Earns FAA Full Class 1, 2, 3 Radio And Class 3 Accessory Repair certification

The FAA has awarded Mid-Continent Instruments' Van Nuys, CA shop Full Class 1, 2, 3 Radio and Class 3 Accessory repair certification. The designation enables Mid-Continent Instruments west coast facility to add additional avionics and accessory types to its current service offerings without applying for each approval from the local FAA Flight Standards District Office.

Mid-Continent Van Nuys Facility

"More and more avionics shops are turning their instrument and avionics bench work over to our experienced technicians to save time and money. Earning this Full Class rating will enable us to add new products that fall within our class ratings to our capabilities list more efficiently," explained Matt Fowle, Western Regional Director, Mid-Continent Instruments - West. The Class 1, 2, 3 Radio and Class 3 Accessory categories refer to all avionics found in the majority of general and business aviation aircraft.

The ratings are the highest repair certifications issued by the FAA. Only after a repair station has the experience and capabilities to perform maintenance on a significant variety of items within the class description can it apply for these advanced capability ratings.

"After a series of in-depth internal audits of our procedures and policies, we have demonstrated to the FAA that we have the processes, training, proper test equipment and current technical data necessary to perform this type of maintenance in Van Nuys in a way that is consistent with our parent facility in Wichita," stated Charles Shumate, Quality Assurance Manager, Mid-Continent Instruments. "The two facilities can now operate as one organization with the same level of services. This is a very proud moment for the entire Mid-Continent team," Shumate continued.

According to Fowle, the added capabilities are especially valuable because so many avionics and instrument units are integrated in aircraft panels. "Sometimes a shop won't know which component of an integrated avionics and instrument system is malfunctioning so they will send multiple components to our facility for troubleshooting," Fowle said. "With our extensive capabilities we can connect and test the system as a whole." The major benefits are more comprehensive services and faster turn-around - clear value for avionics shops and their customers.

FMI: www.mcico.com