Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Reclassification

The Company presented intangible assets, net, separately in the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2023. In order to conform to the presentation of the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2023, the Company reclassified $60,348 from other assets to intangible assets, net, in the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2022. This reclassification has no impact on the Company’s net income for the years ended September 30, 2023 and 2022.

Acquisitions

The Company evaluates each of its acquisitions in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”), to determine whether the transaction is a business combination or an asset acquisition. In determining whether an acquisition should be accounted for as a business combination or an asset acquisition, the Company first performs a screening test to determine whether substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets. If this is the case, the acquired set is not deemed to be a business and is instead accounted for as an asset acquisition. If this is not the case, the Company then further evaluates whether the acquired set includes, at a minimum, an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create outputs. If so, the Company concludes that the acquired set is a business.

The Company accounts for business acquisitions using the acquisition method of accounting. Under this method of accounting, assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at their respective fair values at the date of the acquisition. When determining the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, management makes significant estimates and assumptions. The Company’s estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable, but these assumptions are inherently uncertain and unpredictable and, as a result, actual results may differ from estimates. Any excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired is recognized as goodwill.

During the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the Acquisition Date, the Company adjusts the provisional amounts of assets acquired and liabilities assumed with the corresponding offset to goodwill to reflect new information obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the Acquisition Date that, if known, would have affected the measurement of the amounts recognized as of that date. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period or final determination of the values of assets acquired or liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are recorded within the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the future economic benefit arising from other assets acquired that could not be individually identified and separately recognized. The recorded amounts of goodwill from business combinations are based on management’s best estimates of the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is assigned to the reporting units that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the business combination that generated the goodwill. The Company’s goodwill impairment test is performed at the reporting unit level. Reporting units are determined based on an evaluation of the Company’s operating segments and the components making up those operating segments.

Goodwill is tested for impairment annually or in an interim period if certain changes in circumstances indicate a possibility that an impairment may exist. Factors to consider that may indicate an impairment may exist are: the macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations such as a significant adverse change in the business climate, cost factors, overall financial performance such as current-period operating results or cash flow declines combined with a history of operating results or cash flow declines or a projection/forecast that demonstrates continuing declines in the cash flow or the inability to improve the operations to forecasted levels, and any entity-specific events.

If the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is below the carrying amount as part of its qualitative assessment, a quantitative assessment of goodwill is required. In the quantitative evaluation, the fair value of the reporting unit is determined and compared to the carrying value. If the fair value is greater than the carrying value, then the goodwill is deemed not to be impaired and no further action is required. If the fair value is less than the carrying value, goodwill is considered impaired and a charge is reported as impairment of goodwill in the consolidated statements of operations.

Inventory Valuation

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or net realizable value, net of write-downs for excess and obsolete inventory, and consists of the following:


	September 30,		September 30,
	2023		2022
Raw materials	$	5,162,177	$	4,451,045
Work-in-process		966,888		795,723
Finished goods		10,648		102,336
	$	6,139,713	$	5,349,104

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided using an accelerated method over the estimated useful lives of the assets (the lesser of three to seven years or over the lease term), except for the manufacturing facility and the corporate airplanes, which are depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives of thirty-nine years and ten years, respectively. Major additions and improvements are capitalized, while maintenance and repairs that do not improve or extend the life of assets are charged to expense as incurred.

Revenue Recognition

The Company enters into sales arrangements with customers that, in general, provide for the Company to design, develop, manufacture and deliver large flat-panel display systems, flight information computers, autothrottles and advanced monitoring systems that measure and display critical flight information, including data relative to aircraft separation, airspeed, altitude and engine and fuel data measurements.

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

The Company accounts for revenue in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). The core principle of ASC 606 is that an entity recognizes revenue when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services. The amount of revenue recognized reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled to receive in exchange for these goods or services. To achieve this core principle, the Company applies the following five steps:

1)Identify the contract with a customer

The Company’s contract with its customers typically is in the form of a purchase order issued to the Company by its customers and, to a lesser degree, in the form of a purchase order issued in connection with a formal contract executed with a customer. For the purpose of accounting for revenue under ASC 606, a contract with a customer exists when (i) the Company enters into an enforceable contract with a customer that defines each party’s rights regarding the goods or services to be transferred and identifies the payment terms related to these goods or services, (ii) the contract has commercial substance and, (iii) the Company determines that collection of substantially all consideration for goods or services that are transferred is probable based on the customer’s intent and ability to pay the promised consideration. The Company applies judgment in determining the customer’s ability and intention to pay, which is based on a variety of factors including the customer’s historical payment experience or, in the case of a new customer, published credit and financial information pertaining to the customer.

2)Identify the performance obligations in the contract

Performance obligations promised in a contract are identified based on the goods or services that will be transferred to the customer that are both capable of being distinct, whereby the customer can benefit from the good or service either on its own or together with other resources that are readily available from third parties or from the Company, and are distinct in the context of the contract, whereby the transfer of the goods or services is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. Most of our revenue is derived from purchases under which we provide a specific product or service and, as a result, there is only one performance obligation. In the event that a contract includes multiple promised goods or services, such as an EDC contract which includes both engineering services and a resulting product shipment, the Company must apply judgment to determine whether promised goods or services are capable of being distinct in the context of the contract. In these cases, the Company considers whether the customer could, on its own, or together with other resources that are readily available from third parties, produce the physical product using only the output resulting from the Company’s completion of engineering services. If the customer cannot produce the physical product, then the promised goods or services are accounted for as a combined performance obligation.

3)Determine the transaction price

The transaction price is determined based on the consideration to which the Company will be entitled in exchange for transferring goods or services to the customer. To the extent the transaction price includes variable consideration, the Company estimates the amount of variable consideration that should be included in the transaction price utilizing either the expected value method or the most likely amount method depending on the nature of the variable consideration. Variable consideration is included in the transaction price if, in the Company’s judgment, it is probable that a significant future reversal of cumulative revenue under the contract will not occur.

4)Allocate the transaction price to performance obligations in the contract

If the contract contains a single performance obligation, the entire transaction price is allocated to the single performance obligation. The Company determines standalone selling price based on the price at which the performance obligation is sold separately. If the standalone selling price is not observable through past transactions, the Company estimates the standalone selling price by taking into account available information such as market conditions as well as the cost of the goods or services and the Company’s normal margins for similar performance obligations.

5)Recognize revenue when or as the Company satisfies a performance obligation

The Company satisfies performance obligations either over time or at a point in time as discussed in further detail below. Revenue is recognized at the time the related performance obligation is satisfied by transferring a promised good or service to a customer. Historically, the Company has also recognized revenue from EDC contracts and is recognized over time using an input measure (e.g., costs incurred to date relative to total estimated costs at completion) to measure progress. Contract costs include material, components and third-party avionics purchased from suppliers, direct labor and overhead costs.

Contract Estimates

Accounting for performance obligations in long-term contracts that are satisfied over time involves the use of various techniques to estimate progress towards satisfaction of the performance obligation. The Company typically measures progress based on costs incurred compared to estimated total contract costs. Contract cost estimates are based on various assumptions to project the outcome of future events that often span more than a single year. These assumptions include the amount of labor and labor costs, the quantity and cost of raw materials used in the completion of the performance obligation and the complexity of the work to be performed.

As a significant change in one or more of these estimates could affect the profitability of our contracts, we review and update our contract-related estimates regularly. We recognize adjustments in estimated profit on contracts under the cumulative catch-up method. Under this method, the impact of the adjustment on profit recorded to date is recognized in the period the adjustment is identified. Revenue and profit in future periods of contract performance is recognized using the adjusted estimate. If at any time the estimate of contract profitability indicates an anticipated loss on the contract, we recognize the total loss in the quarter it is identified.

The impact of adjustments in contract estimates on our operating earnings can be reflected in either operating costs and expenses or revenue. The aggregate impact of adjustments in contract estimates did not change our revenue and operating earnings (and diluted earnings per share) for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2023 and 2022. Therefore, no adjustment on any contract was material to our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2023 and 2022.

Contract Balances

Contract assets consist of the right to consideration in exchange for product offerings that we have transferred to a customer under the contract. Contract liabilities primarily relate to consideration received in advance of performance under the contract. The following table reflects the Company’s contract assets and liabilities:



	Contract		Contract
	Assets		Liabilities
September 30, 2022	$	162,742	$	259,183
Amount transferred to receivables from contract assets		—		—
Contract asset additions		324,397		—
Performance obligations satisfied during the period that were included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the period		—		(240,944)
Increases due to invoicing prior to satisfaction of performance obligations		—		125,120
September 30, 2023	$	487,139	$	143,359

Income Taxes

Income taxes are recorded in accordance with ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC Topic 740”), which utilizes a balance sheet approach to provide for income taxes. Under this method, the Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of the Company’s assets, liabilities and expected benefits of utilizing net operating losses (“NOL”) and tax credit carry-forwards. The impact on deferred taxes of changes in tax rates and laws, if

any, are applied to the years during which temporary differences are expected to be settled and are reflected in the consolidated financial statements in the period of enactment. At the end of each interim reporting period, the Company prepares an estimate of the annual effective income tax rate and applies that annual effective income tax rate to ordinary year-to-date pre-tax income for the interim period. Specific tax items discrete to a particular quarter are recorded in income tax expense for that quarter. The estimated annual effective tax rate used in providing for income taxes on a year-to-date basis may change in subsequent periods.

Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on the consideration of all available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. Significant weight is given to evidence that can be verified objectively, and significant management judgment is required in determining any valuation allowance recorded against net deferred tax assets. The Company evaluates deferred income taxes on a quarterly basis to determine if a valuation allowance is required by considering available evidence. Deferred tax assets are recognized when expected future taxable income is sufficient to allow the related tax benefits to reduce taxes that would otherwise be payable. The sources of taxable income that may be available to realize the benefit of deferred tax assets are future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and credit carryforwards, taxable income in carry-back years and tax planning strategies which are both prudent and feasible. For the year ended September 30, 2021, the valuation allowance was released against all federal and state deferred tax assets with the exception of certain state net operating losses due to positive evidence that the assets are more likely than not to be realized in future years. The Company will continue to assess all available evidence during future periods to evaluate any changes to the realization of its deferred tax assets. If the Company were to determine that it would be able to realize additional state deferred tax assets in the future, it would make an adjustment to the valuation allowance which would reduce the provision for income taxes.

The accounting for uncertainty in income taxes requires a more likely than not threshold for financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The Company records a liability for the difference between the (i) benefit recognized and measured for financial statement purposes and (ii) the tax position taken or expected to be taken on the Company’s tax return. To the extent that the Company’s assessment of such tax positions changes, the change in estimate is recorded in the period in which the determination is made. The Company has elected to record any interest or penalties associated with uncertain tax positions as income tax expense.

The Company files a consolidated U.S. federal income tax return. The Company prepares and files tax returns based on the interpretation of tax laws and regulations and records estimates based on these judgments and interpretations. In the normal course of business, the tax returns are subject to examination by various taxing authorities. Such examinations may result in future tax and interest assessments by these taxing authorities, and the Company records a liability when it is probable that there will be an assessment. The Company adjusts the estimates periodically as a result of ongoing examinations by and settlements with the various taxing authorities, and changes in tax laws, regulations and precedent. The consolidated tax provision of any given year includes adjustments to prior years’ income tax accruals that are considered appropriate and any related estimated interest. Management believes that it has made adequate accruals for income taxes. Differences between estimated and actual amounts determined upon ultimate resolution, individually or in the aggregate, are not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position but could possibly be material to its consolidated results of operations or cash flow of any one period.

In March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) was signed into law to provide emergency assistance to affected individuals, families and businesses. The CARES Act provides numerous tax provisions and other stimulus measures, including temporary changes regarding the prior and future utilization of NOLs. The CARES Act amends the NOL provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, thereby allowing for the carryback of losses arising in tax years beginning before December 31, 2017 to each of the two taxable years preceding the taxable year of loss. Approximately $1,500,000 of pre-tax NOL was carried back two years to fully offset taxable income. This carryback freed up previously utilized R&D credits which resulted in an estimated increase in the R&D credit carryforward of $196,000. The carryback created approximately $16,000 of AMT tax, which was refunded. The cash impact of this carryback was $309,412. A receivable was setup for this amount as of March 31, 2020, and the cash has since been received.

In December 2020, the Consolidations Appropriations Act of 2020 (“CAA”) was enacted as a supplement to the CARES Act legislation and provided additional financial relief to taxpayers adversely impacted by restrictions put into place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the CAA provides funding for public health initiatives in response to the pandemic. This legislation did not have a material impact on the Company’s tax position.

In March, 2021, American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (the “ARPA”), which includes certain business tax provisions, was signed into law. This legislation did not have a material impact on the Company’s tax position.

In August 2022, the U.S. government enacted the Inflation Reduction Act (the “IRA”). The IRA makes the following changes to the U.S tax code: imposes a corporate alternative minimum tax of 15% on corporations with an average annual Adjusted Financial Statement Income over a three year period in excess of $1 billion, increases the amount of R&D credit that qualified businesses can apply against payroll taxes to $500,000 and imposes an excise tax equal to one percent of the fair market value of stock of a publicly traded U.S. corporation that is repurchased by the company. These changes predominately apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2022. It does not appear that this legislation will have a material impact on the Company’s tax position.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The net carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their fair value because of the short-term nature of these instruments. The carrying value of our debt approximates fair value as the interest rate is variable and approximates current market levels. For financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, fair value is the price the Company would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction with a market participant at the measurement date. A three-level fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value as follows:

Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices that are available in active markets for the identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.

Level 2 — Other observable inputs available at the measurement date, other than quoted prices included in Level 1, either directly or indirectly, including:

●

Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;

●

Quoted prices for identical or similar assets in non-active markets;

●

Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and

●

Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by other observable market data.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that cannot be corroborated by observable market data and reflect the use of significant management judgment. These values are generally determined using pricing models for which the assumptions utilize management’s estimates of market participant assumptions.

The following table sets forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2023 and 2022, according to the valuation techniques the Company used to determine their fair values.


	Fair Value Measurement on September 30, 2023
	Quoted Price in		Significant Other		Significant
	Active Markets for		Observable		Unobservable
	Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs
	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents:
Money market funds	$	3,665,128	$	—	$	—


	Fair Value Measurement on September 30, 2022
	Quoted Price in		Significant Other		Significant
	Active Markets for		Observable		Unobservable
	Identical Assets		Inputs		Inputs
	(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents:
Money market funds	$	16,083,571	$	—	$	—

The fiscal 2023 money market funds balance differs from the cash and cash equivalents balance on the consolidated balance sheet due to the timing of sweep transactions within the PNC cash investment accounts.

Warranty Reserves

The Company offers warranties on some products of various lengths, however the standard warranty period is twenty-four months. At the time of shipment, the Company establishes a reserve for estimated costs of warranties based on its best estimate of the amounts necessary to settle future and existing claims using historical data on products sold as of the balance sheet date. The length of the warranty period, the product’s failure rates and the customer’s usage affect warranty cost. If actual warranty costs differ from the Company’s estimated amounts, future results of operations could be affected adversely. Warranty cost is recorded as cost of sales, and the reserve balance recorded as an accrued expense. While the Company maintains product quality programs and processes, its warranty obligation is affected by product failure rates and the related corrective costs. If actual product failure rates and/or corrective costs differ from the estimates, the Company revises the estimated warranty liability accordingly.

Treasury Stock

We account for treasury stock purchased under the cost method and include treasury stock as a component of shareholders’ equity. Treasury stock purchased with intent to retire (whether or not the retirement is actually accomplished) is charged to common stock.