Update to airport minimum standards for commercial aeronautical
activities first in the nation
The home airport for the Experimental Aircraft Association has
become the first airfield in the nation to include standards for
light-sport aircraft operations, as Wittman Regional Airport in
Oshkosh has adopted those guidelines in its newly updated minimum
standards for commercial aeronautical activities.
The Winnebago County (Wis.) board of supervisors approved the
light-sport aircraft provisions, opening the door to provide
services for this new recreational aircraft category. The new
standards will be published later this month.
"It's fitting that the airport that is home to the annual EAA
AirVenture fly-in, where so much aviation innovation is unveiled,
also became the first airport in the nation to welcome light-sport
aircraft activities," said Earl Lawrence, EAA vice president of
industry and regulatory affairs.
"Most of the country's
local airports are underutilized and many confront constant
financial challenges. Sport pilot and light-sport aircraft
will offer a chance for these local airports to become more of an
economic force in their communities."
The Wittman Regional Airport guidelines establish minimum
standards for businesses that emphasize light-sport aircraft
operations such as flight training, aircraft rental, maintenance
and fueling. They are similar to specifications developed for
airports throughout the country, but with practical modifications
that account for the smaller scale needed for light-sport aircraft
activities.
"The guidelines established for Wittman Regional Airport,
perhaps because the nation's best-known general aviation airport of
its close relationship with EAA, can serve as an excellent template
for other airport officials who see the potential in light-sport
aircraft operations," Lawrence said. "The general aviation
community anticipates an influx of new participants, attracted by
the new sport pilot/light-sport aircraft rules. Consequently,
airports that make light-sport aircraft part of their mix of
operations will see increased revenue and visibility. Now is
the time for local communities to prepare for these economic
opportunities."
The airport standards
were developed by a team that included airport management,
Winnebago County board members and airport business
representatives. The new guidelines will also serve as one
resource for a nationwide aviation-industry committee that is
working on specific light-sport aircraft standards for local
airports. That process is administered by ASTM International,
one of the largest voluntary standards-developing organizations in
the world. Known for their high technical quality and market
relevance, ASTM standards are an important part of the information
infrastructure that guides design, manufacturing, and trade in the
global economy.
Wittman Regional Airport has been the home of EAA AirVenture,
the world's largest fly-in event, since 1970. It is named for
the late Steve Wittman, a native of Wisconsin's Fox River Valley
who became nationally renowned as an aircraft designer, air racer,
flight instructor and airport administrator during his 70-year
flying career.