While these big projects could make sense for some, we suspect the majority of buyers look for ways to keep the budget and complexity in check.

Enter small-screen EFIS, otherwise known as a budget glass upgrade. These are generally two solid-state gyro instruments—an electronic attitude display and electronic HSI. While you’ll sacrifice screen real estate, you’ll also save big on install labor because mini EFIS units can fit the existing 3-inch instrument cutouts without having to cut new metal, and in some cases, even retaining the old-school plastic overlay.

Here’s a primer on the budget EFIS market, where Garmin and uAvionix are two standouts, with some words on the realities of a bare-bones avionics upgrade.

The $15K Upgrade

While that isn’t chump change, the $15,000 price point is a realistic budget to set, though you might have some left over. And it’s possible to come out of the upgrade closer to the $10,000 price point, depending on the equipment and options.

Still, after adding up the equipment costs and typical labor, there are always extras that add to the bottom line once the airplane hits the hangar floor.

Truth is, while the aircraft may go into the shop for a couple of electronic flight displays, you might decide to also install a new GPS navigator—or maybe a new audio system. The list of add-ons is long, especially for aircraft that haven’t seen an avionics upgrade since the Clinton years. And those extras add up quickly.

The good news is that a basic budget-priced EFIS upgrade is a fine opportunity to clean up old wiring and address problems in the supporting systems. This includes working on the pitot/static system (aging systems often have leakage, which needs to be fixed before installing the new instruments), replacing old circuit breakers, and perhaps fixing faulty panel lighting. If the aircraft has been sitting for a while (or sourced outside of the U.S.), it might not even have mandate-compliant ADS-B.

Bottom line: Before upgrading, our advice is to address the basic systems first, including the transponder, altitude reporting system, and audio systems.

And speaking of cleanup, even the most basic electronic flight instruments provide the green light for removing the vacuum system. When the system hits the rubbish bin, you’ll enjoy a generous weight saving, while also making room behind the panel for future supportability. Vacuum lines, fittings and filters take up lots of space, making it tough for techs to get their hands in it to work.

Once the fundamentals are covered, it’s time for some glass. We’ll start with Garmin’s budget-based offerings.

Small-Screen Garmin

A staple in Garmin’s lineup is the 3.5-inch QVGA color LCD display-equipped G5, which started life as an experimental EFIS before Garmin earned STC for retrofitting them in certified aircraft through an AML-STC covering nearly 600 aircraft models. The G5 is a no-frills instrument but a step up from spinning mechanical iron gyros.

The battery-backup-equipped G5 attitude indicator is $2,725, and the electronic HSI version with GPS nav interface adapter (for connecting to select VHF navs and GPS navigators) is $3,675. Two G5 instruments connected together offer reversionary ADAHRS should one fail, plus there’s a four-hour battery backup if the aircraft electrics quit.

The G5 DG instrument can work for IFR approaches with its electronic HSI but is limited to VHF nav and GPS sources with digital databases, mainly Garmin GNS 430W/530W, GTN 650/750, and Avidyne IFD navigators. The G5 can also work with Garmin’s discontinued SL30 nav/comm and the current Garmin digital nav/comm radios through an RS-232 serial interface.

A couple of G5 instruments have some limitations because to keep in line with the STC requirements, they can’t replace the entire six-pack of flight instruments. Legally, they’ll replace the existing AI or DG, or a single G5 attitude instrument can replace the rate-of-turn instrument. In our estimation, the tech built into the G5 is aging and compared to newer displays it shows—there is no synthetic vision and no touchscreen. Think utilitarian, and while the instruments fit in an existing full-sized instrument cutout, the G5s have square bezels. That means modifying the plastic panel overlays (or false panels, as they’re sometimes called) in aircraft still equipped.

Depending on your particular interface, and which equipment you plan to connect to (including third-party autopilots), you might need Garmin’s $525 GAD 26 digital converter box. There’s also the $412 GMU 11 magnetometer required for heading resolution on the G5 DG. Without it, the instrument will display GPS track and not magnetic heading.

Increasingly, shops tell us that Garmin’s GI 275 beats the older G5 in popularity, given the advanced feature set and overall design. With a form factor that directly replaces most 3 -inch round instruments, the GI 275 is aimed at incremental upgrades and not requiring cutting new metal—plus, you won’t have to modify the plastic overlays, if equipped.

The instruments have a modern 2.69-inch diameter (active screen size) color capacitive touchscreen and an extremely flexible electrical interface potential compatible with a healthy variety of third-party equipment. They can function as a primary flight instrument, EHSI, CDI, an MFD with synthetic vision, traffic and terrain display, and an engine monitor. However, when used as an attitude instrument and heading display, these functions are locked in place per the AML-STC requirements. The GI 275 product line can be confusing because these instruments are available in many configurations—including one that displays Garmin’s EIS engine instrument system.

But for a typical IFR installation, you’ll want the $4,195 GI 275 ADAHRS, which is the one for use as a primary and stand-alone EFIS because it has the sensors for displaying all primary flight data. Again, it’s locked to display only the flight data. Synthetic vision is a $995 option and downloadable, so you don’t have to bring it to a Garmin dealer when adding it later on.

In a budget glass upgrade, it’s common to install a second GI 275 ADAHRS to replace a round-gauge directional gyro, and it connects with the GMU 11 magnetometer for heading resolution. It can be configured as an EHSI, works with a variety of third-party nav sources, and has mapping, traffic, and weather overlay. A GI 275 ADAHRS with the magnetometer is priced around $4,700. Visit www.garmin.com.

uAvionix AV-30-C

The $2,299 AV-30-C (the “C” means it’s for certified aircraft) with a 3-inch color display fits in a traditional 3 1/4 -inch instrument cutout. The AV-30 has been slowly maturing over the past couple of years, and a recent upgrade that makes it compatible for IFR flying has kicked the capability up a few notches. In its basic form factor, an AV-30 is capable of serving as a primary attitude instrument. In a dual installation (one as an attitude indicator and the other as an electronic heading indicator), the AI is required to be locked when used as the primary, although it does display a heading tape at the top of the display.

The AV-30 is loaded with standard features. The short list includes built-in angle of attack, audio alerting, altitude alerting, and primary slip indication. The AV-30-C has an STC with approved model list (AML) that blankets a wide variety of single-engine aircraft with speeds below 200 knots. It’s approved as a stand-alone attitude indicator, as an electronic DG, as a replacement for a slip-skid indicator (it doesn’t have rate of turn—just a skid ball), and it can be used as the required backup attitude display for the majority of primary EFIS systems. It can even be used with the company’s ADS-B/transponder systems.

A dual-unit installation is fair game for removing the aircraft’s vacuum system, but that could need extra approvals or paperwork on the shop level since the specifics of removing the vacuum system are outside the scope of the instrument’s STC. A pair of AV-30s—one as an attitude display, plus electronic pitot static instruments (in certified aircraft you still have to retain the originals), and the other as a heading indicator—is a good way to give an old VFR panel a new lease on life.

At press time, uAvionix released a major upgrade to the AV-30’s capability thanks to external smart adapters. The new uAvionix AV-HSI smart converter accessory adds long-awaited utility to the previously lacking AV-30 IFR interface, with support for essentially all Avidyne IFD and Garmin GTN/GNS GPS navigators. It will work with the GPS-only Garmin GPS 175/GNC 355/GNX 375 navigators, plus the legacy GPS 155XL. This means you can finally display lateral and vertical course guidance for GPS approaches—plus, the converter also works with Garmin’s GNC 255 nav/comm, Garmin nav/comms, and Trig’s TX56/57 nav/comm radios.

For autopilot interfaces, another adapter—the $299 AV-APA—is in the works for communicating with S-TEC rate-based autopilots—which includes the System 20/30/40/50 models. It enables GPS track hold, GPS desired track, GPS bearing, and GPSS digital steering when using the EHSI.

Speaking of add-on interfaces, for aircraft where panel space is limited, the $299 AV-Link can be used to stream ADS-B traffic data to the AV-30 for displaying standard ADS-B traffic symbology. Any portable ADS-B In receiver that works via the industry standard GDL90 Wi-Fi protocol can interface with the display just as it’s done with an iPad. The AV-Link, which piggybacks between the main wiring harness and the AV-30 itself, is only available in experimental installations, for now. Visit www.uavionx.com.

Aspen’s Budget Evoution

The $5,995 Aspen Avionics E5 scales back the features and capabilities built into the flagship 1000 Pro MAX but shares the same drop-in, form-fit chassis that fits the existing holes of mechanical attitude and heading indicators. With a 400×760-pixel TFT Active Matrix LCD screen, the E5 is perhaps the largest of the budget EFIS models with its 6-inch diagonal Matrix LCD screen, and it has a built-in, one-hour backup battery. The E5 shows primary attitude information with altitude, airspeed, and vertical speed, plus an EHSI into a single display with a backup battery.

For IFR capability, the E5 needs to be connected to an IFR panel-mounted navigator but doesn’t require a backup attitude indicator like the Pro models do. It does, however, require Aspen’s ACU (analog converter unit) for connecting with autopilots and VHF nav radios—an accessory that kicks up the price to around $7,000, plus the extra installation effort. You can upgrade the E5 to the Pro MAX version without changing the majority of the hardware. Visit www.aspenavionics.com.

How Much for That?

We think an important step in any budget EFIS upgrade is gathering proposals for larger-screen glass as a comparison. That means bringing the aircraft to the potential installer so they can determine what will and won’t fit.

For sure, the buy-in will be higher, especially when the project requires metal work, but for some—especially with aging eyes—the price delta could be worth it. For others, the smaller screens are a trade-off for an easier installation and lower invoice.

This column first appeared in the Summer 2024 Ultimate Issue print edition.

The post Ultimate Issue: Mini EFIS Units Keep Budget, Complexity in Check appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), space weather forecasters have observed “at least seven coronal mass ejections [CMEs] from the sun, with impacts expected to arrive on Earth as early as midday Friday, May 10, and persist through Sunday, May 12.”

The prediction prompted a warning for pilots from the FAA.

“Geomagnetic storms can disrupt navigational aids and high frequency radio transmissions used in aviation. The FAA advises airlines and pilots to plan ahead to mitigate possible disruptions,” the agency said in a statement.

NOAA issued a Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch and states these watches will be updated through the weekend.

First G4 (Severe) geomagnetic since 2005 has been issued.

The aurora tonight (5/10) /tomorrow morning (5/11) may become visible over much of the northern half of the country, & possibly as far south as Alabama to northern California. https://t.co/upPlNYuNev@NWSSWPC @NWS pic.twitter.com/JTHmXtRKOc

— NOAA (@NOAA) May 10, 2024

According to NOAA, coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are explosions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s corona. These storms can disrupt satellites and infrastructure in near-Earth orbit, “potentially disrupting communications, the electric power grid, navigation, [and] radio and satellite operations.”

The agency refers to the situation as “an unusual and potentially historic event” and warns satellite navigation (GPS) may be degraded or inoperable for hours, and high frequency radio propagation could be sporadic or blacked out.

These storms are also visible from the Earth as displays of aurora and  may result in displays being seen as far south as Alabama.

This is a developing story.

• READ MORE: How to see the northern lights: Tonight may be the best chance in years

WATCH: NOAA’s GOES-16 satellite captured activity at sunspot AR3664 at around 2 p.m. EDT, Thursday

The post Strong Geomagnetic Storm Could Impact GPS Navigation, FAA Warns appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

“No one enjoys flying through turbulence, whether you’re piloting a single-engine piston or riding in the back of a jet,” said Henrik Hansen, ForeFlight’s chief technology officer.

ForeFlight says the additional feature within the mobile app displays the measured intensity of turbulence at multiple altitudes, making it easy for pilots to find the smoothest altitude along their flight path. ForeFlight Mobile automatically uploads the reports once it establishes an internet connection after the flight or instantly if connectivity is maintained during flight, according to officials.

Turbulence reports are depicted as colored markers on the Maps tab: Gray signifies smooth air, while yellow, orange, and dark orange represent increasing levels of turbulence, ranging from light to severe.

While pilots traditionally rely on weather forecasts and PIREPs for route planning, ForeFlight says its Reported Turbulence method offers distinct advantages, including enhanced accuracy and objective reporting.

ForeFlight estimates its Reported Turbulence layer offers 50 times more turbulence reports than manual PIREPs, per Sporty’s IPAD Pilot News.

Reported Turbulence is available as two add-ons for Pro Plus subscribers. Reported Turbulence (Low) offers access to turbulence reports up to 14,000 feet, whereas Reported Turbulence (All) provides access to reports across all altitudes.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

The post ForeFlight Introduces Reported Turbulence Map appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

No one should be surprised at the situation. Garmin has been whispering about this possibility for a handful of years.

Unfortunately, the verbiage of the advisory was a typical chalk-dry narrative written in legalese, so some folks cut to the wrong chase.  

As an operator of the affected equipment, this development is near and dear to my heart. But don’t take my word for it, listen to colleague Larry Anglisano at our sister publication, The Aviation Consumer. 

After reengaging with GA as an airplane owner and airline guy a few years back, I was ecstatic that drawing a line with a No. 2 pencil on a sectional chart would no longer be in my future. I could now just follow a magenta line. Wow.

• READ MORE: One Year After Debut, Bose A30 Headset Well Received

The reason for curtailing support of the GNS 430 and GNS 530 simply became a parts supply issue. It is no longer viable for vendors to produce the parts for 25-year-old technology when the market has a dramatically increased demand for the new technology. Essentially, the old units would have to be redesigned with new innards, so what’s the point?  

That said, Garmin hoarded what remained of the supply.

The GNS 430 is most affected because the nuts and bolts module that drives the display are no longer available. The cover glass or lens of the display, however, is still replaceable. The bezel, buttons, knobs, etc. can still be replaced along with the repair of other functionality issues—at least as long as supplies last. So far, the GNS 530 display can be replaced in addition to the items mentioned above. Garmin will also continue to support the data bases.

If your G430 or G530 is repairable, a flat fee starting at $2,000 will be charged. If the unit is not repairable, you’re given the option of having it returned as a doorstop for an assessment fee of $500. Or you can tell Garmin to keep it, and the company will give you a $650 credit toward the new units. 

• READ MORE: Garmin GNS 430: Throwaway or Keeper?

The good news is that sending in a unit with an operable display grants you an opportunity to trade it in on Garmin’s new products with a rebate that ranges from $1,000 to $1,750. 

Food for thought: eBay lists GNS 430’s from around $3,000 to $7,500, depending upon whether it is WAAS equipped. The GNS 530 lists in the range of $4,500 to $10,000. It’s hard to say exactly the price that these units are actually selling for, or if they’re actually marketable, considering the support circumstances.

Legacy Unit Gamble

Last week while attending the Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo, I spoke with Garmin sales manager Jim Laster, who said the company’s concern is the gamble of airplane owners waiting until their legacy unit breaks. Is it repairable or does it become junk?

Although Garmin’s new replacement products can be available to ship the next day, the real concern is how long does that airplane owner have to wait for the avionics shop to schedule an installation? Some shops are six to nine months out.

What are the options? If you simply want to replace the functionality of losing the G530 or the G430, purchasing a GPS 175 Navigator together with a GNC 215 Nav/Com might be the easiest solution. Both units combine on your panel to an area only about three-quarter of an inch taller than a G430, with one a GPS and the other a radio. The combined sticker price is $11,190.

But wait, there’s more. Although the model units mentioned above are new technology with touchscreens and high-resolution displays, forking over $13,795 will buy you a GTN 650xi, which includes features not available on the GTN 175 and GNC 215. The features are too numerous to mention, but suffice it to say, you have to determine if the extra $2,605 is worth it.

The final option is to go all out and buy the GTN 750xi for $19,995. The unit has a larger display screen and is about 3 inches taller than a G530. Decisions. Decisions.

At the end of the day, maybe your current budget is to wait until the G530 or G430 completely breaks. That’s my plan, but it could certainly change. At least Garmin has options. Unfortunately, none of them are cheap.

The post Garmin Options Start with Not Ditching Your G430 or G530 appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Sporting a crisp, high-resolution display, they are nicely equipped with a variety of handy features and a smart feature set. It was showing the radio off at Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo 2024 in Florida and Kitplanes contributor Larry Anglisano got a product tour from Garmin’s Jim Alpiser.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on Kitplanes.

The post Garmin Demos New VHF Radios appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

For a deep dive into the future of GNS support, and some tips for dealing with a dreaded failure, Aviation Consumer Magazine editor-in-chief Larry Anglisano sat down with Jim Alpiser, Garmin’s director of aftermarket sales, to set the record straight.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on The Aviation Consumer.

The post Garmin GNS 430: Throwaway or Keeper? appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

No, these upgrades don’t come with steamy towelettes and tons of legroom. The upgrade on the docket is a little more involved as we go about removing legacy components that have been in place for decades—ah, the stories they could tell—and replacing them with repurposed avionics from a once hangar mate. Out with the old and in with the new!

When last we left Corey, he had received the pull-off avionics parts from Stephen’s Saratoga and was prepping to install them in his 1966 Cessna 172H Skyhawk. All set up in his T-hangar, it was time to get down to business. You heard me correctly, ladies and gentlemen. After months of planning and a can-do attitude, Corey got busy pulling apart his panel.

• READ MORE: Part 1: Cessna 172 Skyhawk Avionics

Careful, Diligent Removal

Disassembly is easier than it sounds though one does not simply go ripping and snatching on aircraft components. While it is true these are pull-off units, they do have value. Corey could pass them along to another, as Saratoga Stephen did for him, sell them as cores, or keep them as souvenirs. The first order of business was to map what was to be accomplished before laying wrenches on it.

As the pieces come out, it is important to take time to tag them with relevant information. Part number, serial number, condition “AR” for as removed, the date, and N-number of the aircraft. This is helpful if you need to identify the item later, especially if Corey passes them on to someone else.

Once removed and tagged, Corey placed them out of harm’s way and began the task of preparing the panel for installation.

Installation Prep 

Step one for the installation is to inventory everything. Steve and the crew from Oasis Aviation manufactured and delivered the wiring harness, and it looks fantastic. The team even created and provided a wiring diagram. This will assist Corey with the installation of his replacement equipment, and it will become part of the aircraft technical documents to be retained for future reference during maintenance events. Once inspecting it, Corey loosely installed the new wiring harness. Also, the avionics trays are installed loosely. Once the harness is cleaned up, he will secure them in place.

• READ MORE: Oasis Aviation Sponsoring Aviation Avionics Apprenticeship

Next, it’s time to wire in the circuit breakers and fasten the routing. This is accomplished with zip ties and a stand, making everything nice and tidy. This will ensure everything stays in place when the new components are installed. It takes more time on the front end but will pay dividends in the long run. Oftentimes, mechanics will race through removals and not take proper pictures or notes. This is a mistake. While in the area, go ahead and do an impromptu inspection. Look for frayed, chafed, or broken wire. Check for visual discrepancies like cracks or corrosion. Use this time to get to know things behind the panel—you are not here all that often.

There is a fair amount of dust and debris that collects behind instrument panels. Give everything a thorough cleaning and use a high-powered light and inspection mirror to see those hard-to-reach places. Another good exercise is to replace any loose or damaged hardware. Stripped screws, broken lock plates, and cracked brackets are common occurrences. Again, use this time to correct any and all issues you find. As a mechanic, one cannot “unsee” problems once they arise. Now that everything is prepped, we will move forward.

What Comes Next

Alright, sports fans, we have come to a stopping point. Yes, I know you want to keep going, but Corey is doing this after hours, and he has a family and a full-time gig to attend to. Trust me when I say you don’t want to rush aircraft maintenance. Even so, it is important to make steady progress. Just like anything in life, your repetition creates your reputation. Don’t rush or skip steps, and always stick to the maintenance plan.

I asked Corey to share his next steps. Here are some maintenance actions that are forthcoming in the refurbishment:

• Install the new avionics panel.
• While I had the interior out, Corey pulled all the old fiberglass insulation and discarded it. He is planning on upgrading to a better and newer soundproofing insulation. While the airplane is down for maintenance in one area, you can always use that time to  perform additional upgrades.
• Next, Corey will need to install GPS antennas and wire them up. We will follow this process with him as well.
• We removed the old automatic direction finding (ADF) system. After removing the old antenna, we will have to patch the hole made from it.
• Lastly, we still need to remove the vacuum system.

That’s it for now, folks. Stay tuned as we keep working on Corey’s Cessna 172 project. Don’t forget we are also tracking Stephen and his Saratoga. There is still so much to do. Take care and stay safe!

The post Part 2: Cessna 172 Skyhawk Avionics appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

In a statement sent to FLYING, Garmin advised that “due to multiple component availability limitations, comprehensive repair service for Garmin’s GNS 430/530 series is estimated to become limited in the years ahead. This includes all GPS/COM and GPS-only variants, as well as all WAAS models. Initially, these limitations are estimated to impact a small percentage of repairs in 2024.”

The GNS 430/530 was introduced in 1998 and produced until 2011, which included 25 years of repairs.

• READ MORE: Bidding Farewell to the Garmin GNS Line

“We will continue to do so until serviceable components become unavailable,” the company statement said.

Garmin noted that it plans to continue offering repair service when the components required for a specific repair remain available. Database updates and technical support will also remain available.

The company added that products that Garmin must return as unrepairable due to the announced unavailability of repair parts will incur a $500 processing fee per unit.

Garmin is encouraging customers to transition to newer-generation products.

The post Garmin Announces Repair Service Limitation on GNS 430 appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

When equipped with SkyView HDX and the autopilot, Baron aircraft also will benefit from a yaw damper and approach capability when the autopilot is coupled with a compatible third-party IFR navigation instrument.

• READ MORE: Dynon Continues Progress on SkyView Installations in Certified Aircraft

When added to a SkyView HDX system, the three-axis autopilot starts at a list price of $11,192 for Baron aircraft, including all required hardware and servo harnesses. Other options that pilots frequently choose include the SkyView autopilot control panel ($664), which provides autoflight controls for the pilot, and the knob control panel ($335), which gives pilots the ability to adjust the values modified the most when flying with the autopilot, such as altitude, heading, track, and altimeter setting.

“We’re excited to expand the SkyView HDX and Dynon’s autopilot approval into the Beechcraft Baron series,” said Michael Schofield, Dynon’s director of marketing.

Dynon Certified products, including this autopilot approval, can be purchased and installed by any Dynon-authorized center. Dynon said additional autopilot approvals are in progress for select Mooney M20 and Beechcraft Debonair 33 aircraft. Electric trim and autopilot auto-trim are also widely available for Dynon autopilot-equipped aircraft.

The company said trim motor control and autopilot auto-trim are now available for most Dynon Certified autopilot installations with electric trim motors installed. In the past this feature was restricted to a select few trim systems, Dynon said. Now the restriction has been removed, so auto-trim can be used in all Dynon autopilot-equipped Cessna 182, Beechcraft 35 and 36 series, Piper Seneca, and Beechcraft Baron 58 series aircraft.

The post Dynon Certified Announces New FAA Approvals for SkyView HDX Avionics System and Autopilot appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

You see the airplane at the gate; it cannot be long now. Suddenly, the ramp crew starts pulling bags off the airplane, and the gate agent makes an announcement via the intercom: “Ladies and gentlemen, it is my sad duty to report that our aircraft suffered a mechanical issue and cannot make today’s flight.” Now, this is typically not an issue, just dispatch maintenance, but in the near future, it could be detrimental to your vacation.

Who is going to work on the airplane?

My colleague Michael Wildes recently penned a piece about this for FLYING, and not much has changed since. Thankfully, the industry is resourceful and constantly taking measures to correct the situation.

Avionics for the Rest of Us

Those of you who follow my column know of my passion for training the next generation of aircraft maintenance professionals. You also know that my avionics skills are on a third-grade level. No offense to third graders. The FAA mandates training for pilots and mechanics, but avionics techs is a virtual no-man’s-land.

All of this brings me back to our Skyhawk project. When we last left Corey, he was working through the idea of upgrading his avionics panel using removed serviceable material from his friend’s Saratoga. During the time spent walking through that project, Corey informed me that he would need all new wiring to go with his new gear. Enter Oasis Aviation Avionics & Maintenance, a Newnan, Georgia, aircraft maintenance facility with a new business element that just may surprise you.

Earlier this week, I met with Oasis owner and president Steve Olive, a retired Air Force colonel, and found a pleasant surprise in my own backyard. Olive and company are looking to fill the void for avionics technicians by offering an apprenticeship program. Oasis Aviation is the sponsor and pays the student. Learn Avionics LLC delivers the related training and instruction.

Oasis is selective with its candidates, as the plan is for the students to join the crew at some point. There are only two criteria: The applicant must be 18 years old and a high school graduate. The firm receives applicants from high schools in its surrounding area, the Coweta CEC Center, and Spaulding County, Georgia.

Olive outlines what traits make good avionics technicians:

• Keen attention to detail
• Touch of OCD
• They never ever give up.

The avionics technician apprenticeship program is one year or roughly 2,000 hours. Graduates can add airframe and powerplant (A&P) for another two years or 30 months. Students start by stripping wire. Soon after, they move to pinning wire, assembling a connector, and then eventually building up the wiring harnesses, like they are doing for Corey. Once complete, the team creates a custom wiring diagram for all installations. Thus far, 10 graduates have finished the program.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are not new, having been around for centuries. With a majority of the media focusing on FAA Part 147 schools, apprenticeships are sometimes an afterthought. Longtime industry organization Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) offers an apprenticeship program, but it differs from Oasis as AEA graduates are eligible for a FAR section 65.101 (a)(5)(ii) allowance for the issuance of a repairman’s certificate. While the outcome is slightly different, Oasis does use the AEA curriculum in its program. The hope is that students stay on and join the team.

The U.S. military is keenly aware of the need for its service members to transition smoothly. Given that, the Department of Defense created the SkillBridge Program. Commanders in the military allow service members to leave the military early in order to train. Olive knew of a Marine who recently went through the program and is now at West Star Aviation in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The Georgia Department of Economic Development provides some good information on what an apprenticeship is. It describes it as “a work-based training method that combines formal instruction with on-site, occupation-related training.” There are also apprenticeship opportunities at the federal level. The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employment and Training Administration offers ways to register for an apprenticeship. There is a tremendous amount of good intel there. Another good resource is the DOL’s ApprenticeshipUSA. I encourage you to take a look and do your research. Perhaps you know someone who could benefit from a program like the ones offered?

Growing the Tribe

The best part of my job is getting connected with like-minded people who are always seeking to help one another. The Oasis Aviation Network was created for that very purpose. I’ve told you that my strong suit is not avionics. Most aircraft maintenance technicians are either A&P or avionics skilled. Some can do both, and if you find such a unicorn, capture it. We want to study and replicate it somehow.

The Oasis Aviation Network approached small aircraft maintenance shops with an idea to expand their businesses. Did you know that you can install the radio with just an A&P? These smaller shops may not have an avionics-skilled person on staff, but they are confident in their relationship with the network and can always call upon the team for help.

Now having more than 300 network members, the Oasis Aviation Network continues to look for ways to support the aircraft maintenance industry. Members can buy products, obtain training, and receive technical support. I am going back to spend some additional time with Olive this week. I might even learn a thing or two!

The post Oasis Aviation Sponsoring Aviation Avionics Apprenticeship appeared first on FLYING Magazine.