Avionics Source is a new online service that is designed to become a single location for information about new avionics and equipage for upcoming mandates, availability of used avionics and listings of avionics sales, installation and repair facilities.

The new site was launched by Chase Larabee, who founded (and later sold) FBO software company AllFBO. After that sale, Larabee worked for more than four years at an avionics shop as regional sales manager, and he noticed market confusion among avionics buyers, especially with the upcoming 2020 ADS-B out mandates in the U.S. and Europe.

“That’s where Avionics Source came about,” Larabee explained, “to create a third-party source that brings aircraft owners, manufacturers and avionics shops together in one place. It’s a hub and spoke for discovering new products, buying used avionics and connecting with shops.”

Larabee launched Avionics Source in September. The idea is to be able to show aircraft owners in one place all the options for avionics upgrades, including the option of quality used avionics. “This lets customers see products built by a variety of manufacturers at varying prices,” he said. “There aren’t enough avionics shops with the capacity to display something like this.”

Another feature of Avionics Source is its resource center, where information about subjects such as ADS-B is available, as is as news about avionics, manufacturer and avionics shop promotions, trade shows and webinars. “It’s an avionics industry hub,” he said.

The revenue model for Avionics Source is via consigning, brokering and acquiring then selling used avionics. Avionics Source can be the exclusive sales agent for trade-in avionics, for example, or resell products that a manufacturer needs to offload. By consigning or selling used avionics to Avionics Source, shops can get old inventory off their shelves and free up money for other purposes. Used avionics are repaired, tested and certified before being sent to Avionics Source. For consignment sales, the company charges a percent commission.

Avionics Source is working with U.S.-based avionics shops for now, but Larabee plans to expand abroad. The initial focus is avionics for Part 23 aircraft, but this month he expects to add Part 25 avionics to the mix. He values the used avionics market at $200- to $300 million per year, because so much equipment is removed when new avionics are installed.

“Customers [avionics shops] that are using our service are extremely happy that we’re here,” Larabee said. “I’ve experienced these [companies’] pain points. We’re solving some industry issues, and these solutions will directly benefit aircraft owners.”