Good Reads
80 years of AOPA history
The story of general aviation, as told through AOPA
By Thomas A. Horne
AOPA marks its eightieth anniversary in 2019, and to celebrate we’ve created a special, large-format, hardbound coffee-table book that documents both AOPA’s and general aviation’s colorful history. More than 280 pages of stunning photography and compelling stories highlight airplanes and events in general aviation’s history, as well as a look at some of its key personalities through the decades.
Born of the winds of World War II, AOPA was founded by visionaries determined to protect the freedom to fly. Read the inside stories of industry-changing political and advocacy wins in AOPA’s history, and learn about the battle that ensued over the creation of what would become AOPA Pilot magazine. Plus, get a look at documents that have been held in trust and seen by no one in more than 30 years.
Freedom to Fly: AOPA and the History of General Aviation in America is available to AOPA members at the special price of $39.95.
The book is written by AOPA Pilot editors and features stunning photography by staff photographers Mike Fizer and Chris Rose, supported by amazing historic images from our archives and other sources.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
uAvionix sued for patent infringement
Garmin claims company appropriated its technology
By Mike Collins
Garmin has filed a lawsuit against uAvionix—which makes Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) and other avionics, including an easily installed wing-tip-mounted solution that it says is nearing FAA Technical Standard Order approval—alleging patent infringement. uAvionix disputes the allegation and said the suit will not affect its certification or delivery of ADS-B hardware.
The lawsuit, filed June 19 in uAvionix’s home state of Montana, seeks a judgment that the company willfully infringed Garmin’s patent; injunctions preventing uAvionix from infringing the patent; damages; and legal fees.
The complaint states that uAvionix has used patented technology Garmin calls AutoSquawk, which automatically parses information required by ADS-B from the aircraft’s existing transponder. Garmin uses the technology in its GDL-82, GDL-84, and GDL-88 universal access transceivers, which send and receive ADS-B data on 978 MHz. Garmin does not license this technology, covered by U.S. Patent No. 8,102,301, according to the complaint.
“Garmin sought to resolve this dispute without resorting to litigation,” and repeatedly asked uAvionix to explain why its products did not infringe Garmin’s patent, according to the complaint. Eventually, Garmin purchased a “redesigned” uAvionix product and determined that it still violates Garmin’s patent, the complaint states. “uAvionix’s disregard of Garmin’s patent rights left it with no other recourse but to file this lawsuit.”
“I cannot comment on ongoing litigation,” said a Garmin spokeswoman when asked for additional information about the case.
In a statement posted on its website, uAvionix says it does not infringe the Garmin patent in question. “uAvionix has our own patent-pending method for using Mode 3/A and altitude information that differs from the method in the 301 Patent. We invite you to see for yourself. Ultimately the court and industry will decide whether we are innovators or infringers,” the statement said.
uAvionix said it recognizes that disruptive products often attract unwanted attention from incumbents, adding, “We just want the world to know that we take intellectual property rights seriously. We are innovators with integrity, and we are defending that integrity. We also want to make a clear statement that this suit in no way impacts our ability to certify and ship any of our products, including skyBeacon and tailBeacon.”
uAvionix has said that it expects FAA TSO approval of its easily installed skyBeacon wingtip position light and ADS-B transmitter in the near future, and plans to submit tailBeacon—a similar product designed to install in place of an aircraft’s aft position light—for TSO approval shortly after skyBeacon’s TSO is received. For updates to this story, visit aopa.org.
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Headlines that affect you
Recent news from the aviation world
Western wildfires challenge aerial firefighting crews
Aerial firefighting crews in the western United States continue to face a challenging wildfire season as pilot duty limitations are reaching maximums and aircraft are requiring increased maintenance support. According to Rogers Helicopters, the current fire activity has forced the company to provide relief crews earlier than normal. Neptune Aviation is currently using three BAe 146s to attack the Carr fire in California—the largest one in the state's history—while additional tankers have been deployed in Colorado, Nevada, Washington, and Idaho. —AIN Online
FAA seeks wake turbulence encounter reports
A wake turbulence encounter is a potentially deadly hazard any pilot must guard against when operating behind or below the flight path of a larger aircraft. The FAA and AOPA are asking GA pilots who experience a wake turbulence encounter to report it through the Aviation Safety Reporting System, the reporting channel run by NASA under which pilots can file reports that describe unsafe occurrences of all types in the air traffic system. —AOPA Online
Pilot crashes jet into house
A professional pilot, Duane Youd, stole his employer’s Cessna Citation jet and deliberately crashed it into his own house, in Payson, Utah, according to police reports. Youd’s wife and a boy, who were in the house, escaped without injury, but Youd died in the crash. The house was heavily damaged, and the jet was destroyed by fire. —General Aviation News
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