Mid-Continent Instrument's Matthew Fowle, AirCell Honored
Aero-News learned Friday that Matthew Fowle of Mid-Continent
Instruments West was named the 2007 AEA Member of the Year, and
AirCell received the 2007 AEA Associate Member of the Year honor at
Friday's AEA Annual Awards Luncheon, which took place during the
AEA International Convention & Trade Show in Reno, NV
AEA Member of the Year
Matthew Fowle has been
enjoying a successful career in the aircraft instrument field since
1983. His diverse experience includes installation, design,
customer service and sales. In addition, he has been a business
owner and a business manager, and he is a skilled bench
technician.
Since 1991, Fowle has been the general manager of Mid-Continent
Instruments West in Van Nuys, Calif. He is responsible for all
aspects of the operation. Under his management, the AEA states
Mid-Continent West has become one of the most respected sources for
quality aircraft instruments in the world.
Born and raised in Portland, OR, Fowle relocated to southern
California in 1986. He is an active member of many organizations,
including AEA, NBAA, HAI, AOPA, EAA, ALEA, and the Van Nuys Condor
Squadron. He also serves on the AEA board of directors.
This award, voted on by industry peers, recognizes an individual
who is an active participant in AEA events and activities, as well
as for the individual’s contributions to the general aviation
electronics industry.
AEA Associate Member of the Year
The 2007 AEA Associate Member of the Year recipient, AirCell, is
a company born of the idea to reuse cellular frequencies in the air
to bring affordable communications to every business and private
aircraft in America.
Its first wide-scale product — the TrimConnect 3100D
— was developed in conjunction with Trimble Navigation, and
sold through Trimble avionics dealers. Since those early days,
AirCell has grown to become a leading provider of air-toground
telecommunications, achieving a number of enviable successes.
In 2002, AirCell began expanding its
network service offerings beyond the original cellular network,
adding its first satellite-based product. AirCell became the only
company authorized by the FCC and FAA to use cellular frequencies
for in-flight communications. The company holds more than 30
patents on its airborne telecom innovations, and has sold more than
5,000 systems. AirCell’s products now are offered as standard
or optional equipment by virtually every aircraft manufacturer in
business aviation.
Perhaps AirCell’s single biggest milestone came in 2006,
when it won the exclusive nationwide air-to-ground broadband
license in an FCC spectrum auction — rewarding years of
planning and vision. Currently, AirCell is at work developing its
pioneering new wireless broadband service for business aircraft and
airlines.
This award, voted on by authorized dealers of the honorees,
recognizes a manufacturer or distributor for the company’s
service and support to the industry.