Barry Aylward, co-owner of Kitchener Aero in
Breslau, Ontario and Mid-Canada Mod Center in Toronto., was honored
during the Annual Awards Luncheon at the 46th Annual AEA
Convention and Trade Show in Orlando, FL, as AEA's Member of
the Year. Aylward joins a prestigious list of winners, as the
association has given away the award to one (or sometimes two) of
its members every year for over 30 years. Honorees are
nominated and voted on by fellow members.
Both Aylward's company's are large mod centers
working on single-engines, turboprops, light jets and right on up
to Boeings. They also offer Special Missions work for both fixed
wing and helicopters. The companies have enjoyed growth rates of 10
to 20 percent per year since their inception. His companies are
consistently at the top of avionics manufacturers' list of dealers.
Aylward gives credit to his involvement with AEA as being
instrumental in his company's growth, saying "AEA has been
essential from the standpoint of networking, knowing who to call
and acquiring dealerships."
Aylward serves on AEA's board of directors as Region VI vice
president, and was a valuable member of the Strategic Planning
committee, always keeping everyone on the committee thinking
"internationally, and not just domestically." Not taking all the
credit of his companies' successes, he's always quick to include
his partners, Kevin Birch and Bill Arsenault in all of their
successful endeavors.
SANDIA aerospace was honored as AEA's Associate
Member of the Year. Winners of this prestigious award are chosen by
AEA's regular members, the dealers and shops that promote and use
their products. Although a fairly new company, created in 1997,
owner Dennis Schmidt is an industry icon [and a real character...
--E-I-C]. He began his aviation career 33 years ago and
decided that after 27 years of experience in avionics, he would
begin his own company. SANDIA aerospace designs, develops and
contracts avionics products and assemblies, including the SAE5-35
Altitude Data System and the CFS Fuel Flow System, now designed to
provide greater integration with today's avionics.
In a message to his customers, Schmidt wrote: "When we created
SANDIA aerospace, we wanted to create a different kind of avionics
company. Like a new bride, we decided we needed something old and
something new. For the old, we took a step back to the days when
personal service and attention to customer needs was normal
business. So when you call us, you're going to get a real person on
the phone ... one who can help solve your problem. For the new, we
take a fresh look at every product we design and offer to the
flying public. As pilots ourselves we put in the features that we
would like to have, as well as incorporating our fellow pilot's
ideas." Schmidt has been an active member of AEA, currently serving
as chairman of the Educational Foundation.