Oshkosh, WI – U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, a member of the Senate’s Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, made the following remarks after learning of the long-term agreement reached between the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding the reimbursement fees levied against EAA for air traffic control services at last year’s AirVenture event, and the subsequent lawsuit filed in the 7^th Circuit. 

“I understand why EAA leadership felt they needed to reach a conclusion on this matter.  The stability this settlement brings going forward allows them to properly plan, budget and execute the world’s greatest general aviation event for several more years to come.   However, the circumstances that led to this point are an example of Washington’s dysfunction and of an administration that does not feel itself bound by laws that Congress has passed.

“From the beginning, I have maintained EAA participants already pay for the tower services they receive through the specific fuel tax revenue the AirVenture generates.  I look forward to working further with my colleagues on legislative efforts that began last summer.” 

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