EAA leader steps down
October 25, 2012, 03:22 pm
Rod Hightower recently announced that he will resign as Experimental Aircraft Association leader after being in charge of the Oshkosh, Wisconsin-based organization for the past few years. Hightower said the decision was made so he could spend more time with his family.
“Maura and I have five children ranging in age from pre-school to college freshman,” Hightower said. “When I accepted the position two years ago I believed that we could as a family relocate to the Oshkosh area. But our family and school involvement have increased as our children advance in the schools they, and we as their parents, love."
Hightower added that it would be too much of a "hardship" to relocate to the Oshkosh area.
Jack Pelton, former chairman, president and CEO of Cessna Aircraft, was elected chairman of the board of directors for the EAA and looks to provide leadership as the organization transitions through Hightower's resignation.
Pelton said that he will closely be working with the board of directors to provide a seamless transition, also thanking Hightower for his time at the company.
“EAA, as all of aviation, faces many challenges with the continuing economic slump and the decrease in personal aviation participation," Pelton said. "As an association we must remain focused on the original mission of our founder, Paul H. Poberezny, to welcome all members no matter what they fly, celebrate our volunteers and treat our employees fairly."
The EAA includes a wide variety of aviation interests and backgrounds with a growing membership base. The association was founded in 1953 to encourage a community of aviation enthusiasts interested in building their own aircraft. EAA builds, fixes and flies aircraft and has expanded since 1953; it now includes antiques, classics, warbirds, aerobatic aircraft, ultralights, helicopters, and contemporary manufactured aircraft.
EAA's AirVenture
Each year the EAA hosts AirVenture Oshkosh at the Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh. The event is the largest aviation event in the world and drew nearly 500,000 fans of aviation at this year's event.
Event-goers had the chance to experience more than 10,000 aircraft, including anything from home-built models to war-birds that flew in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
AirVenture also featured airshows each day and fireworks at night.
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