Early 2020 saw the last in-person events including the Concorde Battery IA (Inspection Authorisation) Renewal Series hosted annually at key locations throughout the US. Rather than cancel Concorde's IA recurrent training events in 2021, the company pivoted and created a Virtual IA Renewal Series that provided the opportunity for airmen to complete the training necessary to renew their IA certificate through virtual classes provided free of charge.

The inaugural Virtual IA Renewal Series event in January had nearly 1,500 attendees via virtual connection. This was the largest IA seminar ever held and included participants from all over the world. In March, Concorde presented the northeast Concorde Battery Virtual IA Renewal Series in conjunction with the Westchester Aircraft Maintenance Association (WAMA). This event provided a last-minute opportunity to complete IA renewal training ahead of the 31 March application deadline. Concorde Battery Corporation representatives also participated in online courses eligible for IA and AMT credit hosted by the Helicopter Association International (HAI), universities, colleges, associations and the FAA across the nation this year. These virtual events resulted in the training of more than 2,500 individuals in 2021.

“The industry needed it. Concorde stepped up big this year,” confirms Dave Schiavone, area sales manager and host of the Concorde Northeast Virtual IA Renewal Series. “We continue to support HAI and NBAA, along with aviation organisations like PAMA, WAMA and LIBAA, the Long Island Business Aviation Association. There was little opportunity for these professionals to train for IA recertification in 2021, so we had to find a way to present this information.”

Eastern US sales manager and founder of the South Carolina IA Seminar Chris Holder adds: “Concorde Battery Corporation has provided IA training in South Carolina for 23 years. When several IA seminars in Florida and Tennessee were shuttered in 2017, Concorde revived those seminars in order to provide continuity for those technicians to recertify each year. As the 2020 pandemic set in, it immediately became clear to us that thousands of IAs across the nation would soon be in a precarious position regarding their Inspection Authorisation certification renewal, and something had to be planned.”

Schiavone continues: “What continues to stand out with regard to the Concorde IA Renewal Series is the quality of the speakers at each event. Our lineup of presenters, Collins Aerospace, JSSI, CAMP, Champion Aerospace, Michelin Aircraft Tire, Dassault Falcon Jet, Honeywell Aerospace, WAMA and the FAA Safety Team, are recognised in the aviation industry as exceptional instructors. Their knowledge regarding their product and aspects of safety in the industry is what sets them apart. We could not have done it without them.”

The FAA has also adopted a virtual submission process utilising the web based IACRA Integrated Airmen Certification and Rating Application portal for Inspection Authorisation renewal applications as an alternative to mail or in person application processes.