Source: IAMA A challenging and noteworthy year Chaired by Marc Pinault and led by Nicole Noack, IAMA, the Independent Aircraft Modifier Alliance thrived while navigating harsh conditions caused by the global pandemic. Since its establishment at the beginning of 2019, the dedication of the alliance and its’ members has produced many accomplishments. Here is a brief rundown of 2021 and an overview of the alliance’s objectives for 2022. By the end of January 2021, IAMA had weathered its first year as a legal not-for-profit entity, and actively pursued the goal of establishing and launching its Audit Program. The recent announcement of its partnership with the renowned organization, Quali-audit, saw IAMA achieve the first part of its goal, with audits to [...]

Source: Panasonic Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic Avionics) has been named the winner of the 2021 Popular Science Best of What’s New Award in its Aerospace category. Panasonic Avionics won the award for its eX1 in-flight entertainment (IFE) solution for narrowbody aircraft, featuring Bluetooth audio technology which enables easy connections between wireless headphones and seatback IFE screens. This solution was launched earlier this year on United Airlines’ new Boeing 737 MAX fleet and has also debuted with Cathay Pacific Airways. Panasonic Avionics eX1 IFE Bluetooth solution is available at every seat, across both premium and economy cabins.  The company’s unique approach optimizes emitted Bluetooth signal levels to each passenger’s personal living space, significantly reducing the chance of interference or cross-connections between [...]

Source: IAMA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) quality to be elevated through independent compliance-testing against the IAMA Rulebook Standard IAMA, the Independent Aircraft Modifier Alliance, is partnering with Paris-based Quali-Audit, to kick off the alliance’s much-anticipated auditing program. Quali-Audit will start conducting formal audits of Full and Basic alliance members in Q1 2022. "We are thrilled to launch this audit program. It is a crucial initiative in our mission to strengthen STC and aircraft modification quality, designed to offer added value to the aviation ecosystem,” said Nicole Noack, Managing Director of IAMA. "Our partnership with Quali-Audit is a major milestone for IAMA, and we are looking forward to collaborating with an organization of such renown.” The alliance aims to ensure that [...]

Source: IAMA It has been going on for 40 or more years, and it is a serious problem for aircraft owners, lessors and airlines. When a lessor or an airline operator decides they want to transfer an aircraft at the end of their lease, the new lessee or operator may find themself in the position of having to ask a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) owner for the right to continue to use the STC for any modification, inflight entertainment, for example. This frustrating situation leads to the aircraft’s owner/lessor and new lessee potentially being trapped—forced to pay thousands in fees for the rights to use the aircraft’s previously installed modifications. While it is not entirely clear how these circumstances arose, [...]

Source: SITA SITA will be making part of this solution available free of charge to government agencies to address the mounting challenge around health documentation SITA announced that to support the recovery of the travel industry, it will make its Digital Travel Declaration solution – which allows passengers to share required travel and health documentation with governments ahead of travel – available to governments free of charge globally. This is aimed at addressing the global challenge of submitting and verifying health documentation which remains a major impediment to the recovery of the global travel industry. Recent research from IATA highlighted that of 50 countries surveyed, 38 countries had some form of COVID-19 restriction on who could enter. For many countries, [...]

Source: HEICO Corporation Acquires RF and Microwave Specialist Paciwave in 6th Acquisition this Year HEICO Corporation announced that its dB Control subsidiary acquired 100% of Paciwave, Inc. for cash paid at closing. No further transaction or financial details were disclosed. dB Control is part of HEICO's Electronic Technologies Group. HEICO stated that it expects the acquisition to be accretive to its earnings within the year following closing. Paciwave is HEICO's sixth acquisition in its current fiscal year. Sunnyvale, CA-based Paciwave is a specialized designer and manufacturer of RF and microwave components and integrated assemblies specializing particularly in PIN Diode Switches, PIN Attenuators, PIN Limiters, Switching Assemblies and integrated subsystems found in defense and other complex electronic applications. Its customers include defense [...]