EAA Briefs Office Of Management And Budget

The Experimental Aircraft Association continued the final push to make the new sport pilot/light-sport aircraft regulations a reality on Wednesday, April 28, as Earl Lawrence, EAA's Vice President of Government and Industry Programs, briefed top officials of the federal Office of Management and Budget in Washington (DC).

Lawrence told the OMB officials, which included Donald Arbuckle, Deputy Administrator of Information and Regulatory Affairs, that sport pilot is the right amount of regulation at the right moment to benefit the general aviation industry.

Lawrence was joined by Phil Lockwood and Eric Tucker, members of the light aircraft industry who, along with Lawrence, serve on the ASTM International executive committee that is creating manufacturing specifications for light-sport aircraft.

"This briefing was very productive for both sides," Lawrence said. "OMB was particularly impressed at the support of the aviation community for the sport pilot rule, as indicated by EAA's petition that gathered more than 10,000 signatures and Congressional backing in less than 10 days this month. It showed how deeply sentiment runs in favor of this new rule among aviators."

Lawrence delivered the remaining signatures collected on the petition last weekend through the EAA web site, adding to the more than 8,000 already forwarded to OMB by Congressional leaders late last week.

EAA requested the meeting with OMB earlier this month and was invited by the agency to present additional background on how the rule would create opportunities for both individual pilots and the aviation industry in general.  Lawrence also offered OMB the continuing support of EAA, which has spearheaded efforts to create the sport pilot rule for more than a decade.

"I felt our briefing to OMB on Wednesday helped solidify the opportunities presented by adoption of the rule," Lawrence said.  "We're glad EAA could support its members by reaching top national policymakers to provide background and answer their questions on sport pilot.  This rule will promote aviation in many new areas and prepare many people to enjoy flying as a recreation."

The Federal Aviation Administration, which had pulled the sport pilot proposal back from OMB late last month to clarify several points, continues its discussions with OMB to finalize the rule.  Once finalized by OMB, the rule moves forward to final publication.

FMI: www.eaa.org