Aviation360 MEA

At the AEA Convention, which is being held this year in Orlando, Florida, the FAA presented Ric Peri, vice president of government and regulatory affairs for the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA), with the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic award. Dewey Conroy received the award for AEA member of the year, while Avidyne received the award for associate member of the year.

Peri joined the AEA in 2001 and has since assisted members with their inquiries and interactions with authorities. Bob Jex, program manager for the FAA Safety Team at the Orlando FSDO, gave the award, noting that it honors Peri for his “dedicated aviation expertise, distinguished professionalism, and steadfast commitment.”

Conroy, vice president and chief operating officer of Pacific Coast Avionics, has been a pilot since he was 19 years old and entered the avionics industry in 1984 at American Avionics in Seattle. In 1989, he received a promotion to avionics sales manager, and in 1991, Rick Garcia, the creator of Gulf Coast Avionics, persuaded Conroy to join him in the founding of Pacific Coast Avionics. The business began operations in Auburn, Washington, before relocating to Aurora, Oregon, where it now employs 24 people in an 18,000 square foot building.

According to AEA, Dan Schwinn started Avidyne in 1994 with the goal of “modernizing general aviation avionics by applying cutting-edge technology in order to improve safety and increase aircraft utility.” ADS-B transponders, digital flight control systems, GPS navcoms, and traffic advisory systems are among the avionics manufacturer’s product offerings. Its corporate headquarters are in Melbourne, Florida, where the business also produces avionics goods. Additional engineering facilities for Avidyne are in Concord, Massachusetts, and Westerville, Ohio.