As the annual Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) Convention opened today in Dallas, members of the avionics manufacturing and dealership community looked forward to the week’s schedule of more than 100 hours of training, the second annual skills competition, and exhibits of the latest in avionics technology and tools. During the opening ceremony, AEA announced that Quint DeGroot, owner of Spencer Avionics, is the 2026 AEA Member of the Year and PS Engineering is the Associate Member of the Year.

On the cusp of the show, AEA learned that the FAA had approved the association’s request to recognize its Certified Aircraft Electronics Technician (CAET) training program as an acceptable means of compliance for the formal education requirement under FAR Part 65.

AEA has reached its largest member count in the last two decades, according to Adamson. “[We have] strong workforce pipelines, high-quality training and recognition, effective regulatory representation, significant membership value, and, in my opinion, the tightest-knit community in the industry,” he said. “This is how we stay out front, in the lead, and ready for what’s next. Thank you for your engagement, your trust, and your commitment [to] not just building a stronger association, but a stronger, more skilled, and more resilient industry for generations to come.”

Amid a confluence of factors affecting jet fuel pricing, demand, and new aviation sustainability requirements, Avfuel has brought a staff of 56 subject experts to the 2026 NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference this week in Cleveland. With conflict in the Middle East causing oil prices to soar due to increased uncertainty and disruption to shipping routes, Avfuel has strengthened its support infrastructure to help operators maintain reliability, compliance, and cost control.

“Business aviation is operating in a period of heightened complexity,” said C.R. Sincock, the Michigan-based fuel provider’s president. “By strengthening coordination across our supply network, regulatory expertise, and customer support teams, we’re helping operators stay focused on their mission while we manage the variables around them.”

In response, Avfuel’s supply, logistics, and pricing teams have increased their collaboration to actively manage fueling terminals, secure supply continuity, and optimize distribution in this currently volatile market.

With sustainability increasingly on operators’ minds, the company has expanded its AvfuelZero program and is growing a dedicated team of subject matter experts to support increasing customer demand for guidance. It now operates eight sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply terminals serving key U.S. markets, allowing it to deliver SAF across the U.S. Avfuel’s physical SAF network now numbers nearly 60 locations globally, while it also can offer SAF attributes anywhere via book-and-claim.

The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) has welcomed Mexican trip support provider Manny as the newest member of its Industry Partner Program and its first in the country. According to the organization, partner program participants assist IBAC in shaping industry standards before they are adopted by civil aviation authorities.

Manny, an aircraft ground-handling company, has been a pioneer in raising safety standards as the first in Mexico to adopt IBAC’s International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH) a decade ago.

“As an active IS-BAH-registered ground-handling services provider since 2016, Manny is recognized for their expertise in FBO and transportation services,” said IBAC director general Kurt Edwards. “We look forward to Manny’s support, insight, and participation in our mission to advocate for our industry’s safety, growth, and sustainability.”

The Toluca-based company is also the longest-tenured Mexican member of NBAA, as well as the first to be affiliated with both IBAC and CBAA.

“As an IS-BAH-registered organization, we are proponents of their internationally recognized safety standard and appreciate IBAC’s unique position to address the challenges and opportunities facing our diverse industry,” said Manny CEO Manuel Vargas. “As we continue to grow our business throughout Mexico, servicing operators from around the world, I feel it is important for us to support IBAC’s work on the international stage at ICAO.”

True Blue Power introduced new emergency battery power supplies (EBPS) and AC-to-DC power converters yesterday at the AEA Convention in Dallas. The TS32 (32 watt-hour) and TS56 (56 watt-hour) EBPS feature nickel-metal hydride batteries that do not suffer from the memory effect associated with Nicad batteries, according to True Blue Power.

Already holding TSO-C173a, RTCA DO-293A, and DO-160G approvals, the new EBPS is expected to soon receive an FAA supplemental type certificate nod. The TS32 is a direct replacement for Nicad-based Radiant RPS1-A/B, Bruce Industries 100865, and Collins/Page D717-01-100 units used in the Embraer ERJ line, Bombardier Challenger 300/350, Bombardier/Mitsubishi CRJ series, Airbus A310, and Boeing 737. The TS56 replaces the Radiant 7450LS-00 in Embraer Phenom 300s and Praetor 500/600s.

Maintenance costs are reduced with the TS32 and TS56, with capacity checks required every two years and easy field installation using a single thumb screw.

Targeting business, commercial, and special-mission aircraft, the new AC-to-DC converters “convert three-phase 115 VAC (360 to 800 Hz) into a 28-VDC output for IFE systems, USB chargers, avionics, and other equipment,” according to True Blue Power. “When equipped with the TC800 Series Hold-up Module, the units provide continuous power during input voltage dropouts, up to 300 milliseconds.”

Garmin’s Autothrottle integrates deeply with the G1000 NXi to maintain target speeds, manage torque and ITT limits, and reduce manual power adjustments. This article explores the safety and performance gains shaping the next era of King Air operations.

Flight-planning website SkyVector has partnered with Everest Fuel to add customized contract fuel functionality to its online map. While SkyVector has displayed retail fuel prices on the map for years, the deal with the fuel provider allows users who are Everest customers to view their specific contract fuel prices.

Everest customers can have their email CSV lists sent to SkyVector via a custom destination email address. The individual and confidential prices for that customer will then be displayed to them on the map when they are logged into the SkyVector site.

“We’re excited to launch this feature to give our customers the ability to see their own fuel prices quickly and easily,” said SkyVector CEO David Graves, who told AIN that he expects to expand the capabilities. “Other programs will quickly be added with the intention of supporting all major contract fuel programs.”

He noted that the company will be demonstrating this new capability this week at the NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference in Cleveland, and invited any fuel distributors wishing to participate to provide SkyVector with sample files.

Convenience store and gasoline service station provider QuikTrip recently placed an order for its third Bell 429 for corporate transport, Bell Textron announced. The purchase expands QuikTrip’s Bell fleet, which includes two Model 429s and a 407GXi.

Sporting a cabin with seating for six passengers, the Bell 429 includes BasixPro software and a guidance system that provides flight calculations and displays critical information during operations.

“The Bell 429 has proven to be the right solution to support the company’s business needs, and we are excited to be part of their growth,” said Lane Evans, managing director of North America sales at Bell.

“Bell continues to be a valued and trusted partner for QuikTrip,” said v-p and CFO Stuart Sullivan. “The Bell 429 provides the precise mix of performance, comfort, and safety required by QuikTrip and is instrumental in supporting our operations and continuing expansion plans.”

Engineering firm Aero Mech is adding an FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) for installation of a Starlink low-earth-orbit satcom system on Hawker 700/800/900-series twinjets, with field availability starting April 17. The company is also developing a Starlink STC for Pilatus PC-12s.

Included in the Hawker STC is installation of the Starlink terminal’s power supply on the forward wall of the aft baggage compartment and the router, with a protective cover, on the aft seat track. Given the many configurations of Hawkers in the field, Aero Mech can optimize the antenna installation to accommodate other antennas as part of the modification.

According to Aero Mech, the target date for approval of the PC-12 STC is by late September, and this will be followed by a Starlink STC for the PC-24 in the fourth quarter. Other STCs underway include the Cessna CitationJet/CJ series, Citation Ultra and Encore, and SkyCourier.

The company holds STCs for the Beechcraft King Air 200/300; Citation Excel/XLS, Sovereign, Latitude, and Longitude; Cessna Caravan series; and de Havilland Canada Dash 8-100 through -300.

Reiser and TRU Simulation are collaborating to bring the Airbus H125 helicopter to the Veris virtual reality flight simulator platform. The Veris H125 combines Reiser’s flight controls, panels, and simulation model, currently used in level-D flight simulators, with TRU Simulation’s FAA level-7-qualified Veris VR platform. 

The system uses TRU Simulation’s REALvision image generator, designed for virtual reality applications, and incorporates an all-electric motion platform providing six degrees of freedom. The platform makes use of flight data, software, and technologies found in TRU Simulation’s full-flight simulators, including the REALFeel control loading system.

Pilots interact with physical flight controls and cockpit panels featuring aircraft switches and avionics replicating those of the H125, while a virtual reality headset replaces traditional visual systems for immersion in the flight environment.

Reiser has provided aviation training technologies for more than three decades. TRU Simulation has been developing flight simulation technology for more than a decade.