Applications Open for EAA Founder's Innovation Prize

October 12, 2016 - Applications for the 2017 EAA Founder’s Innovation Prize are now open. EAA members are encouraged to submit an application and prepare to wow an all-star panel of judges with their best solution to reduce loss of control accidents.

Loss of control in-flight is the leading cause of fatal accidents in general aviation, particularly in amateur-built aircraft. The contest seeks ways to solve this problem. The solution could be technical in nature or otherwise.

If you are not an EAA member, all you need to do is join. You may enter as an individual, or as a team.

Submissions will be accepted through June 15, 2017. Five finalists will be chosen to pitch their ideas in front of five expert judges.

To apply:

1)      Familiarize yourself with the EAA Founder’s Innovation Prize rules, posted on EAA.org/Prize

2)      Fill out the application on the last page of the Founder’s Innovation Prize rules

3)      Complete a detailed package that describes your solution

4)      E-mail application and package to foundersinnovationprize@eaa.org or mail it to Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc., 3000 Poberezny Road, Oshkosh, WI 54902

All entries must be in compliance with official rules.

The winner will receive $25,000, with $10,000 going to second place, and $5,000 going to third place.

The 2016 Founder’s Innovation Prize was awarded to Ihab Awad of San Jose, California, who developed a novel concept to present an intuitive display of air data to increase the pilot’s situational awareness.

While we saw great ideas in 2016, EAA isn’t stopping there. We want to see more solutions for loss of control in-flight from you, our members.

The experimental aircraft community is the best place to foster the type of innovation EAA is looking for with the Founder’s Innovation Prize. EAA is excited to see the best and brightest of our members come forth with their solutions to loss of control.