RENO, Nev., March 22, 2011 — The AEA’s international headquarters, located in Lee’s Summit, Mo., a suburb of Kansas City, will be a busy site this spring, as three separate training courses are slated over the next several weeks. The classes take place in the Derby Center for Professional Development, a state-of-the-art training facility located in the AEA offices. A quick review of each course is noted below.

► Basic Wiring & Avionics Installation Class, May 16-18
In cooperation with Garmin, Sandel Avionics, Aeroflex and Avionics Training Solutions LLC, the AEA plays host to its next “Basic Wiring and Avionics Installation” seminar, May 16-18. Because of the individualized training methods used during the three-day course, class size is limited to 24 participants.

AEA members from around the world participated in the class, Jan. 5-8, at AEA headquarters. Garmin and Sandel lent the avionics, and Aeroflex made its IFR4000 test set available for post-installation checks during the lab portion of the seminar.

This seminar was developed for repair station technicians, A&P mechanics, avionics students, instructors and others who are interested in improving or acquiring the skills necessary to perform avionics installations in general aviation aircraft.

The three-day class of FAA-accepted training covers the basics of wiring, avionics installation practices and the FAA regulations which govern installations. Technicians are exposed to the planning, management, electrical and mechanical phases of avionics installations while learning best practices from industry peers.

The seminar employs in-depth theory and hands-on lab experience installing some of the latest panel-mount avionics, such as the Garmin GNS 530W nav/comm and GMA 340 audio panel and the Sandel SN3500 HSI.

► Navigation Systems Line Maintenance and Testing Course, May 19-20
The AEA is offering its Navigation Systems Line Maintenance and Testing course, May 19-20, at its international headquarters. This course covers the theory, operation, testing and troubleshooting of common aircraft navigation systems.

Upon successful completion of the course, attendees will understand the theory of VOR navigation systems, instrument landing systems and global positioning systems, and will gain valuable hands-on experience in configuring and using the Aeroflex IFR 4000 for aircraft navigation system testing. This course is designed for more advanced technicians who have completed basic installation practices and want to expand their knowledge of aircraft navigation systems.

► Pitot-Static & Transponder Certification Testing, June 16
The AEA offers a course on one of the hotter topics in technician training called “Pitot-Static and Transponder Certification Testing” at its world headquarters, June 16.

The popular one-day course was well attended in January, when Don Dominguez with Radioman Avionics shared his subject matter expertise on FAR Part 91.411 and 91.413, and put Radioman’s PSTA-80 test stand through the paces with DFW Instrument’s DPST 8000M Pitot/Static Test Set and ZSAY-3 static adapter.

Attendees from all over the country, with experience on everything from helicopters to heavy iron, were able to run transponder checks with the ATC 601 on loan from Aero Express. The course is unique due to the instructor’s very visual step-by-step transponder tune-up instruction. Dominguez provides countless photos of open transponders from various manufacturers showing a quick reference for all tune-up test points.

For more information about these and other AEA training courses, visit www.aea.net/training,  or contact Mike Adamson, vice president of member programs and education for the AEA, at mikea@aea.net or 816-347-8400.