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Upcoming Events
Alaska Air Carrier Association
Anchorage, Alaska
May 2-3, 2018
Anchorage, Alaska
May 5-6, 2018
Pitt Meadows, BC
June 2, 2018
Canadian Business Aviation Association
Waterloo Ontario
June 12-14, 2018
Canadian Owners & Pilots
St Johns, New Brunswick
June 21-23, 2018
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Avionic Humour
Do you have any idea who I am?
During the final days at Denver’s old Stapleton airport, a crowded United flight was canceled.
The single agent was rebooking a long line of very inconvenienced and frustrated travelers.
Suddenly an angry passenger pushed his way to the desk in front of all the others. He slapped his ticket down on the counter and said, “I HAVE to be on this flight and it has to be FIRST CLASS.”
The agent replied, “I’m sorry sir. I’ll be happy to try to help you, but I’ve got to help these folks first, and I’m sure we’ll be able to work something out.”
The passenger was unimpressed. He asked loudly, so that all the passengers behind him could hear, “Do you have any idea who I am?”
Without hesitating, the gate agent smiled warmly and grabbed her public address microphone. “May I have your attention please?” she began, her voice bellowing throughout the entire terminal. “We seem to have a passenger here at the gate WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHO HE IS. If anyone can help him find his identity, please come forward to the gate.”
With the folks behind him in line now laughing hysterically, the man glared at the United agent, gritted his teeth, and spat out the words, “F… you.”
Without flinching in the least, the agent smiled politely and said, “I’m terribly sorry, sir, but I’m afraid that you’ll have to stand in line for that, too.”
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Customer Comments
Hello Dylan,
Thank you very much. Chris was excellent and I’m happy to tell you he showed a great deal of care entering and exiting the aircraft as well as making sure everything was neat and tidy when he was finished. It’s great to have the alerts working now and I’m very happy with my Maxcraft experience and will pass along some good word of mouth for you guys at the airport and airshows this summer.
Cheers.
Devin Hicks
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Spring is here and its that time of year where you will be pulling your plane out of the hangar a little more often. Looking to upgrade? Add some new toys to your aircraft? Check out our new products and projects for some great ideas.
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New Products/Announcements
ARTEX is introducing the world’s only 406 MHz approved transport-grade alkaline battery-powered Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT). The development of the innovative ARTEX ELT 4000 featuring an alternative power source to traditional lithium batteries offers OEMs, airlines and operators an ELT that is exempt from FAA non-rechargeable lithium battery special conditions, while introducing significant benefits and savings in the cost of ownership through reduced, acquisition, installation, and maintenance.
Garmin
Garmin is pleased to announce the new GFC 600H flight control system for helicopter owners and operators – a breakthrough in cost-effective technology that reduces pilot workload, improves mission effectiveness, and can enhance safety.
Number of helicopter-tailored features:
- including a stability augmentation system (SAS)
- dedicated return-to-level (LVL) mode
- Helicopter Electronic Stability and Protection (Garmin H-ESP™)
- hover assist as well as overspeed and low speed protection
- GFC 600H can operate as a full-featured standalone flight control system, but also offers integration with compatible flight displays
Read more about this on our blog here
Garmin also introduces the G500H TXi Flight Display
Garmin is pleased to announce G500H TXi, a new generation of touchscreen flight displays for helicopters. Built on the proven capabilities of the original G500H series, G500H TXi offers a vastly expanded array of features, options and panel possibilities that bring a new level of reliability, adaptability and affordability to helicopter operations. Designed specifically for FAR Part 27 VFR helicopters, G500H TXi boasts a bright LCD design – including a large 10.6-inch display and two versions of 7-inch displays, available in portrait or landscape orientation – and features traditional concentric knobs for added versatility and convenience.
- Optimized for helicopter operations
- Vibrant, state-of-the-art touchscreen displays
- Greater scalability and configurability
- Forward-looking terrain awareness
- WireAware technology
- HSI mapping and more
Read more about this new touch screen product here.
ICOM Canada 
Icom Canada is pleased to introduce the new A25 series handhelds. This powerful air band handheld comes with 6 watts of power and an IP57 waterproof rating. The easy-to-use interface and large 2.3-inch LCD display combine to provide stress-free programming and in-flight operation.
General Features:
- User friendly graphic screens
- Flat sheet keypad with 16 keys and a quad selector
- PC programmable
- 2350mAh li-on battery with the ability to check battery condition on the battery status screen
- VFO scan, memory-channel scan, priority scan
- “Flip-flop” channel recall stores the last 10 channels used
Navigation Features
- Built-in Bluetooth for hands-free operation
- Built-in GPS with waypoint NAV
- Store up to 10 flight plans and 300 waypoints
- Multiple VOR navigation functions
- Near station function assists in accessing nearby ground stations
- Flight plans using Android/iOS apps
PS Engineering
PS Engineering is introducing their new PAC45 Audio Controller. This product is an advanced audio controller that employs PS Engineering’s patented Multi-Talker software to provide spatial separation of the multiple radio sources that are present in special mission aircraft. Stereo Headsets Required.
The hub of the PAC45 can be mounted directly to the control head or mounted anywhere in the aircraft. All radio wires and intercom stations are wired directly to the hub. Connection to the control head(s) is by a single shielded cable sending the necessary protocols to the hub.
Anodyne Electronics Manufacturing Corp.
AEM announced the ongoing development and certification program for the AWG08 Audio Warning Generator and released two new loudspeaker amplifiers, the LSA150 (150W) and LSA300 (300W). It also announced the company’s purchase by SMS Canada Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Structural Monitoring Systems PLC of Australia. It also signed a distribution agreement with DAC International. Along with Aviation Specialties Unlimited, the two companies will be proceeding with the development, qualification, certification and sale of a new generation, plug-and-play replacement caution/warning panel for the BK117 series helicopter. Airbus Helicopters received an FAA STC for installation of AEM’s 600W Loud Speaker system on Airbus H125/AS350B3 series helicopters.
Garmin
Garmin announced the GDL 50, a portable device capable of receiving ADS-B traffic and weather, GPS and aircraft attitude information for display on select portables and mobile devices. Garmin also announced an expanded Connext ecosystem that now includes the FltPlan.com website and the FltPlan Go app on Apple and Android mobile devices.
Dynon
Dynon received its first STC for its flagship SkyView HDX system. The STC’s Approved Model List initially covers many Cessna 172 models.
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In the Hangar:
Cessna T210 gets first Garmin TXi panel in Canada!
Our customer flies his Cessna 210 as it was designed to; frequently and often IFR. His old autopilot was letting him down and he wanted the reliability of a glass panel and WAAS GPS. Although he came in originally to talk about a Garmin G500 we convinced him to wait until the next generation TXi was released. We appreciate Scott’s patience with us, as the TXi was later to production than we had planned. Although we installed the very capable S-TEC 55X autopilot, the computer will soon be replaced with the new S-TEC 3100 digital autopilot with envelope protection, straight and level recovery, and auto trim. We added the popular Garmin GTN750 GPS/Nav/Com, a Lynx ADS-B transponder with active traffic, a new metal Instrument MaxPanel with LED ring lights for the backup instruments. Scott now has a very reliable and safe aircraft to quickly get him to his destinations
In the Hangar:
The Airbus H125 Helicopter gets Autopilot, Traffic and Glass Panel
We worked with our customer during the buying process of his helicopter to design his ultimate panel. It was decided that he would order it with steam gauges from the factory and then we would upgrade it once he took delivery. Well he was having so much fun flying it we didn’t get our hands on it for almost a year later. Read more about this upgrade here.
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In the Hangar:
Cessna 182 Super Sealane Floatplane  When you want one of the best floatplanes out there you need to start out with a good airframe and the Cessna 182 fills that bill well. You then need to perform some serious upgrades by a very specific talented team.Read more about this project here.
In the Hangar:
Cessna 172 gets ADS-B, Engine monitor, and new GPS
As so often is the case, our customer started talking to us about ADS-B compliance but he also had a wish list to upgrade some other items. To combine the work at the same time typically saves a bunch of labour. Read more about this project here.
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Vendor Profile 
ARTEX, a brand of ACR Electronics, is a leading provider of safety and survival equipment to the aviation market for general, business, commercial and military applications.
Suitable for every type of fixed wing and rotorcraft, ARTEX Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) are selected by most aircraft manufacturers around the world. ACR and ARTEX design and manufacture a complete portfolio of survival products for the aviation industry including ELTs, Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs), Battery packs, ELT Accessories, Iridium Tracking and Communication Distress Beacons, Megaphones and Distress Lighting.
ACR is known for their state-of-the-art manufacturing, stringent quality standards, strong corporate culture, and dedication to going the extra mile to educate their buyers and end users on how the technology in their devices work. Their customers range from the individual private pilot to the world’s largest airframe manufacturers, airlines and governments. 
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Who’s who at Maxcraft?
Marnus is our featured employee this month, and a recent addition to Maxcraft Avionics. He brings his enthusiasm for aviation along with the charming accent of his mother tongue, Afrikaans. As an Avionics Technician he is responsible for many new avionics installations in both fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.
His love for aviation started when attending his first real air show in 1999. Aviation chose him at the age of 14, and he went for his first flight lesson 3 months later; the rest is history. Holding a South African Private Pilot’s License with night rating, he was busy completing his Commercial IFR License prior to moving to Canada. Marnus doesn’t plan to pursue a Canadian Pilots License, but what he’s learned in aviation is to never say never.
Starting his apprenticeship in 2011 with a one year theory course at Denel Technical Academy in South Africa, Marnus then worked as an apprentice and later qualified. The qualification is a Red Seal Trade in South Africa. He has worked at Century Avionics in South Africa as Installation Technician and later Design and Certification Engineer at Century NAVCOM and briefly with Pacific Avionics & Instruments as an Instrument Technician. Overall Marnus has 7 years in a technical discipline, with exposure to several areas of aviation for 18 years.
One of Marnus’ favourite things about working in aviation is the variety. He knows that you will never know everything there is to know because technology moves so fast and that opens up the door for continuous learning and education opportunities.
Marnus and his wife immigrated to Canada from South Africa and have been happily married for 6 years. They have one 4yr old and are expecting their second child in June 2018! Marnus also enjoys outdoor life such as fishing, camping, and exploring. He is now currently teaching himself French.
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