December 2025 – Maxcraft Avionics

December 2025

As 2025 comes in for its final approach, we’re pleased to bring you our December Christmas Edition—a celebration of innovation, craftsmanship, and the people who make aviation extraordinary. This month, we highlight new technologies, exciting product releases, major certification milestones, a few festive Christmas specials, and a look inside some of the impressive projects passing through our hangar. Whether you’re maintaining a fleet or planning your next upgrade, there’s something here to inspire your next mission. Thank you for flying with us through another remarkable year.

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New Products/Announcements

Featured Products:

Gogo HDX FAA STC approval

Gogo Galileo HDX terminal has received FAA STC approvals for the Dassault Falcon 2000 aircraft family.

Gogo also has noted that the first Gogo Galileo FDX STC for the larger of the two electronically steered antennas are now available.

Garmin Pilot App

Garmin announced new weather features on Garmin Pilot Web, its web-centric flight planning platform that complements the Garmin Pilot mobile app.

Also from Garmin, a new overlay option for SmartCharts, its aviation charting solution found in the Garmin Pilot app. The new Graphical NOTAMs overlay, when selected “On,” will depict active runway, taxiway, and ramp closures, as well as conditional closures.

Garmin upgrade for the Cirrus

PERSPECTIVE+ FLIGHT DECKUPGRADE FOR SR SERIES G3 AND G5 AIRCRAFT

Available for Cirrus SR22T, SR22, and SR20aircraft equipped with the original Cirrus Perspective® system, the Perspective+ upgrade delivers even greater performance and capability.

Some of the features:

· BRIGHTER, FASTER HIGH-RESOLUTION DISPLAYS

· UPDATED CONTROLLERS

· EASY UPGRADE PATH

· ADD MORE FEATURES TO YOUR PANEL

· AUTO YAW DAMPER

· STABILIZED APPROACH ADVISORIES

· RUNWAY OCCUPANCY AWARENESS (ROA)

· VISUAL APPROACHES

· FLIGHT PROFILE VIEW

ENROUTE CHART

Becker Avionics

Becker Avionics has launched its new BXT Wi-Fi Module, a compact add-on designed to deliver ADS-B In capability to the BXT6500 family of ADS-B capable 1090ES transponders.

True Blue Power

True Blue Power and 101 Aviation announced the True Blue Power Gen5 TB50 (50 amp-hour) and TB20 (20 amp-hour) lithium-ion batteries will be available for Gulfstream and Bombardier aircraft beginning Q1 2026, with additional aircraft certifications to follow.

Trig Avionics

Trig Avionics, a Dynon Company, launched the TT23 Compact Transponder, the next generation of Trig’s compact line. Building on the TT21 and TT22, the TT23 is smaller and lighter, designed to make installation and operation easier than ever.

Garmin Watches

The latest aviator smart watch is brought to you by Garm in. The D2 Air X15 and the D2 Mach 2, its latest aviator smartwatches with advanced aviation, health, fitness and other smartwatch features.

Maxcraft STC Updates

Upgrade of Collins ALT-1000 Radar Altimeter for 5G Resiliency in Sikorsky S76C+/C++. Maxcraft developed STC SH25-15 / FAA SR12106IB for replacement of non-5G Tolerant ALT-55B and ALT-1000 with 5G Tolerant ALT-1000+ Radio Altimeter to comply with TCCA AD CF-2024-15 (FAA AD 2023-11-07). Allowing for takeoffs and landings in accordance with Category A, Category B procedures, or by Performance Class in the RFM or Operations Specification that requires the use of radio altimeter.

Installation of Litef (Northop Grumman) LCR-110 Inertial Reference System in Textron Aviation Inc, King Air B200GT, B200CGT, B300, B300C to provide enhanced operations in Northern regions of magnetic unreliability. Maxcraft developed STC SA25-78 to replace Collins AHC-3000 Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS) with LCR-110 Inertial Reference System that is equipped with inertial grade instruments which enable a gyro compassing heading alignment.

The LCR-110 uses the Earth’s gravity, and direction and velocity of rotation, to determine its orientation relative to True North. The Installation Data Unit attached to the LCR-110 includes a magnetic variation database, which is applied as a separate calculation to determine magnetic heading. The IRS uses the pilot-entered or GPS-derived latitude and longitude to further refine its position and orientation. After gyro compassing the system operates in navigation mode and provides free inertial navigation position and velocity outputs.

With available GNSS data from the existing Collins GPS-4000S, the LCR-110 calculates hybrid position and velocity data based on latest Kalman Filter technology enhancing the GNSS navigation information in performance, availability and integrity Even in phases with GNSS outages, disturbances and bad satellite constellations the system maintains a high accuracy and integrity to continue RNP procedures and GNSS approaches. When GNSS becomes completely unavailable, the LCR-110 operates as a backup navigation system in a free inertial mode with improved performance due to the in-flight calibration of inertial sensors during GNSS augmentation.

In the Hangar:

Cessna 152: A Complete Rebirth of a Training Legend

Some projects arrive in the hangar as upgrades. Others arrive as transformations. And then there are the rare few that begin as a vision, a belief that something forgotten can be brought back to life. This Cessna 152 restoration falls squarely into the third category.

This aircraft wasn’t brought to Maxcraft by a customer, it was rescued by Maxcraft’s founder, Mr. Daryl Macintosh himself. What began as a personal passion project has evolved into a full, ground-up rebuild aimed at creating the best Cessna 152 the world has ever seen!.

Bearhawk 4-Place: Upgrading a Backcountry Aircraft for Modern Capability

When long-time Maxcraft friend and professional aviator Ryan Van Haren looked to upgrade the performance and capability of his Bearhawk 4-Place kit aircraft, he knew exactly who he wanted to trust with the avionics integration. Despite his extensive connections across the general aviation community, Ryan brought his project to Maxcraft — a decision we’re incredibly grateful for and honoured to be part of.Read more here.

Customer Testimonial

“We couldn’t be happier with our new panel. Having worked with Maxcraft for many years, I knew exactly the level of quality, communication, and professionalism we could expect—and they still managed to exceed it. I’ve test-flown and delivered countless Maxcraft-equipped aircraft throughout Canada and the U.S., so finally having a Maxcraft panel in our own Bearhawk feels incredibly special”

King Air 350 Medevac Fleet Modernization: Advanced Northern Avionics for a 10-Year Contract

Some upgrade programs enhance a single aircraft. Others transform an entire medevac fleet. This major multi-aircraft initiative involving six Beechcraft King Air 350s forms the backbone of a 10-year medevac contract awarded to ACCESS Air Ambulance, a collaborative partnership that includes Air Tindi, Kenn Borek Air, Advanced Medical Solutions, and additional northern aviation organizations.

Maxcraft is proud to be the avionics provider for this initiative, equipping these aircraft with specialized systems designed specifically for the challenges of northern emergency medical operations.

Read more here.

Customer Testimonial

“Air Tindi has been working closely with Maxcraft Avionics for several years, and they’ve become a trusted partner for us. We brought them a very challenging modification concept, and they stuck with it from early design right through to completion. Their install quality is top-notch and their support has been just as strong. I’m very pleased to have Maxcraft as our avionics partner.”

The Technical Side

Giving the Aircraft a Voice: Modern PA Systems in Legacy Airframes

Aircraft public-address (PA) systems are often overshadowed by radios, GPS, or cockpit displays, yet they remain essential for safety, clear communication, and regulatory compliance. On legacy turboprops like the de Havilland DHC-7, original PA systems can be some of the most degraded audio components on the aircraft—featuring aging amplifiers, mismatched speaker loads, undocumented alterations, and poor compatibility with new digital avionics.

As operators embark on major avionics upgrades, it makes sense to refresh the PA system in parallel. A recent Maxcraft Avionics DHC-7 modernization uses the AEM LSA100-100 PA amplifier as the centerpiece of a cleaned-up, fully engineered PA architecture.

Why Modern PA Systems Matter

A PA system is more than a microphone and a cabin speaker. It handles crew audio sources (cockpit PAs, handsets, cabin-attendant stations), amplification tuned for speech intelligibility, speaker-zoning throughout the cabin, and priority logic that ensures cockpit PA overrides background audio. In older aircraft, degradation in any of these areas leads to weak, distorted, or inconsistent announcements—unacceptable during emergencies.

Modern PA Amplifier Solutions

Modern PA amplifiers replace scattered legacy components with a single, purpose-built unit designed specifically for aviation environments. A contemporary PA amplifier provides:

Seamless integration with modern digital audio systems, offering stable input levels, proper isolation, and resistance to electromagnetic interference.
Consistent, intelligible cabin audio, with sufficient output power to drive multiple speaker zones clearly—even in high-noise aircraft cabins.
Streamlined speaker management, enabling logical zoning, balanced audio distribution, and correct impedance loading across the cabin.
Enhanced reliability, replacing aging analog hardware with a modern, supportable line-replaceable unit (LRU) that simplifies ongoing maintenance.

Engineering Considerations for PA System Integration

Integrating a modern PA amplifier requires careful attention to power, audio interfaces, and cabin speaker architecture. Key considerations include:

Power and circuit protection: Selecting an appropriate DC bus, sizing circuit breakers or fuses correctly, and accounting for both inrush and continuous current demands.
Audio interface matching: Ensuring PA output levels from the aircraft’s audio control system align with the amplifier’s input characteristics, with proper shielding and grounding to minimize noise or interference.
Speaker wiring verification: Surveying existing speaker runs, confirming correct routing and impedance loading, and resolving any undocumented modifications from past maintenance.
Failure-mode resilience: Designing the system so that essential PA capability remains available during upstream audio or component failures, preserving clear communication for the crew.

Benefits for Operators

Upgrading the PA system as part of a full avionics modernization delivers:

Better passenger communication with crisp, intelligible announcements.
Simplified crew workflow thanks to unified audio routing through modern audio panels.
Reduced maintenance time, with a single amplifier and properly documented wiring.
Long-term flexibility, allowing the cabin layout or mission profile to evolve without re-engineering the PA core.

By integrating a modern PA amplifier system into avionics upgrades, the aircraft gains a reliable, fully modernized “voice” that matches the capability and professionalism of the rest of the avionics suite—an often-overlooked improvement that pays dividends in safety, clarity, and maintainability.

Vendor Profile:

AEM (Anodyne Electronics Manufacturing Corp.) develops customer-driven avionics solutions that are trusted by some of the global aviation industry’s top OEMs, special mission operators and avionics service providers.

With a long history of avionics manufacturing in Kelowna, Canada, the team at AEM has earned an impeccable reputation with its customers. The team’s innovative engineering capabilities, vertically integrated manufacturing techniques and technical product support have become its calling card.

Whether it’s their digital communication system, airborne loudspeaker systems, AS350/H125 avionics consoles, specialty audio accessories, or its mission radios, AEM’s solutions are designed and built to meet the unique requirements of the special mission operators and integrators that they serve.

AEM has grown into a family of over 100 people working together in a purpose-built 40,000 square foot facility in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada. The team, which includes more than 25 research and development staff, takes pride in its origin while continuing to build upon its skillset, experience, and the capabilities it has within the aviation and avionics industry.

AEM is a leader in the design, development, and manufacture of aircraft communication and loudspeaker systems, avionics consoles, mission radios, caution/warning panels, and airframe crack detection sensors for rotary wing and fixed-wing aerial law enforcement, HEMS, airborne firefighting, search and rescue, utility, transport and ISR mission aircraft.

Feature Special Mission Products

· P139-HD Digital Audio System

· USFS-approved MTP136D Forest Service Radio

· P122 and P132 AS350/H125 Avionics Switch Consoles

· LHS41 Loudspeaker System

· BAA01 Bluetooth® Audio Accessory

· Comparative Vacuum Monitoring (CVM™) Smart Sensor Solutions

The company offers technical product support, and repair and refurbishment services, and is a Transport Canada approved manufacturer, holds Part 145 Maintenance approval, and is ISO9001/AS9100D registered and certified under Canada’s Controlled Goods Program.

AEM is a wholly owned subsidiary of SMS Canada Corp, part of the Structural Monitoring Systems plc (ASX Code: SMN) companies (structuralmonitoring.systems).

Who’s Who at Maxcraft?

Mark is a certified Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Category ‘S’ (Structures) (AME-S). Mark specializes as a structure’s technician, which can include fabricating, maintaining, repairing, modifying the aircraft structure using materials such as sheet metal, composites and wood, bringing decades of hands-on aviation experience to the team.

Mark’s career in the industry began in 1981, when he was still a teenager, he had the opportunity to fly right seat in a Rockwell Commander on a trip to Newport, Oregon. That flight sparked a passion for aviation that would guide the rest of his professional life.

Mark went to school at the Pacific Vocational Institute on the Vancouver Sea Island campus in 1985 and has been working as an airframe technician ever since. One of his favorite parts of the job is the sense of accomplishment that comes from seeing an aircraft restored to airworthy condition and heading back out the door.

He joined Maxcraft in September 2022. Before that, his career included roles with Conair, Heliwelders of Canada, S&H Helipro, and Vector Aerospace. Prior to entering aviation, Mark spent time as a heavy-duty mechanic apprentice at a coal mine in Tumbler Ridge.

Outside of work, Mark has a rich and varied life. He and his wife Nadir—whom he met while living in Rio de Janeiro—have two children, Luis (23) and Mark Jr. (14). The family also includes two dogs, a pug and a chihuahua. Mark spent more than ten years living in both Caracas and various parts of Brazil, experiences that influence many of his interests today.

He is an avid collector and dealer in fine art, particularly oil paintings, Art Deco lamps and chandeliers, and Royal Copenhagen porcelain from the Victorian era. He also enjoys renovating the family’s 90-year-old home. When not immersed in art or restoration projects, Mark and his wife never miss an opportunity to dance Samba, Cumbia, Forró, or Bossa Nova together—a passion that connects back to their years in Brazil.

Mark brings technical expertise, cultural depth, and a lifelong enthusiasm for aviation to the Maxcraft team.

Rebates

Lightspeed Holiday Season Sales Promotion

Lightspeed is taking $140 CDN off the retail price of a new Delta Zulu headset. Limited time offer, valid from Nov. 6, 2025 until Jan. 12, 2026.