NEWS
GARY KELLEY TO RECEIVE 2015 AEA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD DURING AEA CONVENTION
Gary Kelley will be presented with the 2015 Aircraft Electronics Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the AEA’s board of directors, during the opening session of the 58th annual AEA International Convention & Trade Show on Wednesday, April 8, at Marriott’s Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. Kelley will be recognized by the AEA board of directors for his countless hours of volunteerism for the association, including his service as a board member and his leadership on the AEA’s Future Studies Report, a strategic plan developed in the mid-1990s. Kelley retired from Garmin International in December 2011 as vice president of marketing, where he led Garmin’s aviation, marine, outdoor fitness and automotive divisions. He joined Garmin in 1992 as director of marketing, during which time he oversaw the development of Garmin’s global marketing, sales, support and advertising strategies in the early days of the company. He also served as director of Garmin Europe from 1993 to 2004. Under his executive leadership, Garmin was named the
AEA Associate Member of the Year on three occasions: 1994; 2000; and 2011. From 1972-92, Kelley worked for the general aviation
avionics division of Allied Signal/BendixKing, where he served as director of marketing administration. In addition to his service on the AEA board of directors, he also served as a board member for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association and the National Business Aviation Association. “Gary Kelley was instrumental in the early formation of
Garmin’s sales and marketing efforts around the world, and he was a passionate leader for the general aviation industry as a whole,” says Paula Derks, AEA president. “He helped develop Garmin’s aviation business segment, including the introduction of products such as the GNS 430 and 530, and the G1000 integrated cockpit system. A true industry visionary, he also helped bring Garmin avionics into larger, Part 25 aircraft. This award is truly deserved, and on behalf of the AEA board of directors, I offer my heartfelt thanks for his many years of service to the AEA and the general aviation electronics industry.” Kelley earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Baker University. He also owns a commercial pilot license, and instrument and flight instructor ratings. A lifelong resident of the Kansas City area, he and his wife, Pamela, have three children: Sean, Shannon and Brian.
AOPA FOCUSES ON REFORM AT AVIATION SUBCOMMITTEE ROUNDTABLE
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) needs to reform its regulatory and certification processes, including allowing more pilots to fly without obtaining a third-class
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medical and making it easier to bring safety technology into the cockpit, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) told a U.S. House of Representatives Aviation Subcommittee roundtable on Feb. 25. “The general aviation community needs a regulatory and
certification environment that can keep pace with rapidly changing technology,” says Jim Coon, AOPA senior vice president of government affairs. In remarks to the roundtable, Coon pointed out that the general aviation industry has been under stress as the number of pilots has declined and the fleet has aged. But, he said, that trend can be reversed by creating an environment that supports growth and modernization. He added that the FAA’s current regulatory and certification processes are too prescriptive and cumbersome. Coon also told the group that the general aviation
community needs third-class medical reform, which seeks to build on the sport pilot standard that has been used successfully for more than a decade. That standard allows some pilots to fly recreationally without going through the costly and time-consuming process of obtaining a third-class medical certificate. The FAA needs long-term reauthorization to ensure it has the stable funding to make necessary changes to the way the agency does business. That funding should continue to come from excise taxes on aviation fuel, as it does today, rather than from user fees, Coon said. During discussions, Coon also addressed the high cost of equipping to meet the FAA’s 2020 ADS-B Out mandate. Coon noted that the mandate requires aircraft owners to spend thousands of dollars simply to be allowed to continue flying in the same airspace they use today. In addition to AOPA, the roundtable included
representatives from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General’s office, Airlines for America, Honeywell, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association and the Reason Foundation.
FORMER BUSINESS AIRCRAFT GROUP VP MERRITT “KEITH” THOGMARTIN JOINS SPIRIT AERONAUTICS Spirit Aeronautics announces that Merritt “Keith” Thogmartin has joined its Quality Control team. “Every day we are on the hunt for unparalleled talent and will do whatever it takes to fill our team with industry professionals that share our same vision and motivations,” says Tony Bailey, president & COO. “Keith is a perfect example of someone who is not only a recognized leader in the industry, but also an unparalleled professional with exceptional technical knowledge and business acumen. He has the experience and knowledge to bring additional depth and quality to our inspection program. We are excited to have Keith on our team and feel confident that he will be an elemental part of our continued success.” Thogmartin began his aviation career as an aircraft technician for Sprite-Flight Jets rising up through the ranks at different companies including director of maintenance
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