Hightower Resigns as EAA President/CEO

[mikeno]

In my humble opinion Rod Hightower's priority was not with experimental aircraft or homebuilders or any of the things that made EAA the strongest aviation community in the world. The first indicator was a piece he wrote early in February 2012 and said if you hadn't flown formation or aerobatics you were not an aviator, only a pilot (this is not a personal attack Hal, read the article). That statement in and of itself probably excluded 75% of the membership from his elite club of "aviators". I knew when I read that article that Mr. Hightower was better suited to a tailored flightsuit with nary a single spot of oil or grease or mustard that us plain old pilots have.

[phavriluk]

Perhaps those of us who would applaud other departures from the organization and Sport Aviation in particular will have their hopes realized....

[kscessnadriver]

In my humble opinion Rod Hightower's priority was not with experimental aircraft or homebuilders or any of the things that made EAA the strongest aviation community in the world. The first indicator was a piece he wrote early in February 2012 and said if you hadn't flown formation or aerobatics you were not an aviator, only a pilot (this is not a personal attack Hal, read the article). That statement in and of itself probably excluded 75% of the membership from his elite club of "aviators". I knew when I read that article that Mr. Hightower was better suited to a tailored flightsuit with nary a single spot of oil or grease or mustard that us plain old pilots have.

So the simple act of not having an experimental plane or building one should exclude us from the EAA then, is what I'm reading between the lines. That's the number one reason I feel like EAA is trying to alienate a big portion of people, and a reason I'll have to strongly think about before renewing this winter.

[Kyle Boatright]

So the simple act of not having an experimental plane or building one should exclude us from the EAA then, is what I'm reading between the lines. That's the number one reason I feel like EAA is trying to alienate a big portion of people, and a reason I'll have to strongly think about before renewing this winter.

EAA was moving away from its core mission. That didn't go over well with the people who joined EAA because of its uniqueness. The analogy would be a football game where they cut the game to 20 minutes and had a 3 hour halftime. You participate in EAA because of the unique things it offers, just as you attend a football game (primarily) to see the game, not to watch the halftime activities.

[kscessnadriver]

EAA was moving away from its core mission. That didn't go over well with the people who joined EAA because of its uniqueness. The analogy would be a football game where they cut the game to 20 minutes and had a 3 hour halftime. You participate in EAA because of the unique things it offers, just as you attend a football game (primarily) to see the game, not to watch the halftime activities.

What is its core mission then? Because what people say is experimental is nothing like it was back when EAA started, best I can tell. People actually experimented, changed things, designed their own plane. Now its one company with more than 50% of the planes flying out there, built to cookie cutter specifications, often by for profit builders. How is that experimental, it isn't. It's circumventing the regulations, IMO.

The real problem, is there is a identity crisis with EAA, no clear mission. Make the mission clear and let the cards fall where they fall.

[martymayes]

So the simple act of not having an experimental plane or building one should exclude us from the EAA then, is what I'm reading between the lines.

Not sure what lines you are reading between but nowhere does EAA say they are limited to homebuilts. It's about grassroots aviation. Recently, it's been less about grassroots aviation and more about elitist.

[kscessnadriver]

Not sure what lines you are reading between but nowhere does EAA say they are limited to homebuilts. It's about grassroots aviation. Recently, it's been less about grassroots aviation and more about elitist.

First, all the people complain about certified stuff being here and there, and the high dollar contributors getting better perks. Then they go off about how EAA should go back to its roots, which is homebuilts. I think people forget that it takes money to run an organization, and if big sponsors get some perks to go along with large contributions, so be it. That's the way the world works. Aviation an elitist community. The idea that everyone can afford to fly and own an airplane is absurd. Its a middle to upper class activity. Always has been, always will be.

I see EAA at a crossroads, they can either do what they need to do to survive and potentially thrive. Or they can appease the old timers who want to go back to the "grass roots" of experimental, and let the organization die with the old timers. Which is it going to be?

[Bill]

I see EAA at a crossroads, they can either do what they need to do to survive and potentially thrive. Or they can appease the old timers who want to go back to the "grass roots" of experimental, and let the organization die with the old timers. Which is it going to be?

An example of Aristotelian logic at its worst. There are an infinite number of possibilities, each with its own probability, not two.

[kscessnadriver]

An example of Aristotelian logic at its worst. There are an infinite number of possibilities, each with its own probability, not two.

Not the way I see it. Young people simply don't get into flying, unless they do it for a career. Those who do it for a career generally don't want anything to do with GA, much less the EAA types. So, how do you propose keeping the organization alive, as the old timers pass on, with no new blood? Have to do something to get new, younger types involved and I feel that's the direction Hightower was going.

[martymayes]

Have to do something to get new, younger types involved and I feel that's the direction Hightower was going.

How many younger types joined EAA in the last year as a result of the new "direction?"