During his opening remarks on Monday, July 22, Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) CEO Jack Pelton addressed key industry topics including unleaded fuel, MOSAIC, and FAA Reauthorization.
Pelton stated the association was stronger than ever with more than 300,000 members and highlighted the growth of the Young Eagles program, which has flown approximately 60,000 children per year. He also commended the pilots participating in the program, noting that 1,200 new pilots had joined the initiative.
Pelton mentioned that AirVenture attendance numbers are comparable to last year, while pre-sale numbers were 4% higher than in 2023. However, he noted that aircraft arrivals are slightly down from last year. According to the EAA, there were 1,700 aircraft arrivals at AirVenture by Monday morning, with several parking areas 80% full.