Hillsboro Aviation to Install ADS-B in the Northwest’s Largest Helicopter Training Fleet

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Hillsboro Aviation announced Tuesday that it has an agreement with Hillsboro Aero Academy to install ADS-B in the largest helicopter training fleet in the Northwest. The agreement states that Hillsboro Aviation will perform the installations on the academy’s fleet of 24 helicopters by the end of 2016, with the expectation to complete ADS-B installations on the remaining fleet of 53 airplanes.

“We selected Hillsboro Aviation because of their commitment to quality service and expertise in avionics installations,” said Jon Hay, President & CEO of Hillsboro Aero Academy. “The hardware we selected for our helicopter installations will provide ADS-B traffic and weather to pilots’ tablets via a Wi-Fi signal onboard the aircraft.  We believe that this added functionality will enhance the quality of training and flight safety at our school.”

According to the FAA database, there are more than 38,000 aircraft that need to be installed with ADS-B in Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, and Northern California by January 1, 2020. There are approximately 30 avionics shops in the same area, leaving an average of 1,266 aircraft to be installed with ADS-B per shop over a four-year period.

“We are excited to help Hillsboro Aero Academy take this proactive approach towards ADS-B,” said Max Lyons, President and owner of Hillsboro Aviation and Chairman of Helicopter Association International. “As an operator of our own fleet, we understand the urgency associated with getting your name on the list before shops are overrun with last-minute installs.”

About Hillsboro Aero Academy

Hillsboro Aero Academy is one of the largest helicopter and airplane flight training schools in the United States. With a fleet of 77 aircraft, Hillsboro Aero Academy flies in excess of 70,000 flight hours per year from its three campuses in Oregon. During its 36 years in business, the company has training thousands of pilots, and its graduates fly for operators worldwide. To learn more about Hillsboro Aero Academy, visit www.flyhaa.com.

About Hillsboro Aviation

Founded in 1980, Hillsboro Aviation is known internationally as a leader in the general aviation industry for providing quality aviation products and services including helicopter and airplane charter services, aircraft and parts sales, MRO services, avionics equipment sales, and installations. Hillsboro Aviation has flown over 1.2 million hours in its 36-year history and supported a variety of missions including aerial firefighting, construction, search and rescue, TV news, aerial survey, and seismic operations. The company has sold over 1000 new and used aircraft and represents over 50 of the industry’s leading manufacturers, suppliers and vendors. In the spring of 2016, the company will move into its new corporate headquarters at the Portland-Hillsboro Airport, an expansion that is the second phase of a 425,000 square foot development project. To learn more, visit hillsboroaviation.com.