ADVOCACY UPDATE
GOVERNMENTAL ISSUES
EAA Testifies at NTSB
on Air Show Safety
ON JANUARY 10, EAA PRESIDENT/CEO ROD HIGHTOWER and EAA Vice
President of Industry and Regulatory Affairs Sean Elliott were among
those testifying on air show and air race safety before the National
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in Washington, D.C. The NTSB
called the hearing as a follow-up to last September’s tragic accident at
the National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada, where EAA
director Jimmy Leeward and 10 others died.
EAA shared one of three guest panels
with representatives from the Reno Air Race
Association and Air Boss Inc. Hightower and
Elliott highlighted the continually enhanced
safety measures at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
each year, as well as the coordinated effort that
goes into making AirVenture the safe event it is
for pilots and attendees.
EAA was asked to appear because of its
insights and experience with major aviation
events. NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman and
other NTSB members have attended AirVenture
in past years. Others appearing before the NTSB
included air show star Sean D. Tucker, as well
as representatives from the International
Council of Air Shows, Commemorative Air
Force, and Red Bull Air Racing.
The hearing is archived for 90 days at the
“News & Events” area of the NTSB website at
www.NTSB.gov.
EAA President/CEO Rod Hightower testifies at the NTSB hearing.
FAA ISSUES REVISED OPERATING LIMITATIONS FOR
EXPERIMENTAL EXHIBITION AND AIR RACING AIRCRAFT
ON DECEMBER 21, 2011, the FAA issued a memorandum that revised
operating limitations for experimental exhibition and air racing
aircraft, completing a seven-year process. The new operating
limitations will be issued to all aircraft seeking new airworthiness
certificates and to owners of aircraft who request a change to their
existing operating limitations.
In September 2004, EAA, along with the warbirds and aerobatic
communities, started working with the FAA on revisions to the
operating limitations for experimental warbirds and air racing
aircraft. The primary goals for the revision were the safety of persons
and property on the ground, as well as of the pilots and passengers
who fly in these aircraft.
This was truly a collaborative project that involved EAA, EAA
Warbirds of America, Commemorative Air Force, Classic Jet Aircraft
Association, Army Aviation Heritage Foundation, Aircraft Owners
and Pilots Association, Courtesy Aircraft,
and International Aerobatic Club, along with
our FAA partners, Flight Standards General
Aviation and Maintenance divisions and the
Airworthiness Certification division.
