Featured Employee : Ron Freeman

In this issue, we’re profiling our Chief Inspector Ron Freeman. When we say Ron is one of the most experienced in the business, we mean it. In fact, you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone from any company who’s had the kind of career he’s had. He’s been with Leading Edge Avionics not one, but […]

Cocktail : Vanilla Old-Fashioned

Ingredients One 1-inch piece of vanilla bean, split One 1-inch piece of orange zest 1/4 ounce Simple Syrup 2 dashes of orange bitters 2 ounces bourbon Ice 1 orange wheel Instructions In a rocks glass, muddle the vanilla bean and orange zest with the Simple Syrup and bitters. Add the bourbon and ice, stir and […]

Miss Haps Weather : Discuss All The New Technology Focused Around Safety

Level flight, Garmin Autoland, ADS-B, improved RVSM Wowza. In an industry that’s pretty obsessed with safety, this past year has been a real kicker. Seems we’ve been talking about safety ad nauseum, and to tell the truth, that makes me a happy gal. So, I’m making a few shout outs to some of the big […]

Ask Scott : How important is GPS technology?

You have questions about your avionics needs. Our VP of Avionics Sales, Scott Gregory has the answers. When it comes to aviation, GPS technology is really about the shift that’s happening as we transition from groundbased to satellite-based technology (e.g., ADS-B). GPS delivers a more accurate and precise way to fly from one place to […]

Synthetic Vision Proves Invaluable in Solving Real Problems

With so much new technology emerging in the avionics industry, it’s hard to keep up sometimes. But synthetic vision isn’t one that’s going to fly under the proverbial radar. Particularly for owners and pilots of business aircraft. That’s because business aircraft mostly operate at small and medium airports. In degraded weather conditions such as fog […]

Case Study : L3 Wifi In Citation Cj1

A Citation Makes the Move to Get Online A few months ago, a customer came to us with a Citation that they used regularly for business travel around the country, often with a small team. They looked to Leading Edge for advice on getting Internet connectivity to optimize travel time. Challenge To create an affordable, […]

Garmin Autoland to Permit Emergency Touchdowns for General Aviation Planes

On Oct. 31, Garmin rolled out its Garmin Autoland avionics system for general aviation aircraft to permit autonomous touch downs in emergencies. After Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification of Autoland, the system will be available soon as part of the G3000 integrated flight deck on the Cirrus Vision Jet and the Piper M600, according to […]

Can a Blue Button Make a Sport Airplane More Fun?

For pilots who’ve experienced the joy of flying a classic aircraft, the reality of traditional autopilot systems can be quite a buzzkill. But all that might change with the latest autopilots from Garmin. Garmin is giving aviation thrill-seekers the chance to transform their weekend toys into true travelers. They’re making it easy to hold headings […]

Letter From CEO: A Reflection on 2019 & Looking Forward to 2020

It’s hard to believe, but yet another decade is coming to a close. As we move into the 2020s, we are incredibly excited to see not only what changes are in store for our industry, but for our company as well. When I first came onboard as CEO with Leading Edge Avionics, we were a […]

Humour

The German air controllers at Frankfurt Airport are renowned as a short-tempered lot. They not only expect you to know your gate parking location, but how to get there without any help from them. So, it was with some amusement when a British Airways 747 (callsign Speebird 206) engaged in some back and forth with […]

Fun Aviation Facts

If there’s anything we love at Leading Edge, it’s sharing fun aviation facts with the world. Here are a few of our favorites: You lose out on a third of your taste buds during flights. Yep. About a third of your taste buds are numbed at altitude, which probably explains why you’re never fully satisfied […]

Heathyr Easton

We are excited to introduce you to the newest addition to our sales and marketing team, Heathyr Easton. (And yes, that is not a typo…that is how she spells her name!) Heathyr has been involved in executing sales and marketing initiatives for top national brands for over 10 years. Having been part of the opening […]

Cocktail: Strawberry Basil Bourbon Lemonade

Recipe serves 8 With summer in full swing, it’s time to kick back, relax and enjoy an ice, cold drink. Here’s one of our favorites to enjoy. Ingredients 8 oz. bourbon 2 c. strawberries 2 tbsp. sugar 1/2 c. fresh lemon juice 12 basil leaves 8 basil sprigs bitters Instructions Place strawberries into blender and […]

MISS HAPS Weather

Weather is unpredictable. And so are many of the pilots that deal with it. Here are a few safety tips to deal with some of the most common weather challenges: Low Clouds Over Rolling Hills – Feeling brave? Then you better understand your capabilities. Or better yet, be smart too. Check out reports from other […]

ADS-B Rebate Reservations Gone

If you missed out on the FAA’s initial 20,000 rebates; don’t fret. There’s still a chance you might get your $500 if you’re willing to creep the FAA’s website. That’s because every Wednesday at 1 pm ET they’re posting a list of any newly expired rebates that are now back on the market. These additional […]

ASK SCOTT

Hey Scott. I hear there may be some wiggle room for non-compliant aircraft after the ADS-B mandate kicks in this January. What should I expect if I’m non-compliant? Expect exactly what you get when you play with fire. There’s a good chance you’ll get burned. What’s giving people hope is the fact that the FAA […]

ADS-B Streamlines RVSM Operations

As part of the ADS-B Out deadline, the FAA is now in the process of streamlining RVSM (Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum) procedures and approvals for US operators equipped with ADS-B. Although the FAA recently issued notices allowing ADS-B-equipped aircraft that meet altitude keeping equipment performance requirements to operate in US-controlled airspace without a specific RVSM […]

Case Study

A G5 Conquers Europe with FANS 1/A A few months ago, a customer came to us with a used Gulfstream G5 they purchased to streamline travel to and from Europe. To make sure they had the technology required to do that, they engaged with Leading Edge to provide expert guidance. Challenge The main challenge was […]

FAA Sends a Message about Non-Compliant Aircraft

If you’re following the latest news ADS-B news, one thing is clear: the FAA isn’t messing around. Just a few months ago, they came out with a statement regarding authorization to operators of aircraft not equipped with ADSB-Out equipment. The message? Anyone operating a non-equipped aircraft in ADS-B Out airspace without first having a pre-flight […]

Three Options for a Second Chance

Redundant systems in a pinch improve survival odds Redundancy has always been a key pillar of aviation safety. For decades, the old-school flight instrument panels served pilots quite well, with their important gyroscopic instruments all backed up by duplication. But the glass panel revolution introduced a new complication for those looking to upgrade to electronic […]

Letter from CEO

Don’t let those lazy summer days fool you. This is one summer you’ll want to plan ahead. ADS-B. Just four simple letters, but their impact has been pretty far reaching. With the ADS-B deadline fast approaching (and thousands of aircraft still not compliant), our maintenance teams have been working at breakneck speed to keep as […]

Leading Edge Avionics Catalina Fly In and Campout 2019

Our second annual Leading Edge Avionics Catalina Fly-In event this last Saturday and Sunday, July 13th – 14th was a huge success. Nearly 60 campers and guests flew in on aircraft from a “Batman inspired” to Cessna 421 and an EC135 Eurocopter taking advantage of the new runway at our favorite Airport in the Sky! […]

AIRPORTS WITH FOOD NAMES

What’s in a 3-letter airport code? Well if you ask us, it’s in the eye of the beholder. So we scoured the planet and came up with a list of our favorite, food-themed airport codes. JAM Although we prefer the strawberry variety over the traffic variety, this airport at Bezmer Air Base in Yambol, Bulgaria […]

FUNNY STORY

Please Make Sure your Bags & Kids are Safely stowed in the Overhead Compartment. There’s nothing we love more than hearing a great funny story about life in the skies. Well this one caught our eye for all the wrong reasons. Seems that just as one of the flight attendants was wrapping up the safety […]

FUN FACTS ABOUT AVIATION

The oldest airline in the world is about to turn 100 years old. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was established in 1919, meaning this year marks an entire century in the flying business. Quantas was founded just one year later, so they’ll have to wait just a little bit longer for their centennial. “Olive” those pennies […]

FEATURED EMPLOYEE – DAVID NAM

Deep experience. Pride of work. Customer oriented. These are things we always look for at Leading Edge Avionics, and we have all that and more with David Nam, our Senior Technician for our In-House Bench Department. If you haven’t met many in-house benches, we’re not surprised. Leading Edge Avionics is one of the few shops […]

SPRINGTIME IN SONOMA COCKTAIL

next time you’re daydreaming about the sweet strawberries and winding vineyard of Sonoma, treat yourself to a simplest spring cocktail inspired by this captivating place. With a hint of Pastis, the anise notes of the tarragon pack an extra punch for a sophisticated, refreshing drink that will bring you right back to wine country. Ingredients: […]

WIRELESS COCKPIT CONNECTIVITY

Wireless connectivity has forever changed the way we drive, and it’s about to have just as big an impact on the way we fly. Here are three ways that wireless is simplifying life in the cockpit: Database updates If you’re flying IFR flight plans the FAA says you’ll need to update your charts, approach and […]