First off, the digital edition of the October issue of EAA Sport Aviation magazine is live now - click the EAA Members Only tab for the link.
Second ... you'll notice a big announcement about our magazines and their future. Here's the article - please comment on this thread to let us know what you think!
We Asked, You Responded, and You’ll Benefit!
Important news about your EAA publications
Beginning with the January 2010 issue, EAA Sport Aviation will take a bold, fresh approach in delivering the aviation news, features, and information you seek.
This direction is based on a major feedback initiative that’s been underway since March 2008. Each month we have randomly sampled 8,000 members, asking them to rank and comment on the latest edition of Sport Aviation and/or Sport Pilot & Light-Sport Aircraft magazines. Over an 18-month period, 144,000 members were contacted, with more than 25,000 responses received.
Your ratings and comments have been an invaluable resource in planning an exciting future for Sport Aviation, one that meets the needs and interests of the diverse EAA membership.
It has become increasingly clear that a single, broader publication will better serve the sport pilot/light-sport aircraft commuity and EAA members in general. Accordingly, EAA Sport Pilot and Light-Sport Aircraft will cease publication with the December 2009 issue, and coverage of the ultralight and sport pilot communities will merge into a larger format EAA Sport Aviation, beginning with the January 2010 issue.
So what can you expect? The first thing you’ll notice is an attractive new format with an easy-to-read presentation, plus greater emphasis on informative graphics and EAA’s award-winning photography. But the real difference will be in the overall content. While we’ll be keeping the most popular elements of the current magazine, you can expect some significant changes, too!
One message came across loud and clear from your survey responses: EAAers are practical people. While that’s obviously the case with homebuilders and restorers, it also applies to the many pilots and aviation enthusiasts in our ranks. We heard that you want to read more about how to improve your flying skills, maintain your aircraft, and increase your aviation participation.
Accordingly, the publication will be embracing a more “How do I?” focus. We’re lining up some exciting new features, writers, and illustrators. Additionally, we’ll address a number of themes that members have told us are important—innovation, affordability, and the spirit of community that is the essence of EAA.
Sport Aviation will become the single “flagship” publication that represents the whole range of aviation activities and interests within the EAA community. The magazine will be noticeably bigger with the extra space accommodating the phase-out of Sport Pilot. (One of the most frequent comments in your survey responses was frustration with the great deal of duplicated content between the two magazines.)
While the role of Sport Aviation is to represent the full breadth of member interests, we understand that many members have a burning passion for a particular segment of aviation and can’t get enough information about it. That’s where EAA’s other communication resources will expand upon magazine content and help you dig deeper into your area of interest. Homebuilding is a great example. In the past year we’ve created the Hints for Homebuilders video series and a new monthly electronic newsletter, Experimenter. Each has attracted a large audience and enthusiastic feedback, and there’s much more yet to come in this area. We’ll offer similar products for the other special interest groups, too.
As we prepare to introduce you to the improved Sport Aviation, we’d like to thank the thousands of members who’ve taken the time to respond in depth to our surveys. Your comments will help us make Sport Aviation better, and we promise to keep listening.
For more specifics, visit our FAQ page.