EAA Briefs Office Of Management And Budget
The Experimental Aircraft
Association continued the final push to make the new sport
pilot/light-sport aircraft regulations a reality on Wednesday,
April 28, as Earl Lawrence, EAA's Vice President of Government and
Industry Programs, briefed top officials of the federal Office of
Management and Budget in Washington (DC).
Lawrence told the OMB officials, which included Donald Arbuckle,
Deputy Administrator of Information and Regulatory Affairs, that
sport pilot is the right amount of regulation at the right moment
to benefit the general aviation industry.
Lawrence was joined by Phil Lockwood and Eric Tucker, members of
the light aircraft industry who, along with Lawrence, serve on the
ASTM International executive committee that is creating
manufacturing specifications for light-sport aircraft.
"This briefing was very productive for both sides," Lawrence
said. "OMB was particularly impressed at the support of the
aviation community for the sport pilot rule, as indicated by EAA's
petition that gathered more than 10,000 signatures and
Congressional backing in less than 10 days this month. It showed
how deeply sentiment runs in favor of this new rule among
aviators."
Lawrence delivered the remaining signatures collected on the
petition last weekend through the EAA web site, adding to the more
than 8,000 already forwarded to OMB by Congressional leaders late
last week.
EAA requested the meeting with OMB earlier this month and was
invited by the agency to present additional background on how the
rule would create opportunities for both individual pilots and the
aviation industry in general. Lawrence also offered OMB the
continuing support of EAA, which has spearheaded efforts to create
the sport pilot rule for more than a decade.
"I felt our briefing to OMB on Wednesday helped solidify the
opportunities presented by adoption of the rule," Lawrence
said. "We're glad EAA could support its members by reaching
top national policymakers to provide background and answer their
questions on sport pilot. This rule will promote aviation in
many new areas and prepare many people to enjoy flying as a
recreation."
The Federal Aviation Administration, which had pulled the sport
pilot proposal back from OMB late last month to clarify several
points, continues its discussions with OMB to finalize the
rule. Once finalized by OMB, the rule moves forward to final
publication.