Grassroots Group Picking Up Speed and Notoriety on a National Scale

The Experimental Aviation Association has passed a big milestone for the once niche aviation organization.

Begun in 1953 by a group wanting grassroots, enthusiastic support for aviation, the EAA has grown to over 250,000 members for the first time in history. The quarter of a million mark comes at the tail end of a bonanza over the last 5 years that saw group membership grow by 25%. 

In an address to EAA members, CEO and Chairman Jack J. Pelton celebrated how far the group has come. “EAA’s founder, Paul Poberezny, created a culture nearly 70 years ago where anyone who wished to enjoy the freedom of flight was welcome to participate, and our mission of growing participation in aviation has thrived under that vision. The dedication of EAA’s members, chapters, and staff have made it possible to grow the organization to new levels. I thank every EAA member who has contributed through the years and found value in being a member, as EAA began as a small group of builders and restorers but quickly grew into an organization that engages everyone who enjoys the world of flight.”

The EAA's growth has become part of a self-sustaining cycle, enabling increased niceties and benefits for membership that further entice new enthusiasts into the fold. Additions to programs geared towards its core aircraft builders, restorers, and pilots have increased safety and accessibility of personal aircraft, and efforts at addressing regulatory burdens and issues have borne fruit thanks to the group's interventions.

General aviation has faced a number of difficulties as it moves into the future, struggling to replenish its pilot stocks facing a wave of looming retirements, a never ending series of price increases in fuel and operations, and a large regulatory body that can intimidate prospective young members. The EAA has built chapters, projects, and programs to de-mystify light aviation for the next generation, ranging from introductory flight courses, to maintenance clinics to show off the myriad career opportunities in the industry. If the last few years are any indication, the EAA is just beginning.

More growth, a louder voice in the national scene, and expanding support could make today's announcement the start of a golden age. 

“General aviation has grown increasingly complex over the past 70 years, but EAA’s goal has been to find ways to break down the hurdles in as many places as possible to nurture that dream that has always been a part of human imagination – the desire to fly,” said Pelton. “We are eagerly anticipating where that dream takes us in the years to come, whether it’s through EAA chapters and programs, through the innovations of our members, or with partners who bring a combined strength that allows us to accomplish more than we could individually.”

FMI: www.eaa.org