FROM THE EDITOR
AVIONICS
The AEA International Convention and Trade Show will be March 24-27 in Nashville. The AEA show is an opportunity for A&Ps and avionics professionals to learn about the latest products and services available, network with peers and gain valuable insight and training. A lot has changed since I started turning
wrenches on aircraft more than three decades ago. Although I’m not quite as “seasoned” as Roger Beebe, my avionics experience started out quite similar to his. Like he shares in his article “AEA and Avionics History” on page 32, we had an avionics department where I worked. Any time an electrical problem popped up that required a significant amount of troubleshooting, we just called the avionics shop. They were able to troubleshoot the discrepancy much more quickly than we could, allowing us mechanics to keep working on other projects. While having an avionics department
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
JOE ESCOBAR
jescobar@DOMmagazine.com 920.747.0195
was great for the company, it was detrimental to me and my fellow mechanics in the long run. We didn’t learn the skills necessary to troubleshoot electrical systems. We weren’t encouraged to attend training courses to advance our knowledge on avionics and electrical systems since we had a department dedicated to doing just that. Fast forward 30 years. Today’s aircraft
are far more complex. There are no longer lines between airframe, powerplant and avionics. Electrical systems are a key component of modern airframes and powerplants. To be successful, today’s A&Ps need to have a strong knowledge of electrical systems. It’s no longer a good thing to have this knowledge — it’s practically a necessity. Several years ago, I was invited to attend FlightSafety International’s Principles of Troubleshooting course in Wichita. I wish I would have taken the course early on in my career. It covered basic troubleshooting skills that help find solutions to discrepancies in any system including electronics. The hands-on course
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used computer simulations of discrepancies that allowed me and my classmates to test our troubleshooting skills. A running tally was kept of all the steps we took in our troubleshooting process. If we wanted to test a cannon plug, time and man-hours were added for the time to remove any panels or equipment to access the plug. Replacing the wrong component cost man-hours and dollars. This was a helpful visual to help us understand the true cost of inefficient troubleshooting skills. To help keep pace with the advancement
of aircraft technologies, the National Center for Aerospace and Transportation Technologies (NCATT) developed the Aircraft Electronics Technician (AET) certification a few years ago. This certification ensures that a person has the basic avionics knowledge necessary to work on today’s modern aircraft. The FAA recognizes the AET certification plus at least one NCATT avionics endorsements as meeting training requirements for avionics repairman certificate eligibility. I know of several companies that require all mechanic new hires to have their AET certification. If an A&P doesn’t have his or her AET certification, they are sometimes hired with the stipulation that he or she get the certification within a prescribed time frame. If you are interested in getting your AET
certification, there are numerous training companies like FlightSafety International, Global Jet Services, Avotek and others that offer training courses to help aviation professionals hone their knowledge in preparation for taking their AET tests. For those of you attending the AEA
convention, keep in mind that in addition to all of the training opportunities at the show, there will be the opportunity to take your tests for the AET Certification and Endorsement Exams. For more information about the convention, visit
www.aea.net.
Thanks for reading. See you in Nashville! – Joe
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