future. The planning process was able to persist, and
this fall, with the help of our membership, leaders in the
industry, and a dedicated committee of industry professionals,
the AEA board and staff developed, proposed and adopted a
new strategic plan for the association.
The new five-year outlook comprises three main areas of
focus including workforce, member relations and member
categories. The goals and strategies for these areas of focus
4 avionics news * january 2022
will soon be shared in more detail, as they support a broader
mission and vision for the association. To provide a new
direction for the future, the board and planning committee
members carefully considered the history and legacy of the
organization and crafted a new mission:
To educate, communicate, and advocate for aviation
businesses around the world that manufacture, support,
and install innovative technologies for flight.
Keeping lines of communication open,
providing a voice for the industry, and
educating our members and future aviators are
cornerstones for the AEA and integral in our
new mission statement. In a broader sense, we
also have a higher purpose, and it's something
we have been doing since the first navigational
aid or communication device was installed on
an airplane - innovating lifesaving technologies.
From engineering to certification and
installation to maintenance, our members'
business is all about bringing these technologies
to market, saving lives and making flying more efficient in the
process. Nearly everything we touch in aircraft electronics is
powered or is the source of power for these safety-enhancing
technologies. The AEA and its members:
Power safer and more efficient flight.
Simply stated, this is a clear vision for the association and
a recognition of the significance of our industry. It shows the
direction for the next generation of technologies and the duty
of the professionals who will bring it all to market. The board
and staff are excited to carry out the work that lies ahead
with the new strategic plan and would like to thank everyone
involved in the process. q
MIKE ADAMSON
President & CEO
Aircraft Electronics Association
Avionics News January 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News January 2022
