Midwest Flyer Magazine

EAA AIRVENTURE-OSHKOSHAOPA, EAA Formalize Collaborative Efforts…Memo of Understanding Ushers In Era of Enhanced CooperationPeggy Weiman(L/R) EAA President Tom Poberezny and AOPA President Craig Fullerunited at EAA AirVenture-Oshkosh.OSHKOSH, WIS. – The presidents of the Aircraft Ownersand Pilots Association (AOPA) and the ExperimentalAircraft Association (EAA) cemented a cooperativeagreement that was first unveiled earlier this year bysigning a memorandum of understanding in the middle ofAeroShell Square during EAA᾽s 2009 AirVenture Oshkosh,July 29, 2009. Under the agreement, both organizationspledged to support each other's efforts to promote, protect,and expand the general aviation community.“EAA welcomes AOPA᾽s support of our outreachefforts to expand the pilot population, especially throughour Young Eagles program,” said EAA President TomPoberezny. “And we are looking forward to supportingAOPA efforts to polish GA᾽s public perception with itsGeneral Aviation Serves America campaign.”“It just makes sense for two of the largest aviationassociations in the world to collaborate where our interestsalign,” added AOPA President and CEO Craig L. Fuller.“The general aviation community faces significantchallenges and opportunities in the years ahead and ourSp e n c e r Ai r ca rAs the project progressed, many tenants at the HalfMoon Bay airport helped out. One of them, Brian Williams,was a flight instructor who taught Doug how to fly and getthe necessary ratings to fly this aircraft. Brian accompaniedDoug on the flight to Oshkosh. Doug’s wife flewcommercially to Oshkosh, but she flew back to Californiawith him in the Aircar.When I asked Doug for his comments on the project,he said, “The best part of any journey are the friends you22 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2009 MIDWEST FLYER MAGAZINEassociations᾽ individual strengths, when combined, put usin a much better position to deal with the challenges andtake advantage of the opportunities.”Under the memorandum of understanding, AOPA willencourage its members to support EAA᾽s Young Eaglesprogram, providing first flight opportunities for youth andplanting seeds for long-term growth of the pilot population.EAA will use its grass roots network to support AOPA᾽sGeneral Aviation Serves America campaign, which seeks toaddress the root cause of many of GA᾽s challenges – a pooror non-existent public perception of general aviation.The two organizations agree to work collaboratively onregulatory and legislative agendas helping to protect thefuture of general aviation, and on safety initiatives thatpromote safer pilots.Poberezny will join Fuller and AOPA as one of the generalaviation leaders who will open the AOPA Aviation Summitin Tampa, Fla., on November 5, 2009. In addition, EAA willplay a role in several forums and events at the Summit.The leadership of both organizations plan to host ageneral aviation round table discussion with other industrystakeholders in the first quarter of 2010. The agenda will bebased on the shared theme of this relationship – to “Protectand Grow General Aviation.”EAA embodies the spirit of aviation through the world'smost engaged community of aviation enthusiasts. EAA'smembers and local chapters enjoy the fun and camaraderieof sharing their passion for flying, building and restoringrecreational aircraft. EAA also annually hosts EAAAirVenture Oshkosh, “The World᾽s Greatest AviationCelebration.” www.eaa.org.The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is theworld᾽s largest aviation association, representing two outof every three pilots in the United States, and providingrepresentation, education and information to protect andfoster the future of GA. AOPA’s annual “Aviation Summit”is expected to build understanding among aviation and nonaviationentities to improve and enhance public policy ongeneral aviation in the future. www.aopa.org.qmeet along the path.” I must say he had quite a numberof them following him and supporting him at Oshkosh.I knew when I first saw the aircraft that it would win anaward, and it did – the prestigious “Gold Lindy Award.”Congratulations, Doug!EDITOR’S NOTE: Michael J. “Mick” Kaufman is theprogram manager for the Beechcraft Pilot ProficiencyProgram, and a member of the FAA Safety Team. He holdsan Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, and is a flight instructorwith over 16,000 hours, specializing in instrument training andseaplane ratings. (captmick@charter.net, 817-988-0174). q