Pelton Says Search Held Until After AirVenture

There will be no announcement of a new president for EAA at AirVenture this year, because the organization has not yet initiated a search for a new leader.

EAA Board Chairman Jack Pelton told Gannett's The Northwestern newspaper that the board has delayed opening a nationwide search for the next president, who will be the fourth in the association's history, until after AirVenture is in the books for 2013. He said that is allowing the EAA to focus on the event.

Pelton has served as Board Chairman since Rod Hightower resigned as president last year. Hightower was the first person not named Poberenzy to lead the organization. His tenure was marked by a reorganization of the management team that saw over 30 people let go from the organization early in 2012.

Pelton said that EAA still is still in a transition period from the family-led structure of its first six decades of existence to something more recognizable in corporate America. Hightower had been criticized for changes that many members said took EAA away from a chapter-led association focusing on sport aviation, homebuilts and kit airplanes and gave more attention to general aviation.

The paper reports that since Hightower's resignation, at least two of the managers he let go have returned to the organization. While no official timeline has been announced, the search for the next president is expected to begin quickly after AirVenture ends.

FMI: www.eaa.org