EAA, FAA Focus on GA Issues at Winter Summit

February 10, 2015 – Topics ranging from homebuilt flight testing and safety programs to aerobatic boxes and warbirds certification are on center stage this week as top officials from EAA and FAA met in Oshkosh during the annual winter recreational aviation summit.

The two-day session was hosted by EAA chairman Jack Pelton and EAA’s senior leadership team and included FAA officials led by John Duncan, Director of Flight Standards, and Earl Lawrence, Acting Deputy Director of the Aircraft Certification Office. Current “hot topics” such as ADS-B cost, medical certification, and ultralight training opportunities were also included on the summit’s substantial agenda.

“The EAA/FAA recreational aviation summit is unique in the GA community because it is the only gathering where a significant number of the FAA’s top officials travel to an aviation association to frankly discuss specific issues facing EAA members and the GA community,” Pelton said. “We appreciate the FAA team being open to this dialogue, because it establishes common ground and an action list that builds on EAA’s philosophy of working toward solutions, which began with our founder Paul Poberezny more than 60 years ago.”

Also participating were leaders from the special interest groups with EAA membership, including the Vintage Aircraft Association, Warbirds of America, and International Aerobatic Club. A wrap-up of the summit will be published in this week’s e-Hotline newsletter and in an upcoming issue of Sport Aviation magazine.