Banyan Pilot Shop Customer Appreciation Day

Banyan Pilot Shop located at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport will host its sixth annual customer appreciation day, Saturday, April 7, 2012 from 11 am – 2 pm rain or shine.  There will be hot dogs, hamburgers, prize drawings, kid’s activities, special sales, product demonstrations and aircraft on display.

“It’s a fun day for aviation professionals, enthusiasts and families,” says Roberto Mejias, Banyan Pilot Shop Store Manager. “The store’s parking lot will be blocked off and filled with exhibitors, food areas, and activities.  Entertainment will be provided by Crazy Eddie and Variety Entertainment; including, face painting, bounce house, giant slide, basketball game, and a driving game.”

This year’s exhibitors include Airborne Systems, Angel Flight, Dare to Dream, Flight Life Apparel, Florida Helicopters, Florida Aero Club, Key West Properties, Pilots N’ Paws, Steven F. Greenwald Design, Inc., and Women in Aviation. In addition, the EAA Ford Tri-Motor aircraft will be offering rides for $75 per person and aircraft on display will include; a Cessna Skycatcher, Diamond DA-42, and a Robinson R22 helicopter.  Charlie and Donna Rogers from Survival Products Inc. will provide a demonstration on safety equipment.

While most of the activities will be outside, the store will also be busy with in-store sales from 20% – 50% on various items, such as, clothing, toys, watches, sunglasses, and framed artwork.

Crazy Eddie

At the end of the event, drawings will be held for numerous items, such as, Torgeon watches, Oakley, Serengeti and Bushnell Sunglasses, Avfuel items, discovery flights, Garmin items, a Telex Airman 850 headset and more.  Children up to 15 years old can enter special drawings for a Blade MCX helicopter, kite, airplane kit and other prizes.

Banyan Pilot Shop is one of the largest aviation stores in the country that offers pilot supplies, a large selection of headsets, safety gear, training materials, charts, apparel, children’s items, radio controlled aircraft, and everything a pilot or aviation enthusiast needs or wants.

Unique features of the store include a Gulfstream II fuselage equipped with flight simulator software, an electronics tower featuring a wide variety of portable aviation electronics, an entryway featuring a compass rose inlaid in the floor, propellers that just out from the wall and runway lighting that sets off runway 13-31 down the center of the store.  The store is open Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 7:00 pm, Saturday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm and Sunday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm.  In addition, www.BanyanPilotShop.net offers on-line shopping, international shipping and various payment options including Paypal.  For more information about the event, visit www.banyanair.com/cad.

The highly anticipated aera 796 and 795 portable units have arrived and are on display in the Electronics Tower of Banyan Pilot Shop. Stop in to see and feel for yourself how Garmin has once again set the bar high in the world of portable aviation navigation.

The Garmin aera 796 incorporates the popular features of the Garmin 696, while also adding new capabilities such as a touchscreen user interface, pilot-selectable screen orientation and 3D Vision (synthetic vision). The 796 may be qualified for use as either a Class I or Class II Electronic Flight Bag (EFB). Geo-referenced IFR Enroute charts and VFR Sectional charts come pre-loaded, and the Garmin 796 also includes geo-referenced Garmin FliteCharts, an electronic version of the AeroNav U.S. Terminal Procedures Publication. Other new features include a built-in digital document viewer that enables the pilot to load and view PDF documents, JPEG photos, and many other electronically formatted materials including checklists and detailed performance/procedural data from the aircraft flight manual. There is also a convenient scratch pad for writing down clearances or other important notes.

The Garmin aera 795 has the same features and functionality as the aera 796 minus the XM satellite weather. The 795 is available in three versions: Americas, Atlantic and Pacific.

Both the aera 796 and 795 will be available to the public sometime in mid-October, 2011. If you know you’re going to want one of these units when they arrive, it’s strongly recommended that you pre-order your unit in the store or at www.BanyanPilotShop.net.

If you cannot make it into Banyan Pilot Shop to play with these units for yourself, check out these online videos:

Garmin aera 796 in-flight video and iPad comparison

Cobham now offers a smaller, lightweight and more affordable PLB (Personal Locator Beacon). The ACR ResQLink PLB activates easily with a simple deploy antenna and press “ON” button. It is water proof and comes with an optional flotation pouch. It has two handy self-test options for internal electronics and GPS functionality and it is small enough to fit in your pocket or backpack.

Before heading out on your next flight to the Islands, stop by Pilot Shop and get yours today.

Did you ever wonder how we named the pilot shop Hangar63 (Banyan’s Aviation Store) or wonder why our on-line store is TropicAero.com instead of BanyanPilotShop.com?

Here’s why:

In 1979, Banyan started by providing FBO services and maintenance.  At that time, the Banyan aviation complex consisted of several t-hangars with owners who enjoyed doing their own maintenance.  They would visit Banyan’s maintenance department and ask for wire, oil, spark plugs, and nuts and bolts.  Since Banyan has always believed in providing excellent customer service, these customers were always graciously helped, even though tracking down parts for walk-in customers took time away from Banyan maintenance jobs.

We realized that we needed a little shop away from the maintenance department where we could accommodate the do-it-yourselfers and provide parts and research special orders for our customers.  As a result, in 1989 The Parts Mart was started.

Customers continually asked for more and more pilot supplies, such as maps and accessories and so we began to carry additional items.  Our product offerings grew and eventually we changed our name to Banyan Parts Mart & Pilot Shop to reflect our increased product lines.

In 2007, the Banyan Pilot Shop relocated next door to the new Banyan FBO.  With the plans to make the store a unique aviation experience, it was felt that being called a Pilot Shop was too limiting.  So Hangar63 (Banyan’s Aviation Store) was the answer.  This name change was done to appeal to a larger market segment.  Passengers waiting for flights might not want to visit a pilot shop, but an aviation store with a larger variety of products would appeal to many people, not just pilots.

Also to add to our capabilities, in July 2007, Banyan acquired TropicAero.com.  With this addition, we could now offer a mail-order catalog and on-line store to our customers.

August 2011, Hangar63 (Banyan’s Aviation Store) will be renamed to Banyan Pilot Shop and TropicAero.com will be renamed to www.Banyanpilotshop.net.

This is being done to take advantage of the strength of the Banyan brand.   Customer feedback tells us that having 3 different names and logos (Banyan, Hangar63 and TropicAero.com) is confusing.  They also tell us that the Banyan name is well known and that we should use it to promote both the retail and on-line store.

This makes sense for so many reasons.  First, when people call Hangar63, they immediate ask if they have the Pilot Shop.  Second, advertising will be much easier now that we have our retail store and on-line store named the same.  Third, we’ve felt in our heart that although our store is amazing and offers so much, that in fact it is what it is and that is a Pilot Shop.

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NEW Zulu.2 Headset

The new Zulu.2 headset looks different because it is different. Made with magnesium, stainless steel, and four types of composite plastics, it’s extremely durable and yet weighs just over 13 ounces. Inside the headband is a core of thin, flexible spring steel, which gives an excellent fit with 40% lower side pressure than the 3G series. Luxurious, soft leather surrounds ‘extra wide’ ear seals made from temperature sensitive foam. Calibrated magnesium sliders adjust ergonomically to accommodate your exact head size with uniform pressure. The vented headpad evenly distributes the weight of the headset.

Stop by Banyan Pilot Shop or order on-line at www.banyanpilotshop.net and get yours today!

Sign up for the Banyan Pilot Shop monthly eNewsletter or follow us on Facebook and stay up to date on all the latest products.

New Zulu Headset

The new Zulu headset looks different because it is different. Made with magnesium, stainless steel, and four types of composite plastics, it’s extremely durable and yet weighs just over 13 ounces. Inside the headband is a core of thin, flexible spring steel, which gives an excellent fit with 40% lower side pressure than the 3G series. Luxurious, soft leather surrounds ‘extra wide’ ear seals made from temperature sensitive foam. Calibrated magnesium sliders adjust ergonomically to accommodate your exact head size with uniform pressure. The vented headpad evenly distributes the weight of the headset.

Stop by the Banyan Pilot Shop or shop online at www.banyanpilotshop.net and get yours today!

Traffic awareness is everyone’s concern so next time you are in the Banyan Pilot Shop be sure to check out the new ZAON side by side comparison display of the Portable Collision Avoidance Systems (PCAS) MRX and XRX. The XRX is the only portable device to offer 360° direction and MRX is the smallest, most accurate traffic alerter at the lowest cost. PCAS the best-selling traffic choice for general aviation.

The ZAON PCAS XRX Collision Avoidance System is the flagship model, providing a complete picture in a simple, easy-to-use device. PCAS represents their third generation of proven traffic detection technology. XRX is truly a “Plug and Go” device with its built-in antenna system and built-in display.

Key Features

• “3-D” view Quadrant Direction, 45° increments
• Instant traffic updates with no delays
• Tiny, unobtrusive size (3.9” x 3.6” x 2.7”)
• Completely portable and self-contained
• Digital range, scalable from 6NM to 1NM
• Audio voice alerts for threats and advisories are included, with both Headset-Direct™ hookup and in-cabin output
• Relative altitude, scalable from ±2500 ft to ±500 ft, with ascending/descending indicator
• Designed for metal, composite or fabric-covered airframes, high- or low-wing
• Displays top three intruders
• A built-in altimeter, a built-in compass, and built-in turn/bank and internal thermal sensing provide the highest, real-time accuracy available
• Built-in directional antenna
• Menu-driven interface, with selectable aircraft profiles and advanced calibration options
• Displays the local squawk code, pressure altitude, bank angle, bearing and temperature
• Integrates with third-party moving map and EFIS systems, including Garmin, Blue Mountain, and others.

The ZAON MRX Collision Avoidance System is the world’s smallest collision avoidance device at half the size, yet sacrifices none of the features upper-end systems have become known for.

Key Features

• Digital range, scalable from 5NM to 1NM
• Relative altitude, scalable from ±2500 ft to ±500 ft, with ascending/descending indicator
• Menu-driven interface
• A built-in altimeter provides the highest, real-time accuracy available
• Displays the local squawk code and altitude
• Audio alerts for threats and advisories
• Installation kits are available
• Super-bright red LED display is easily read, even in direct sunlight, and can be dimmed for night use
• Indestructible polycarbonate semi-translucent housing ensures cooler operating temperatures on the glare shield, even in direct sunlight (no burning your hands as with metal enclosures)

To learn more about the ZAON or to demo one, stop by the Banyan Pilot Shop today or visit www.banyanpilotshop.net.

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, www.banyanpilotshop.net 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 the Banyan’s Pilot Shop.

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 the Banyan Pilot Shop or online at www.banyanpilotshop.net.

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 Garmin aero 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.