RENO, Nev., March 20, 2011 — The Aircraft Electronics Association will kick-off its 54th annual International Convention & Trade Show on Tuesday, March 22, at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nev., with more than 30 manufacturers unveiling new products.
The four-day event also features:

• More than 75 hours of technical and business management training sessions.
• An Exhibit Hall filled with the latest avionics technologies.
• The latest regulatory updates with international agency personnel.
• More than $100,000 in scholarships awarded to avionics and aviation maintenance students.
• Unique social events and networking opportunities with industry colleagues.
• Recognition of Ron Hall, former employee of Duncan Aviation, as the recipient of the 2011 AEA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Nearly 1,400 avionics manufacturers, dealers, installers and other general aviation professionals will arrive during the week for the event.

LIVE STREAMING AVAILABLE
For those unable to attend the convention this year, the Aero-News Network will produce live programming throughout the week. ANN’s team of reporters will be live-streaming AEA’s ever-popular New Product Introductions Session on Tuesday, and will produce fast-paced high-tech “live interviews” on the AEA Exhibit Hall floor. The live streaming will be available online at: www.aea.net.

AEA ANNUAL AWARDS
The 2011 AEA Member of the Year and Associate Member of the Year will be announced during the AEA Annual Awards luncheon on Thursday, March 24. Last year’s winners were Rick Ochs of Spirit Avionics, Columbus, Ohio, who was named the 2010 AEA Member of the Year, and DAC International, named the 2010 Associate Member of the Year.
The nominees for the 2011 Member of the Year are:

• Don Dominguez, San Luis Avionics, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
• Gunter Hemmel, Avionik Straubing GmbH, Germany.
• Arnold Hill, Des Moines Flying Service, Des Moines, Iowa.
• Fabian Oyarbide, Redimec SRL, Argentina.
• Rick Peavley, Vero Beach Avionics, Vero Beach, Fla.

The nominees for the 2011 Associate Member of the Year are:

• Flight Display Systems, Alpharetta, Ga.
• Garmin, Olathe, Kan.
• Mid-Continent Instruments, Wichita, Kan.
• PS Engineering, Lenoir City, Tenn.

For more information on the 54th annual AEA International Convention & Trade Show, visit the AEA website at www.aea.net/convention.