About AMC

The AMC is an air transport industry activity sponsored by Aeronautical Radio, Inc. (ARINC). The objectives of AMC are to promote reliability and reduced operating cost in air transport avionics by improving maintenance and support techniques through the exchange of technical information.

AMC consists of representatives from the technical leadership of the air transport avionics maintenance community. The voting membership of AMC consists of the representatives of commercial air transport operators who are present and registered at the annual conference. Each operator has one vote.

AMC accomplishes its objectives through a number of activities including the annual Avionics Maintenance Conference, known worldwide as the AMC; Steering Group meetings, Plane Talk®, a monthly newsletter; Task Group activities; and liaison with the AEEC and with other aviation or electronic industry activities.

AMC promotes improved avionics reliability and performance at lower life-cycle cost through the coordination of common technical problems in the airlines. AMC saves the industry over $100 million each year through participation in the annual Avionics Maintenance Conference. AMC also tracks developing maintenance issues and new products and makes inputs to or develops guidance to maintain safe aircraft with lower life-cycle costs.

AMC

The annual AMC, held every spring, provides airlines and suppliers an opportunity to openly and collectively discuss chronic avionics maintenance questions. Before the meeting, airlines and suppliers are invited to submit discussion items using the following categories:

• Line Maintenance
• Product Support Test Systems
• Air Conditioning Systems
• Communications Systems
• Indicating Systems
• Navigation Systems
• Autoflight Systems
• Flight Controls
• Engine Systems
• Fuel Systems
• Electrical Power
• Lighting
• Landing Gear
• Others

Once the questions are received by the AMC Staff, they are forwarded to the named equipment suppliers. Then the AMC Staff prepares the questions in the form of the AMC Program, which is mailed to all preregistered attendees.

During the meeting, a moderator presents each question for discussion. By design, airline attendees are given the first opportunity to respond. This is to emphasize that the organization submitting the question may not be the only organization experiencing the problem. In some cases, another organization may have already experienced the problem and may have a solution to offer. Next, the moderator will call for the suppliers to respond. In many cases, a solution is already available, because the supplier has been aware of the problem well in advance of the meeting. If the solution is accepted, the question is closed. If the solution is not accepted or one is not yet available, the question is usually held open and will be so noted in the report of the meeting.

To ensure that the final AMC Report presents an accurate record, the meeting is audio taped and minutes are prepared.

Upon adjournment of the meeting each day, more than 25 manufacturer hospitality suites are open to host "the meeting after the meeting." Some attendees consider this unlimited one-on-one access to so many manufacturers in one location to be as valuable as the meeting itself. On Tuesday evening, the Airline Avionics Institute (AAI) hosts a reception that includes tabletop exhibits. This reception is an excellent vehicle for both large and small manufacturers to display the latest innovations in product support.

For those who have attended the AMC in the past, there should be little need for urging your return. For those who have never attended and are still not convinced, try answering the following questions:

• Would your airline benefit from one-on-one access to over 100 avionics equipment suppliers and 6 airframe manufacturers in one location?
• Does your airline support saving more than $1 million a year?