EAA Government Advocacy

A Partnership Committed to Solutions
The Unique Role of AirVenture Oshkosh
EAA - A Catalyst for Change

When Paul Poberezny and a small group of aviation enthusiasts founded the EAA in 1953, their purpose was to foster and promote recreational aviation. From the very first, government advocacy was an important part of their mission.

They worked tirelessly in support of new laws, regulations, and government policies that supported and expanded recreational flying, at the local, state, and federal levels. From the start, Paul was determined to deal with the government not as an adversary, but as a partner committed to finding solutions. That philosophy has served EAA members - and all aviation enthusiasts - very well.

Your EAA Membership, and contributions from EAA Members like you, support EAA’s government advocacy. You are an essential part of these efforts.

A Partnership Committed to Solutions

Over the years, EAA has been tremendously successful at promoting the cause of recreational flying. Its successes include new government rules, regulations, and policies for:

• Amateur-Built Aircraft
• Auto Fuel in Aircraft
• Ultralights
• Recreational Pilot’s License
• Kit Aircraft
• Commercial Builder Assistance
• Warbirds
• Experimental Aircraft Certification
• Air Shows
• Aging General Aviation Aircraft
• Aeromedical Issues
• Light-Sport Aircraft Category
• Sport Pilot License

and many other issues and concerns.

EAA’s strong partnership with the FAA and related agencies was directly responsible for the creation of the new Light-Sport Aircraft Category and the new Sport Pilot License, which are helping to fuel a renaissance of recreational flying.

More recently, EAA has led the way in the fight against general aviation user fees. And it has worked with the FAA to preserve privileges and freedoms for amateur aircraft builders. But these are only the most visible efforts in the broad spectrum of EAA’s government advocacy.

EAA’s Washington, D.C. Office works with more than a dozen federal agencies, including the FAA and TSA, to help shape future policies. EAA staff and volunteers serve as members of the General Aviation Coalition, serve on Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committees, and work in concert with many other aviation organizations.

EAA Members are often asked to participate in making our collective voice heard to keep the skies free and to keep regulations from becoming burdensome or costly. Through EAA, your voice does make a difference.

The Unique Role of AirVenture Oshkosh

EAA’s government advocacy is a year-round function, fundamental to what EAA does for its members and for aviation as a whole. The annual AirVenture Oshkosh is the place where a lot of this work comes into focus.

Throughout the convention week, key people gather to talk, to listen, and to engage in "a collaborative discourse," working on solutions to the challenges facing general aviation today and in the future. Taking part in these gatherings are:

• EAA directors and headquarters staff
• EAA technical advisors and other volunteers
• Aircraft manufacturers
• Amateur aircraft builders
• Aircraft mechanics
• Type club officers
• Flight instructors
• Airport managers
• Air traffic controllers
• State aviation officials

and a host of directors and staff from the FAA, including officials from the agency’s top ranks.

The FAA’s presence at Oshkosh is an important and positive feature of AirVenture. FAA officials tell us that they need to be there and that they enjoy coming there because of the collaborative atmosphere that has been created there.

Conversations that begin at AirVenture continue throughout the year, leading to new ideas and collaborative solutions.

EAA - A Catalyst for Change

Over time, EAA has forged a strong working relationship with officials at every level of the FAA.

“EAA is a catalyst for change in aviation,” says EAA President Tom Poberezny. “The Sport Pilot/Light-Sport Aircraft regulations are the best example of that. The SP/LSA regulations exist because EAA led the push for it. The SP/LSA concept was born at Oshkosh. Making it happen required a true partnership between EAA and the FAA. People from both organizations worked hard to forge that partnership.”

"As in any partnership, we don’t always agree," Poberezny adds. "But we recognize that the best way to resolve our disagreements is by working together. And I’m confident that the unique partnership between EAA and FAA will continue to benefit aviation, especially sport aviation, for many years to come."

At AirVenture and throughout each year, EAA offers a unique forum where the aviation community and federal, state, and local aviation officials celebrate our shared passion for aviation, and work together to find solutions to the challenges we face.