EAA will expand the Young Eagles program to include a version for adults. Rod Hightower, CEO and, as of today, Chairman of EAA, told about 25 members attending the organization’s annual general meeting on Saturday that the as-yet unnamed program will be directed toward the parents of kids in Young Eagles and at giving adults a Young Eagles-type experience. “I think we’re onto something that will be useful into the future,” he was quoted by the Oshkosh Northwestern as saying. Despite some challenges in 2010 after a rain-hampered AirVenture, EAA is on solid financial footing, the meeting was told.
According to the Northwestern’s report, revenue last year was $40.4 million, a 4 percent drop over the previous year. “It was a difficult AirVenture (2010) from a weather perspective, but it will not affect the organization’s long-term health or our ability to make valuable programming available to our members,” EAA Treasurer Eric Gurley said. EAA added $3.9 million in debt to fund site improvements last year. It has $54.5 million assets against $20.8 million in liabilities.
