Avionics News February 2023 - 4

AEA
S
NOW
PO INT O F CO MMUNICATIO N
IF YOU BUILD IT,
THEY WILL COME
ince 1957, the Aircraft Electronics Association
has provided members the benefits and services
they need to excel in business. A key area of
concern has always been finding qualified technicians, and
throughout our history, many important initiatives have
focused on solutions to that problem.
In the early 1990s, the association
established the AEA Educational Foundation
to offer scholarships and assist the academic
community in building avionics programs. In
the early 2000s, the AEA was foundational
in the development of the first industryaccepted
certification for the aircraft
electronics technician (AET). Over the last 15
years, the AEA Educational Foundation has
underwritten the cost of the AET certification
exams at regional conferences and the AEA
International Convention & Trade Show for many of the
nearly 4,000 certified technicians.
In 2008, we established our global training headquarters
Demand for avionics installations and for technicians
MIKE ADAMSON
to perform the work continues an impressive pace since
the ADS-B mandate ended in the U.S. Even with a
pandemic, parts shortages and rising inflation, sales and
installation activity remain strong. In our ongoing effort
to answer the call for finding more technicians, the AEA
established a workforce development
committee focused on building a pipeline of
talent and introducing the next generation
to careers in avionics. We partnered with a
veteran placement organization (NextOp)
to help transitioning service members find
civilian careers in general aviation, and
we established strategies to broadcast the
opportunities available in aviation to a
broader audience.
Last month, the AEA added another tool
and have hosted hundreds of technical and regulatory
courses with thousands of industry professionals passing
through the world-class training facility. In 2018, the
Educational Foundation developed a U.S. Department of
Labor-approved avionics technician apprentice program
aimed at helping members onboard entry-level technicians
and further develop their knowledge, skills and abilities.
Shortly thereafter, we received recognition from the Federal
Aviation Administration that the AET certification is an
acceptable means of compliance for the formal education
requirement toward application of a repairman certificate.
In 2021, our apprentice program was also FAA-recognized
as a path to the issuance of a repairman certificate.
4 avionics news * february 2023
to the industry's belt by launching AeroCareers.net. The
website was designed as a one-stop shop to help recruit
and retain the next generation of talent. Built by your
peers in the industry and powered by the AEA, the new
site offers a spotlight on career paths in aviation and
includes links to jobs, scholarships, aviation schools,
veterans' resources, information for educators, salary
data and more. It is a resource for anyone interested in
aviation and something the entire industry can use when
promoting careers. Visit AeroCareers.net or see the ad on
page 61 to learn more and discover where you can help
the next generation reach higher altitudes. q
MIKE ADAMSON
President and CEO
Aircraft Electronics Association
http://www.AeroCareers.net http://www.AeroCareers.net
Avionics News February 2023

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