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Factory Direct Models
McVinnie
44 MMOPA MAGAZINE JULY / AUGUST 2021
UPDATES
GARMIN WINS ROBERT J. COLLIER TROPHY FOR AUTOLAND
Garmin Autoland has been awarded the 2020 Robert J. Collier Trophy for the world’s first certified autonomous system designed to activate during an emergency to safely fly and land an aircraft without human intervention1.
The Collier Trophy has been the benchmark of aerospace achievement for over a century and is awarded annually by
the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) to recognize “the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving performance, efficiency, safety in
air or space vehicles, the value of which has been thoroughly demonstrated by actual use during the preceding year.”
The seven nominees for 2020 included the Bell V-280 Valor, SpaceX Falcon 9 and Dragon 2, among others.
“Autoland began as a simple exploration to develop automa- tion technology for general aviation aircraft,” said Cliff Pemble, Garmin president and CEO. “This exploration resulted in the first automated system that can safely fly and land an aircraft in an emergency without human intervention. It is a tremen- dous honor for Autoland to be recognized as one of the greatest achievements in aviation history. We owe this accomplishment to the many Garmin associates who dedicated themselves to creating this game-changing aviation safety technology.”
ARAPAHOE AERO IS NOW PIPER AUTHORIZED SATELLITE SERVICE CENTER
KCAC Aviation has appointed Arapahoe Aero in Englewood, CO, as a Piper Factory Authorized Satellite Service Center for Colorado and western Kansas.
“We’re excited for the opportunity to have Arapahoe Aero as part of the Piper Authorized Service Center network,”
said Mark Riley, general manager of KCAC Aviation. “They have developed an excellent reputation over the years for providing quality service to their customers. The synergy between our two organizations and the emphasis that we both place on elevating the customer experience will reinforce our commitment to providing outstanding service and support to our Piper customers.”
Scott Utz, president of Arapahoe Aero added: “Arapahoe Aero has been providing aircraft maintenance on single, multi-engine piston and light turbine aircraft since 1984.
We value the relationships that we have built over the years with our customers, our employees and with partners like KCAC Aviation. They have a long-standing history with Piper Aircraft, and we look forward to working with them to expand our services within the Piper Aircraft community in Colorado.”
During a recent expansion for KCAC Aviation, Colorado joined Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma as part of KCAC’s Piper sales and service territory. This addition of a Piper Factory Authorized Satellite Service Center located at Centennial Airport (KAPA) near Denver will allow customers convenient access for maintaining their aircraft at a facility that is well respected within the aviation community.