Part One Of Our Three Question Survey From The AEA 2009 Convention and Tradeshow

Few sub-industries within aviation prove to be as much of a bellwether as does the avionics industry. While most of the recent major developments in aviation utility can be laid at the doorstep of all things avionics, this industry benefits from both major business aspects... new and upgrade sales. So... as goes the avionics industry, so goes the rest of aviation -- and thus the reason for our interest in the health of the avionics biz.

Herewith, Part One of our annual Three question survey at the annual AEA Convention... this part focusing on t he most basic of questions... how's business? Our second Question revolves around what this year's attendees found to be new and notable and the third was an opportunity to judge, via the membership itself, how well AEA is supporting the aims of such an advanced and complex industry. 

This year's rendition of the annual AEA Convention wound up being a surprisingly upbeat affair. While everyone bemoaned the awful economic situation forced upon them, to a persons there was unanimity in the belief that the industry would not only survive but come back bigger and stronger than before.

“We are purposely choosing to emphasize the positive attributes of the industry this week,” said Paula Derks, president of the Aircraft Electronics Association on the opening day of this year’s annual convention and trade show, which took place from April 1 to 4, at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Dallas.

Setting this tone seemed to work as nearly 1,500 attendees crowded the AEA Exhibit Hall and the meeting rooms to research products and gain knowledge through educational forums on technical and regulatory issues.

Among the positive highlights of this year’s convention were:

• More than 31 companies taking part in the “New Product Introductions” session.
• More than 140 companies and organizations displaying during the trade show.
• Attendees receiving more than 75 hours of FAA-accepted technical training classes.

“It would be premature to announce the light at the end of the tunnel,” Derks said, “but many of the manufacturers told me they are making good contacts and writing orders at the booths, which means their dealers — our members — are buying product.”

Next year’s AEA International Convention & Trade Show is set from April 7-10, 2010, at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, Fla.

Aero-TV Checks On The Health Of The Avionics Industry At AEA 2009

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