With the announcement of the new Bose A20 Aviation Headset came the announcement that they were discontinuing production of their immensely popular Bose Aviation Headset X. Introduced in 1998, the Aviation Headset X was arguably the best ANR headset in the past decade plus and was voted #1 by Professional Pilot Magazine’s annual headset survey for seven consecutive years.

While supplies last, Tropic Aero is selling their remaining Bose Aviation Headset X headsets for only $739 with free shipping. Since they have been discontinued – once they’re gone…they’re gone. To purchase a Headset X, click the link below.

Buy a Bose Aviation Headset X

If you’re in the Ft.Lauderdale area, you can stop in and purchase one at Banyan’s Pilot Shop – Hangar63.

The Bose® A20™ Aviation Headset is the most technologically advanced Bose® headset ever. Bose was the first to introduce active noise reducing headsets to aviation more than 20 years ago, forever changing the way pilots fly. Now, the Bose A20™ Aviation Headset introduces an entirely new standard. It’s been engineered for significantly increased noise reduction in even louder environments. With an improved degree of comfort you’ll appreciate. All without compromising the clear audio you expect from Bose. Plus, a Bluetooth® communications interface, auxiliary audio input and priority switching. It’s made in the U.S.A., and meets or exceeds all TSO requirements. No other headset can deliver this advanced combination of benefits.

Some of the additional benefits of the Bose A20 are:

Significantly greater noise reduction for pilots than currently available.
Improved level of comfort achieved through choice of materials, distribution of weight throughout the headset,  1/3 less clamping force than most conventional noise reducing aviation headsets, and additional room for the ears.

• Clear audio for enhanced communications.
• Now available from Bose for the first time: Bluetooth® communications interface
• Also included by Bose for the first time: auxiliary audio input.
• Priority switching so pilots can decide which audio source they want to hear.
• At least 40 hours of typical headset use from just two AA alkaline batteries
• Made in the U.S.A.
• Meets or exceeds all TSO standards.

All this, and these headsets still weigh only 12 ounces.

For more information or to purchase a Bose A20 Aviation Headset, visit Hangar63 – Banyan’s Pilot Shop or online at www.tropicaero.com.

When the Garmin 495 was released by Garmin, it provided all the features of its counterpart the Garmin 496, but without XM Weather and pre-loaded City Navigator NT and gave it a smaller price tag. The 495 kept popular features such as SafeTaxi and AOPA’s Airport Directory data. With the new Garmin aera series release, the Garmin aera 550 is the perfect replacement to upgrade from the GPSMAP 495. Similar to the Garmin aera 560, the aera 550 only lacks the XM Weather. Like the 3 other aera series GPS’, Garmin has turned the aera 550 into a fully intuitive touch screen system, giving the user a larger screen than the Garmin 495 in an overall smaller unit. The aera 550 graphical Terrain page offer both overhead and vertical profile views of the topography you’re flying over. The database-driven terrain advisory feature offers TAWS-like color coding and pop-up obstruction alerts. Like all the units in Garmin’s new aera series, this piece of hardware is great for the Road Warriors as well as aviators, providing built-in Bluetooth and voice-guided driving directions.

Garmin aera 550 & Garmin GPSMAP® 495 Side-By-Side Comparison

As I mentioned, the 550 is not as fully functioning as the Garmin aero 560, but it is a more then suitable upgrade to it previous counterpart, providing the users with the option fly/drive option.

Saturday June 12, Hangar63 (Banyan’s Aviation Store) donated half of the days gross profits to Angel Flight. Angel Flight is a non-profit volunteer pilot organization involved in “public benefit flying.” They arrange free air transportation by private aircraft to distant medical facilities when commercial services are not available, impractical or simply not affordable. To encourage pilots and passengers to participate in this fund raising event, Banyan agreed to provide $1.00 off per gallon of gas and Jet Runway Café provided $5.00 off any Hangar63 customer’s bill for that day. Banyan’s Line Service team provided every landing aircraft with information about the event and encouraged customers to stop by and help out the cause.

Members of Angel Flight held a meeting in the Sabal Palm conference room and before wrapping up for the day presented Banyan with a Humanitarian Award for the helping the organization. Chuck Speakman, Hangar63’s manager, was proud to accept the award and thanking Angel Flight for all they do.

Hangar63 (Banyan’s Aviation Store) was pleased with the outcome and looks forward to making this an annual event.

“We hope this type of partnership will be considered by other aviation groups who support our mission.  Partnerships with for-profit groups are a great way to team and be successful in the current economy”, says Blake Mathis, President/CEO of Angel Flight Southeast.

To find out how you can help Angel Flight, visit their website.

To keep up on all the latest Banyan events, news and more, fan us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Today, Banyan honored its maintenance team in recognition of AMT day with a catered lunch and speakers. Dave Valenta, Banyan’s director of maintenance, organized the event to thank the technicians for the work they perform every day.

Don Campion, president of Banyan, spoke about the team’s commitment and said, “Banyan has continued to grow even during the difficult times because our technicians exceed expectations and go above and beyond.”  He mentioned the importance of following systems and procedures which results in saving lives.

A representative from the FAA FASTeam presented the history of AMT day and the significance of Congress recognizing May 24^th as AMT Day.

Lou Homsher, Banyan’s maintenance chief inspector read the poem “The Mechanics Creed” written Jerome Lederer and all the technicians enjoyed a great lunch.

Mechanic’s Creed

UPON MY HONOR I swear that I shall hold in sacred
trust the rights and privileges conferred upon me as a
certified mechanic. Knowing full well that the safety and lives
of others are dependent upon my skill and judgment, I shall
never knowingly subject others to risks which I would not be
willing to assume for myself, or for those dear to me.

IN DISCHARGING this trust, I pledge myself never to
undertake work or approve work which I feel to be beyond
the limits of my knowledge; nor shall I allow any non certificate
superior to persuade me to approve aircraft or equipment
as airworthy against my better judgment; nor shall

I permit my judgment to be influenced by money or other
personal gain; nor shall I pass as airworthy aircraft or equipment
about which I am in doubt, either as a result of direct
inspection or uncertainty regarding the ability of others who
have worked on it to accomplish their work satisfactorily.
I REALIZE the grave responsibility which is mine as a
certified airman, to exercise my judgment on the airworthiness
of aircraft and equipment. I, therefore, pledge unyielding adherence
to these precepts for the advancement of aviation and for
the dignity of my vocation.

To ensure that all the teammates in Hangar63 (Banyan’s Aviation Store) are on top of their game to help out customers, they participate in continuous training. Recently, Hangar63 teammates participated in AMI (Aviation Management International) GPU training and Revere Survival Products training. Representatives came from both AMI and Revere Survival product to provide teammates with on-site instruction and answer questions.

Thanks to the AMI GPU training, teammates will be able to provide in-depth knowledge to customers about the different units available and ensure that the correct model is purchased for the correct need.

The Revere Survival training provided teammates with valuable information about new products available and additional information about Revere products that are currently being carried at Hangar63.

To learn more about Banyan and Hangar63 (Banyan’s Aviation Store) become a Fan on Facebook or follow us on Twitter

For a limited time and while supplies last, any flight bag purchased will include a free large cooler bag and any PLB purchased will include a mini flashlight combo pack. Purchases must made online at TropicAero.com.

Click here to view flight bags
Click here to view PLB’s

Mike O’Keeffe, Brian Wilson, and Paul Rose represented Banyan Air Service at the 10th annual EBACE convention (European Business Aviation Association) held in Geneva, Switzerland.  This is the third year that Banyan has exhibited at this event.

EBACE is the primary business aviation show for all of Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and all places in between.  It is a joint event sponsored by the NBAA and the EBAA.  EBACE is a good indicator for business aviation trends in the European marketplace, and it was nice to see that both attendees and exhibitors exceeded last year’s convention on the first day.  The aircraft static area was full with around 65 business aircraft on display, and the over-all feeling of the show was upbeat and positive.

This year, like last year, Banyan teamed up with Duncan Aviation and Fargo Jet Center, all under the umbrella of Avfuel.  We were pleased that Banyan’s recognition as a world class FBO and international gateway has continued to grow. We were pleased to be among the exhibitors and look forward to attending next year with even more to offer!

Although last Saturday started off cloudy with the threat of rain, Hangar63 (Banyan’s Aviation Store) and TropicAero.com held their 3^rd annual Customer Appreciation Day at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. The event turned out to be the best one yet with hundreds of pilots and aviation enthusiasts attending to socialize, network, and learn. With planes on display, catered food, games for the kids, and some top shelf give-a-ways the day flew by.

Although the event was held by Hangar63 and TropicAero.com, outside aviation organizations and companies came to represent the many different sides of aviation. Angel Flight and Fort Lauderdale Flight Training were available to help people learn new things. Representatives came from Telex and ACR to spend some quality one-on-one time with customers interested in the latest aviation products. Charles and Donna Rogers from Survival Products, Inc did a safety raft demonstration and Crazy Eddy provided the kids with a castle bounce house, a clown, face painting, and more.

“Don and Banyan is first class, everything they do is wonderful. They are like family,” said Dee Restaino from the Florida Aero Club.

“We have been coming to the Customer Appreciation Day for the last 3 years. A few years ago, we won a Telex Headset. Banyan is a really beautiful place and they are doing a great job this year. It is a great event for the whole family and there is always stuff to do for the kids,” said Captain John and Eloise Ruby

To see the latest Banyan projects or to view more pictures of Customer Appreciation Day, become a Banyan Fan on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Since 2001 the International Air Rally team has put together some of the largest International Air Rallies in North America, the most recent being the Governor General’s International Air Rally, Caribbean Air Challenge. The Challenge kicked off from Banyan Air Service on April 17. A group of around 57 aviators flew into Banyan over a two day period rallying for their 10 day trip around the Caribbean. The group consisted of aviators from around the world, including Australia, Switzerland, France, Canada and the U.S.

The Governor General’s Cup competition was established in 1953, by Right Honorable Charles Vincent Massey, First Canadian appointed Governor. The trophy awarded for this competition is one of the most prestigious of aviation awards. The competition challenges pilots in a variety of areas including aviation knowledge, flying skills, team work, and collaboration.

The International flying group made a number of stops including:
Great Exuma, Bahamas
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Constanza, Dominican Republic
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos
Providenciales, Turks & Caicos
Sky Beach Eleuthera, Bahamas
Treasure Cay, Bahamas

Banyan was proud to be the kick-off and finishing location for the Challenge.

If you are interested in next year’s Challenge or other Rallies in North America, visit the International Air Rally home page.

Visit the Banyan website to learn more about upcoming events, or you can become a Fan on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!