Avionics News April 2022 - 15

One of the tasks of the membership committee
is to assure that our language is internationally
neutral. As such, we are looking to better
align with the language of the International
Civil Aviation Organization and how it labels
approved maintenance organizations.
freshly brewed coffee in flight. But most important to
the avionics industry are the aircraft that were introduced
that year: 1957 held the first flight of a couple-dozen
aircraft including the Cessna 150 and 210 aircraft and the
Boeing 707. Looking at state-of-the-art avionics in 1957,
it is clear why the association represents the avionics
industry but then limits the regular membership to radio
and instrument repair stations.
The next area we looked at was who we represent.
" ...the Aircraft Electronics Association represents
nearly 1,300 member companies in more than
40 countries, including government-certified
international repair stations specializing in
maintenance, repair and installation of avionics
and electronic systems in general aviation aircraft. "
Let's break this down. " ... represents nearly 1,300
member companies in more than 40 countries. " While we
represent membership in over 40 countries, our bylaws
and membership language was U.S./FAA-centric. This
is not unreasonable since the organization started in the
United States in 1957 and didn't expand internationally
until 1968 with the introduction of Canadian members
and 1987 for European members. Being an international
organization (more than 40 countries), there's not a better
source for international language than the International
Civil Aviation Organization.
ICAO uses the term " approved maintenance
organization. " As such, ICAO defines an AMO as
" An organization approved by a contracting state, in
accordance with the requirements of Annex 8, Part II,
Chapter 6 - Maintenance Organization Approval, to
perform maintenance of aircraft, engine, propeller or
parts thereof and operating under supervision approved
by that state. " It does recognize repair stations, as used
in the U.S., as an approved maintenance organization.
Note the definition found in ICAO Doc 9760,
Airworthiness Manual, Fourth Edition, 2020.
ICAO Annex 8 addresses the airworthiness of
aircraft. Annex 8 is divided into four parts. Part I
includes definitions; Part II deals with procedures
for certification and continuing airworthiness of
aircraft; Part III includes technical requirements for
the certification of new large airplane designs; Part IV
deals with helicopters.
The next element of the description is " ...
specializing in maintenance, repair and installation of
avionics and electronic systems. " The first element was
to better understand what " avionics " is. I think we all
have been around that term for our entire careers. We
freely use the term in conversation, but what exactly
does it mean?
In the 1950s, the extent of avionics was radios
and instruments. But over the past 60 years, the
aircraft electronics portion of " avionics " has grown
exponentially, and the search for a modern definition
drove us to find a wide range of definitions and
descriptions. The closest one we found was published
by BAE System, which defines avionics as:
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avionics news * april 2022 15
Avionics News April 2022

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