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“Bringing you knowledge of the latest in avionics technology”
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Northern Air Transport Association
April 24-26, 2017
Maxcraft Avionics
Pitt Meadows, BC
CYPK
April 26, 2017 @6:45pm
Canadian Owners and Pilots AGM
Kelowna, BC
June 23-24, 2017
Experimental Aircraft Association
(AirVenture)
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
July 24-30, 2017
Canadian Business Aviation Association
Abbotsford, BC
Aug 9-11, 2017
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Customer Comments
“On behalf of Emil Anderson Air Ltd. I would like to congratulate and thank Maxcraft Avionics Ltd. for a job well done.
We recently had the Lynx 9000+ system installed in the company Navajo including the interfacing with our existing Garmin 750 and Aspen. Apart from the ADS-B in and out, we now have collision avoidance and active weather as well as the new mode S transponder.
This installation adds a new safety dimension to our busy operation. All work was completed by Maxcraft in a highly professional manner.
Thank you again for your attention to detail.”
Regards,
Pat Very
More Successes
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Avionic Humour
An engineer and a programmer
A programmer and an engineer are sitting next to each other on a long flight from Los Angeles to New York.
The programmer leans over to the engineer and asks if he would like to play a fun game.
The engineer just wants to take a nap, so he politely declines and rolls over to the window to catch a few winks.
The programmer persists and explains that the game is real easy and is a lot of fun. He explains “I ask you a question, and if you don’t know the answer, you pay me $5. Then you ask me a question, and if I don’t know the answer, I’ll pay you $5.”
Again, the engineer politely declines and tries to get to sleep.
The programmer, now somewhat agitated, says, “OK, if you don’t know the answer you pay me $5, and if I don’t know the answer, I’ll pay you $100!”
This catches the engineer’s attention, and he sees no end to this torment unless he plays, so he agrees to the game.
The programmer asks the first question. “What’s the distance from the earth to the moon?” The engineer doesn’t say a word, but reaches into his wallet, pulls out a five dollar bill and hands it to the programmer.
Now, it’s the engineer’s turn. He asks the programmer “What goes up a hill with three legs, and comes down on four?”
The programmer looks up at him with a puzzled look. He takes out his laptop computer and searches all of his references. He taps into the Airphone with his modem and searches the net and the Library of Congress. Frustrated, he sends e-mail to his co-workers–all to no avail.
After about an hour, he wakes the Engineer and hands him $100. The engineer politely takes the $100 and turns away to try to get back to sleep. The programmer, more than a little miffed, shakes the engineer and asks “Well, so what’s the answer?” Without a word, the engineer reaches into his wallet, hands the programmer $5, and turns away to get back to sleep.
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New products from the AEA Conference, upcoming tradeshows, new headset and USB ports for aircraft, and more interesting hangar projects
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New Products/Announcements
MAXCRAFT has received Transport Canada STC SH17-13 for installation of the Garmin GTS800 Traffic System with dual directional traffic antennas, and STC SH17-14 for installation of Garmin HTAWS in the Airbus Helicopters EC-135.
GUARDIAN AVIONICS  announced the iFDR Panel Mount for the iPad and iPhone. This
provides a unique way of mounting an iPad or iPhone inside the instrument panel. Unlike products that mount iPads and iPhones on kneeboards, yoke mounts, or other external mounts, the iFDR line is an actual cradle that places the portable electronics inside the panel, flush mounted in a spring-actuated holder. All power and audio cables as well as the optional power supply are kept behind the panel, creating a clean looking package that makes the iPad or iPhone look like a piece of installed avionics! It is available for both certified aircraft as well as experimental.
Additionally, Guardian Avionics has unveiled a brand new line of USB Power Supplies for aviation. The iFDR USB Power 250-101 is a dual 2.1 amp USB-A port that can be installed in either certified or experimental aircraft as a simple way to connect and charge all types of USB powered equipment like tablets, phones, cameras, and GPS units. To make installation simple, the 250-101 features a round faceplate that perfectly fits in the same round panel opening used for common 12/24 volt cigarette lighter sockets – just remove the socket and replace!
LIGHTSPEED AVIATION 
announced the Zulu 3, a worthy successor to the Zulus that came before it. Retaining the features that made them great while adding new features that increase comfort, durability, and value:
More comfort
- New contoured ear seals are designed to hug the curve of the jaw, reducing side pressure to get a more natural fit for more comfort and stability
- These ear seals create 30-50% more space for the ear than other ANR headsets – a key feature of long-term user comfort
- A free taller head pad option ensures maximum comfort and performance on smaller head shapes (ordering instructions are in the User Guide)
More durability
- Zulu 3 is outfitted with new cables built around a Kevlar core, which are stronger, lighter, and more flexible than standard cables – and have proven themselves on both Zulu PFX® and Tango®
- The more durable cables complement the other premium materials used in the rest of the headset construction, including the magnesium cups, sliders, and the stainless steel headband
More support
- Zulu 3 will be backed by an industry-best 7-year warranty (the industry standard is 5 years)
No compromises
- Zulu 3 still has the award winning Lightspeed ANR and all of the most popular features such as Bluetooth for phone and music, Auto Shutoff™, and ComPriority™
It also has an exclusive user adjustable mic gain adjustment to get the audio and side tone just right for all voices.
AVIDYNE received FAA TSO & STC approval of Release 10.2 (R10.2) software and new IFD550 FMS/GPS/NAV/COM with Attitude Reference System (ARS). New features for our IFD Series include Synthetic Vision (SVS) and two-way wireless connectivity with Avidyne’s new IFD100 iPad App. Avidyne also received certification of the new, IFD545, IFD510 and IFD410 FMS/GPS-only systems. 
The new IFD550 is similar to the IFD540 but with an integrated Attitude Reference System (ARS) which provides a secondary attitude display and enables dynamic SVS for full 3D egocentric “out-the-window” as well as exocentric “in-trail” views of aircraft with nearby terrain, airports, obstacles, with full color traffic and terrain warnings.
The IFD550 provides:
- Built-In Attitude Reference System (ARS)
- 3D Exocentric “in-trail” SVS view
- Egocentric “out-the-window” SVS view
- Much more
Existing IFD540s and IFD440s can upgrade to Synthetic Vision. With R10.2, which also adds about 50 other features and enhancements including:
- Wireless Flightplan transfer into the IFD
- Non-certified TAWS functionality
- Support for Bottlang® European Charts
- Additional support for GTX330ES/GTX330/345 protocols (STCs to follow)
- Demo Mode
- For a full list of R10.2 features go to avidynelive.com
Synthetic Vision provides pilots with a 3D exocentric “in-trail” view of their aircraft, nearby airports and surrounding terrain, obstacles & traffic.
GARMIN introduced the all-digital audio panels for fixed-wing aircraft. The GMA 345 features Bluetooth audio connectivity and a front-mounted USB charging port, while the GMA 342 contains a dedicated 3.5mm audio jack that allows pilots to connect a mobile device directly to the audio panel. Both contain state-of-the-art sound quality, advanced auto squelch, music bass boost, advanced equalizer settings, 3D audio processing and more.
Other features include: 
- affordability
- installer friendly, slide-in replacement for the GMA 340
- GMA 345/342 satisfaction guarantee program for slide-in installations
GARMIN also Introduced the new G3X Touch 7″ Portrait Display.
For new panels, aircraft builders now have three display formats that can be selected. The display family has grown from the 10.6-inch and 7-inch landscape displays to now include the 7-inch portrait G3X Touch.
Offering the same features as the previous G3X Touch and more. The 7-inch display can be used a PFD or MFD when paired with multiple G3X Touch displays or as a single standalone screen. Also featuring a GMU 11 magnetometer to allow more flexible and cost-effective installation options for experimental amateur-built and light sport aircraft. Aircraft owners can easily upgrade a G3X system to G3X Touch using all of the existing sensors and pin-compatible connectors, so there is no need to replace any equipment behind the panel.
GARMIN introduced the G5 electronic flight instrument for installation as a replacement directional gyro (DG) or horizontal situation indicator (HSI) in type-certificated fixed-wing general aviation aircraft. The G5 can be considered primary for displaying magnetic heading, VOR/LOC guidance and/or GPS course guidance as well as distance and ground speed.
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In the Hangar:
Cessna 205 Re-Make
This 1963 Cessna 205, is commonly mistaken for the Cessna 210 or 206. The Cessna 210-5 or 205, is known as the “SUV of the air”. This Skywagon is a 6 seater, with fixed landing gear and a very distinctive cowling. It became apparent that one day the plane would receive an upgrade when Kim’s wife, Joanna, started working at Maxcraft Avionics as a Customer Service Rep. 6 years ago. Watching the amount of aircraft get upgrades it was easy to follow suit, with the convenience of seeing the latest and greatest technology first hand. Read more about this 205 here.
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In the Hangar:
Legacy PC-12 Navigation Avionics Upgrade
 RCMP’s 1999 Pilatus PC 12/45. The PC/12 is a single-engine turboprop passenger and cargo aircraft originally produced in 1994. This PC-12 operates in very remote regions of the Yukon, where navigation and communication system installed on board the aircraft are crucial for the safety of flight. The Air Services Branch authorized a program to to upgrade the outdated Avionics system in its legacy PC-12’s. Read more about the Pilatus here.
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The Technical Side:
Transport Canada Inspection
Many in the aviation community are about as enthusiastic at seeing a Transport Canada (TCCA) vehicle in their parking lot as a Revenue Canada inspector at the door. In reality nothing could be further than the truth and TCCA’s role is to help us ensure we are keeping up the aviation standards we committed to. TCCA has changed the manner in which it approaches its surveillance responsibilities of all enterprises it regulates. Traditional surveillance methods (i.e. audits and inspections) focused solely on determining regulatory compliance using a number of direct inspections of an enterprise’s aircraft, personnel, records, products, etc. TCCA has moved to a contemporary approach, which includes methodologies such as assessments, program validation inspections (PVIs) and process inspections.
Maxcraft Avionics is the holder of an Approved Maintenance Organization (AMO). It holds ratings in Aircraft, Avionics, Structures, components and instruments. Maxcraft is eligible for and holds approvals with the following agencies;
1. TCCA Approved Maintenance Organization AMO 33-90
2. TCCA Aeronautic Products Distributor AO 33-90
3. EASA Part-145 Maintenance Organization Approval EASA.145.7163
4. FAA Repair Station Equivalent Approval per 14CFRS 43.17
Due to our EASA approval, and TCCA’s bilateral agreement to validate our EASA certificate, we are subject to more frequent biennial inspections by TCCA. The objective of this Program Validation Inspection (PVI) is to evaluate Maxcraft Avionics Ltd.’s Quality Assurance Program to determine its compliance and ability to maintain compliance with the Canadian Aviation Regulations.
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TCCA Safety Inspectors meeting with the Maxcraft team during our PVI
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Maxcraft just recently went through this PVI process and we are awaiting our official report from our TCCA Civil Aviation Safety Inspector for Airworthiness. This PVI process started with the TCCA team arriving with a PVI plan and reviewing with our team. The complete PVI for Maxcraft typically takes a week at our facility and involves many of our key staff. Prior to our AMO certificate award we created our own approved Maintenance Policy Manual and our responsibility is to follow that and perform Quality Assurance audits to make sure we are in compliance. If we find an issue then it is up to us to take the corrective action. The basic premise of the PVI is for TCCA to look at our internal company audits and non- conformances developed as a result of these audits as well as randomly inspect some of our work orders for compliance. Our pending report will either say they found no issues or had some sort of finding (we have seen both results). If there is a finding then we need to come up a Corrective Action Plan, get that approved by TCCA, and then properly implement it.
This may sound like a lot of bureaucracy but this continuous effort of self-improvement ensures we are keeping our customers safe in the skies!
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Based in Tucson, Arizona, Guardian Avionics started out in 1999 as CO Guardian and became known as manufacturers of portable and installed Carbon Monoxide detectors for both certified aircraft and homebuilt aircraft.
The company has become the leader in CO detection for aviation and their CO detectors are installed as standard safety equipment on all single-engine piston aircraft produced by Cessna, Cirrus, and Diamond and are factory options on Piper, Gipps, and Beechcraft aircraft.
Though Guardian Avionics remains a small company, they have advanced beyond the scope of just CO detectors to include an exciting new line of products to power and mount iPad and iPhone products in the cockpit in response to customer needs.
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Maxcraft is always looking for skilled technicans
As we continue to grow our business we are always looking for experienced avionics installation technicians. If you’re interested in joining our winning team send your resume to Joanna at Customer Service.
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Rebates for your favorite products
Lightspeed Spring Sale
Buy a Tango and receive a Tango Bonus Pack that has two extra tango rechargeable batteries and a Tango accessory wall charger for free! Offer expires Monday May 8, 2017.
J.P. Instruments
Multiple instant rebates offered on EDMs! $450 instant rebate on EDM-930 single or $700 instant rebate on EDM-960 twin. Call us for more details on these rebates. Must be purchases between April 1 – April 20, 2017.
Bose
Receive a free SoundTouch 10 wireless speaker with the purchase of the Bose A20 Aviation Headset. Limited time offer! Expires May 6, 2017
Aspen Avionics
Take $1,000 off your new VFR Primary Flight Display(PFD)! Only for the month of April, 2017. Call us for more details.
Universal Avionics
Universal Avionics Incentive Programs have been extended. In a continued effort to help operators with the cost of equipping their aircraft for upcoming industry requirements and mandates, Universal Avionics has extended two popular pricing incentive programs that were initially set to expire at the end of 2016.
Electronics International Inc.
EI is offering instant rebates on multiple Engine Monitors.. From CGR-30P Basic to CGR-30C. Rebates from $50 to $500. This offer expires
June 1, 2017.Call now for more information!
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If you would like more information or to pre-order please contact our sales department at sales@maxcraft.ca or 604-465-3080.
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