General aviation industry leaders join together at EAA AirVenture
July 28, 2011, 03:49 pm
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture convention in Oshkosh, Wisconsin is annually attended by hundreds of thousands of aviation enthusiasts. A number of the most recognizable faces in the general aviation field joined together at the week-long convention to hold a roundtable discussion on industry issues.
Ed Bolen, president and CEO of the National Business Aviation Association, said "We are, in fact, all part of the general aviation community, and anything that affects one segment affects us all." He was joined on stage with industry leaders like Pete Bunce, president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association; the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) president, Craig Fuller; and Matthew Zuccaro, president of Helicopter Association International.
A wide array of issues were discussed, including the dwindling pilot population, the potential institution of user fees and privacy rights for personal aircraft. Rod Hightower, president of the EAA, said that his organization is preparing to help cultivate the next generation of aviators. Some 77,000 Young Eagles per year will receive financial support and mentoring from the EAA. A high number of student pilots, somewhere between 70 and 80 percent, never end up completing their training, Fuller said.
The AOPA reports that there were nearly 630,000 pilots in the United States in 2010. This number is expected to decline to roughly 619,000 in 2011. Most aviators across the country recognize the importance of pilot life insurance.
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