EAA Signs Joint Industry Letter Regarding Government Shutdown’s Aviation Impact

January 10, 2019 - EAA and 33 other aviation organizations sent a joint letter to the president and senior members of Congress today informing them of the negative effects the partial government shutdown is having on aviation and urging them to resolve the issues the shutdown is causing.

Concerns raised within the letter include FAA staff working without pay, air traffic controller training being suspended, the inability to certify new aircraft or issue new student pilot certificates, and more. The impact of the shutdown on the massive aviation industry is negative and worsening, according to the letter.

“As the partial government shutdown continues, the human and economic consequences are increasing and doing greater harm,” the letter states. “Civil aviation supports more than 7 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) and $1.5 trillion of economic impact, creating over 11.5 million jobs, but this shutdown is hampering our ability to function effectively.”