The Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) recently hosted the quarterly risk-based certification update for manufacturers of general aviation avionics at its headquarters.
The quarterly updates are conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration on design, certification and production approvals with a goal of encouraging open discussion regarding the process. They are the result of feedback received during the Non-Required Safety Enhancing Equipment regulatory forum in February.
Several new general aviation products were introduced at this year’s EAA AirVenture Oshkosh fly-in convention.
“Historically, most new products introduced into general aviation have received a top-down approval,” Ric Peri, AEA vice president of government and industry affairs, said. “There is a lot of history why this was the norm. One reason is that for the longest time, most new products originated at the highest level: military, space or commercial airlines. Extremely few products and new technologies were introduced into general aviation. It was a logical (and easy) process to develop and certify products to the TSOs [technical standard order]. However, for the last 20 years or so, industry began to see a shift in this traditional path with the introduction of new technologies into general aviation.”
The AEA has been hosting forums since last year.