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Tom Harper, Director, Marketing, Avidyne Corporation


Flight Display Systems

TGH Aviation

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AEA News Release

For more information, contact Trisha Drape,
director of communications for the AEA, at 816-347-8400 or trishad@aea.net.
For immediate release:
October 12, 2011

AEA Testifies Before U.S. House Committee on Small Business
'LightSquared Needs to Work Side-By-Side With the FAA and RTCA to Ensure Compatibility'

AEA East 2012
Tim Taylor, president and CEO of FreeFlight Systems, testified on Capitol Hill on behalf of the Aircraft Electronics Association on Wednesday, Oct. 12.

WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 12, 2011 -- Tim Taylor, president and CEO of FreeFlight Systems, testified on Capitol Hill today on behalf of the Aircraft Electronics Association. Taylor appeared before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business hearing on "LightSquared, the Impact to Small Business GPS User." FreeFlight Systems, a manufacturer of GPS navigation management systems, is an AEA member.

The chair of the House Committee on Small Business is Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), and the ranking member is Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.).

Taylor told the Committee that, "the idea that a new entrant into the marketplace can arbitrarily introduce a product that immediately compromises aviation safety and security, while expecting the aviation industry to design, manufacture, test, certify and install an aviation compliant filter, is simply not realistic."

"We are appreciative of Mr. Taylor taking the time to represent all AEA members in front of Congress today," said Paula Derks, AEA president. "The proposal from LightSquared for a nationwide wireless broadband network compromises safety and is not acceptable. It is important for the AEA to be heard on Capitol Hill regarding this issue that endangers a national utility which millions of Americans rely on every day, and we thank the Committee for the opportunity to testify."

Click here to read the entire prepared statement from Taylor on behalf of the AEA.

Click here for the video from CSPAN.

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The Aircraft Electronics Association represents more than 1,300 repair stations from throughout the world specializing in maintenance, repair and installation of avionics and electronic systems in general aviation aircraft. AEA membership also includes manufacturers of avionics equipment, instrument repair facilities, instrument manufacturers, airframe manufacturers, test equipment manufacturers, major distributors, engineers and educational institutions.

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