Major Talks Planned For Early 2010

Two of the nation's self-described 'largest aviation associations' are apparently going to try and make nice with each other... after years of sniping and other less positive 'competitive' behavior. EAA and AOPA claim that they will be collaborating on issues and programs that protect, support and grow general aviation as the result of a June 3 working session at the EAA Aviation Center in Oshkosh, Wis.

EAA chairman/president Tom Poberezny and AOPA president and CEO Craig Fuller, along with senior staff from each organization, met to discuss how they can work more closely to support general aviation (GA). They agreed to a collaborative, three-pronged commitment to protect general aviation interests, promote GA safety, and grow the general aviation community in the United States.

EAA and AOPA leaders identified a significant number of near-term opportunities for collaboration, which will be evaluated over the next few weeks. In addition, the organizations agreed to jointly host a general aviation roundtable in early 2010 that would include a wide spectrum of the GA community. 

"What evolved during the meeting was the mutual respect for the strengths of each organization, which will be used in ways that are mutually beneficial, and address aviation growth and preservation," Poberezny said. "The majority of our nation's pilots belong to one or both of these organizations, so our members expect us to utilize these strengths in a way that addresses the long-term vitality of general aviation."

Additional information regarding future collaborative efforts will be announced in coming weeks as details are finalized. 

FMI: www.aopa.org, www.eaa.org