The EAA Government Advocacy and Safety team furthers EAA’s mission to grow participation in aviation through advocacy on behalf of all forms of light general aviation.
EAA’s advocacy efforts pursue a unique approach, with a small team of staff working with volunteers and experts in the field to pursue a collaborative approach with the FAA.
Here are some key areas where EAA advocates for its members, be they homebuilders, restorers, renters, owners, or anyone who pursues the dream of flight.
FAA Rulemaking and Policy
EAA’s Government Advocacy and Safety department works to protect and expand the rights and privileges of the aviation community on the national level by guiding and influencing aviation policy and legislation.
Every year, EAA uses carefully fostered relationships with policymakers to advocate on behalf of its members on proposed rules and policy updates. These include major decade-long projects such as shepherding MOSAIC across the finish line as well as smaller documents that still have big impacts, such as policy governing designated pilot examiners and operating limitations for experimental aircraft. EAA keeps a particular eye on any policy affecting its special interest communities of homebuilders, vintage aircraft and warbird owners, aerobatic pilots, and the ultralight community, but will advocate for any policy that will make “flying little airplanes for fun” more affordable, more accessible, and safer.
EAA’s advocacy objective is to lower regulatory and cost barriers to participation in aviation. We achieve this goal by focusing on airman and aircraft certification, experimental aircraft operation and certification, airport and airspace policy, and general aviation legislation that benefits recreational pilots and aviation enthusiasts.
We represent the interests of our membership to our regulatory bodies including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the United States Congress.
Airports
With a small staff, EAA helps members advocate on their own behalf at their local airports. Key to this concept are EAA’s 900-plus chapters around the U.S. and internationally, who perform critical advocacy and promotion at airports large and small. For example, EAA worked to secure an FAA hangar use policy that recognizes the construction and restoration of amateur-built aircraft and vintage aircraft, as well as ongoing maintenance, as a permitted activity at publicly funded airports.
Medical & Legal Councils
In addition to full-time staff at EAA’s Oshkosh headquarters and in Washington, D.C., EAA’s advocacy mission is supported by EAA’s Legal Advisory Council and Aeromedical Advisory Council.
EAA works with its Aeromedical Advisory Council, a volunteer group of highly experienced aviation medical examiners who help pilots with basic medical questions on a “members helping members” basis. EAA is also involved in aeromedical policy reform efforts, including ongoing work to reform the FAA special issuance process on mental health and other diagnoses.
EAA similarly works with its Legal Advisory Council (LAC), a volunteer group of aviation attorneys who offer free initial consultations to fellow EAA members on legal concerns. In addition, the LAC helps provide EAA with the best possible information on regulatory issues that require expertise. Examples include reviewing and providing guidance on comments EAA makes to rulemaking, petitions for rule changes, waivers, program letters, etc.
Safety
Effective advocacy does not come without safety. EAA extensively supports safety efforts throughout general aviation, and particularly within experimental aviation. EAA participates on and co-chairs the cross-industry General Aviation Joint Safety Committee, and developed the EAA Flight Test Manual for testing, evaluating, and building data for experimental aircraft and more. Over the past decade, both the general aviation and experimental accident rates have decreased significantly.
Contact Us
To contact the EAA Government Advocacy and Safety Team, call 800-564-6322 or send us an email at govt@eaa.org.
