LEE'S SUMMIT, MO, Feb. 26, 2013 -- On Tuesday, Feb. 26, Paula Derks, president of the Aircraft Electronics Association, and Ric Peri, AEA vice president of government and industry affairs, participated in a round-table session in Washington, D.C., with major aviation trade associations. The session was hosted by Congressman Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.), newly appointed chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Among the myriad of topics raised by the association CEOs ranging from NextGen to user fees, Derks expressed the challenges the association faces in providing training and education to the Federal Aviation Administration workforce to assist them in oversight and the appropriate approval of new avionics technologies. The AEA chose this venue to focus on technology and the challenges shared by industry and the FAA to keep the avionics technicians current in a dynamically changing environment.

The AEA continues to provide low-cost training to its members and offers these training opportunities to the national aviation authorities, as well. The AEA does not want government bureaucracy to be an impediment to learning and called on Chairman LoBiondo to assure that appropriate fiscal management doesn't discourage regulatory agencies' ability to participate in these valuable training opportunities.

"Aviation safety relies on a well-educated workforce as well as an agency tasked with the oversight of the industry," explained Derks. "It's only through the attendance at the meetings and conferences that the inspector workforce can stay abreast of the latest technologies.

"The fact that Rep. LoBiondo invited industry to discuss issues affecting our respective memberships is refreshing. The AEA looks forward to working with Rep. LoBiondo and other members of Congress to further address these aviation safety issues."