At the recent Aircraft Electronics Association's 52nd annual International Convention & Trade Show, from April 1-4, in Dallas, Texas, seven new board members were seated during the annual AEA board of directors election. In addition, new international officers were elected.

The new AEA chairman of the board is Barry Aylward, president and owner of Kitchener Aero in Breslau, Ontario, Canada. Only the second Canadian to lead the AEA in its 52-year history, Aylward succeeds Michael O'Leary of Midcoast Aviation, Cahokia, Ill., who served as chairman from 2002 to 2009.

Aylward, who served as AEA's vice chairman of the board from 2007 to 2009, earned his college diploma in avionics technology in 1976, from Confederation College in Thunder Bay. Working with partners, Aylward opened Kitchener Aero in 1978, as a two-man shop. He became sole owner of Kitchener Aero in the late 1980s. With steady growth in ensuing years, Aylward acquired Skytronics Ltd., then opened Mid-Canada Mod Center. Today, the company is established nationally as one of Canada's top avionics specialist organizations. Kitchener Aero has been a member of the AEA since 1978.

Aylward has attended AEA conventions since the Kansas City convention in 1980. He has served on the AEA board of directors for most of the past 20 years. Aylward's dedicated focus on regulatory affairs with Transport Canada Civil Aviation has success-fully re-positioned the AEA as a prominent and respected industry trade association in the eyes of TCCA. Aylward has served on the AEA Strategic Planning Committee, is a member of the AEA Government & Industry Affairs Committee, and was honored as the AEA Member of the Year in 2003.

Greg Vail was elected as the new AEA vice chairman of the board. Vail is the general manager of Bloomington Avionics Inc. in Bloomington, Ill., and he has more than 26 years experience in the aviation business. He also is a licensed single-engine pilot with instrument endorsement.

Vail was a member of the AEA's Strategic Planning Committee before being elected to the board of directors in 2005. He chairs the Government & Industry Affairs Committee. Vail also is spearheading the new AEA Ambassador Program to promote better communications between AEA member companies and FAA Flight Standards District Offices.

Also elected as new international officers were Jeanne Rau-Flattery, president of Millennium International and Aero Express in Lee's Summit, Mo., as the new treasurer of the AEA board of directors; and Chuck Freeland, western regional sales manager for Sandel Avionics in Vista, Calif., serving as the new secretary of the board.

The seven open seats on the AEA board of directors were filled during this year's election by the following individuals:

Tim Kelly, Honeywell Aerospace, Olathe, Kan.; David Loso, Midcoast Aviation, Cahokia, Ill.; Cory Relling, Aero Dynamix, Euless, Texas; Vince Scott, Midland Instruments, Perkinsfield, Ontario, Canada; and Kim Stephenson, L-3 Avionics, Grand Rapids, Mich. Re-elected for three-year terms were Matthew Harrah, Garmin, Olathe, Kan., and Jim Joubert, Pacific Southwest Instruments, Corona, Calif.

FMI: www.aea.net