AIRVENTURE 2022: NUMB TO SUPPLY WOES
Here at Aviation Consumer, we’ve been covering the supply problem ad nauseam in hopes of setting buyers off on the right heading when upgrading and sourcing tough-to-get consumables. But after covering the show and dealing with supply issues of my own, I’ve come to the realization that the problem, while frustrating, is simply a new way of life—whether it’s airplane parts, guitar parts or cat litter. And it’s this new normal that has, according to vendors and buyers I talked with at the show, turned impatient screaming consumers into patient ones. Or maybe everyone is just numb to the problem.
Still shocked that it can take months to get an oil filter for your Cessna, 10 weeks to get a Bose headset or several months to get a Garmin GPS? Forget everything you know about sourcing stuff in a normal world and go to plan B—which means planning maintenance, accessories and consumables purchases much further in advance. You’re simply setting yourself up for disappointment if you expect to get these things quickly and cheaply. And pony up because price increases are widespread. But companies aren’t sitting on their hands.
Talking to vendors, it’s clear that the ones worth buying from are critically aware of the problem and are being forced to change focus—even if it costs more money that ultimately will get passed on to the buyer. This includes redesigning aging products with ones that have components that are easier to source, relying less on outside vendors by making stuff on their own and buying up more components when they can get their hands on them. As a result, I suspect we’ll see more new products in the coming year, especially in the avionics market that relies so heavily on small critical electronic parts and displays.
As the AirVenture 2022 buzz fades, a tip of my editorial hat goes to the vendors who spiced it up with new products. My short list of standouts includes Daher with the new and FAA-certified Kodiak 900 turboprop single, Trig Avionics with a smart new radio, Van’s Aircraft with the RV-15 taildragger, Advanced Flight Systems with new and improved flight displays and Redbird’s cool mixed reality flight sim tech. All things considered, AirVenture 2022—with a huge crowd of attendees—made a good showing, if not proving that buyers need to be more patient, resourceful and savvy than ever.
REAL-WORLD STEP-UPS, AVIONICS PANEL PLANNING
Those are two new features we’re running here in Aviation Consumer and we need your help. If you’ve stepped up from a piston to a turboprop, turboprop to a jet, landplane to a seaplane or even to a classic, warbird, helicopter and glider, we want to know how it’s been going—including costs, training, maintenance and insurance. For the panel planning, send us a good image of your panel and what your upgrade goals are (better if you’re confused) and we’ll offer some ideas and shopping tips to get you and others off on the right foot. —Larry Anglisano