Story ID: 
AEA 60th Convention Opens in New Orleans
By: Matt Thurber
Caption: The AEA show this year features more than 135 exhibitors showing their avionics products.
Word Count: 271
The exhibit hall for the 60th annual Aircraft Electronics Association International Convention & Trade Show opened today at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. More than 135 exhibitors are showing their avionics wares and services in the sold-out exhibit hall, as avionics installers, engineers, manufacturers and dealers converge in New Orleans to learn the latest about their industry. 

Hot topics at this year’s AEA Convention include the growing pressure on aircraft owners and operators to upgrade for NextGen, especially to meet the U.S. ADS-B deadline after Dec. 31, 2019. Avionics manufacturers and installers are responding with an increasing number of options, even for business jets, and they are hopeful that this will accelerate bookings in avionics shops as the deadline draws closer. So far, only 30,000 of the more than 150,000 U.S. aircraft that need ADS-B equipment have complied, and much work remains to be done. 

During the new product introduction session held yesterday, the first day of the convention, 29 companies offered a glimpse into what’s coming in the avionics field, from a new Vivisun lighted switch that will lower the cost of ADS-B installations for business aircraft; to new ADS-B STCs; cabin interior products such as Appareo’s Stratus USB charging port; test equipment; a new voice safety services satcom from Latitude Technologies; and more. 

AEA show attendees can also partake of more than 75 hours of training sessions and free Aircraft Electronics Technician certification and endorsement exams courtesy of the AEA Educational Foundation and its partnership with the National Center for Aerospace and Transportation Technologies (NCATT) and ASTM International.