Avionics sales worldwide had a slower start to 2016, the Aircraft Electronics Association reported Wednesday during the opening of its 59th annual convention in Orlando. In the first three months of the year, total avionics sales for business and general aviation totaled just over $566 million, a 3.6 percent drop from the first quarter of 2015. The first-quarter totals include $256.4 million in sales for retrofit installations and $309.6 million in forward-fit sales, which are avionics installations that are part of newly manufactured aircraft.The sales figures are compiled from reports by more than 20 companies in the industry and include electronics installations for all hardware as well as software upgrades for cockpits and cabins in certified and non-certified aircraft. “It’s disappointing that total worldwide sales are off to a slower start compared to the first three months a year ago,” AEA President Paula Derks said. “Sales in the forward-fit market were nearly identical to last year, so the overall decline was mostly felt in the retrofit market.”
Still, the four-day show began with enthusiasm and a sold-out show area that will open Thursday with more than 135 exhibitors. Thirty companies presented their new products Wednesday, highlighting some recent announcements by well-known names including Garmin, which showed off its recently released aera 660 portable GPS navigator, and Avidyne’sIFD-100 iPad app introduced earlier this month.Cockpit connectivity products are on the rise, including those that offer cabin amenities for business aircraft such asSend Solutions’ Airtext, which uses satellite networks to allow passengers to send and receive cellphone text messages anywhere in the world.
