Aircraft Locks — MEDECO Security Solutions
California Aero Marketing has supplied MEDECO high‑security lock systems for general aviation aircraft for more than three decades. Our experience spans Beechcraft, Cessna, Piper, Mooney, and a wide range of owner‑flown aircraft. These installations were developed in response to a long‑standing problem: factory‑installed cabin and baggage door locks often provide only the illusion of security. Many can be opened with a random key, defeated with a simple twist, or have already worn out or fallen out of the handle entirely.
MEDECO lock assemblies provide a hardened, aviation‑appropriate solution that prevents unauthorized entry without altering the aircraft’s appearance or requiring structural modification. CAM has performed, supported, and refined these installations for decades, and remains one of the few shops with the experience to guide owners through the process correctly.
Available MEDECO Lock Solutions
We offer two primary installation paths depending on aircraft type:
- Beechcraft installations — a CAM‑developed solution that replaces the ineffective factory handle lock with a hardened, internal MEDECO assembly. This system provides a dramatic improvement in security and has been installed on numerous Bonanzas, Debonairs, and Barons.
- All other aircraft — a direct‑replacement MEDECO system that installs in place of the existing cabin and baggage door locks with no structural modification required.
Select an option below for detailed installation information, FAA considerations, and current pricing.
How Medeco Locks Work
MEDECO cylinders use a hardened‑steel body and a unique pin‑tumbler design that requires three independent actions to unlock:
- Lift — each pin must be raised to the correct height.
- Rotate — angled key cuts force the pins to rotate to a precise orientation.
- Align — the rotated pins must line up with a sidebar slot before the plug can turn.
This three‑axis requirement makes the lock resistant to drilling, picking, bumping, and torque‑based attacks — the most common methods used in unauthorized aircraft entry.
MEDECO systems also use restricted keyways, meaning keys cannot be duplicated without proper authorization. This prevents casual copying and maintains control over who can access the aircraft.
These features make MEDECO one of the few lock systems suitable for protecting avionics, logbooks, and personal property in general aviation aircraft.