Avionics News April 2023 - 62

MEET THE NOMINEES
Continued from page 61
Keith Robertson
North East Avionics -
Nelspruit, South Africa
Keith Robertson's journey in the
avionics industry began in Zimbabwe
in 1978 when he signed up as an
apprentice technician. The next four
years were spent learning both the
practical and theoretical aspects of the
aircraft electronics field.
After graduating from the
Polytechnic College with a diploma in
electronic engineering and emerging
as a qualified engineer, Robertson took
a post with a small regional airline
in Papua New Guinea, where he
worked on contract for the next three
years. Newly qualified and on the
other side of the globe from his home
country, that's when the real learning
started. The small avionics shop,
comprised of only three engineers,
was responsible for both bench repairs
and line maintenance for the airline's
35 aircraft. In those days, component
level bench repairs were the norm,
and Robertson was able to put college
theory into practice and churn out a
good number of repaired boxes a day
- something you don't
get to often do these
days.
After completing
his contract in PNG,
Robertson moved
to South Africa and
joined a major fixed-base operator
in Johannesburg. In the 11 years that
followed, he was promoted from being
in the repair workshop to manager of
the installation department, the repair
station facility, and eventually became
general Manager of the FBO's three
locations around South Africa. This was
Robertson's first opportunity to hone
new skills on the administration and
management side of the business while
he worked toward his business and
marketing management diploma.
In 1996, an opportunity arose for
Robertson to start his own company, and
North East Avionics was born. Coming
out of a large FBO environment and
into his own small independent shop,
Robertson soon realized the importance of
maintaining close personal relationships
with the OEMs, dealerships, keeping
abreast of industry trends and continuous
training. This was about the time of the
GPS-driven " avionics revolution " and
things were moving fast.
To get his fledgling avionics shop
on its feet and grow and expand in a
fast-moving industry was going to be
a challenge. Robertson felt he would
need a support base and a network of
resources to support his growth, and he
needed to become part of the greater
avionics community. That's when he
joined the AEA.
Initially not expecting to make use of
many of the AEA's resources, which he
then believed to be more aligned with
the U.S. membership, Robertson began
forging relationships within the AEA and
its membership. Attending the annual
AEA Conventions proved his initial
perceptions to be off. Robertson was
able to engage with the AEA on issues
unique to his small region and received
invaluable support over the years. He
also has been a point of contact for the
AEA when it came to interpreting some
of its civil aviation authority regulations
to better understand the issues in Africa.
Over the 26 years that Robertson has
now owned and operated his own shop,
he has made many good friends at the
AEA, and it has been a true business
partner. Robertson always encourages
others in his region to become actively
involved in the AEA, as he believes
this to be a partnership of great value to
shops around the globe.
Continued on page 64
62 avionics news * april 2023
http://www.ciescorp.net
Avionics News April 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News April 2023
