Attorneys Ronnie Gipson of Memphis, Tennessee, and Kathy Yodice of Potomac, Maryland, who are both pilots and have extensive experience in aviation law, have been named Chair and Vice-chair, respectively, of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Legal Advisory Council, a group of EAA-member attorneys who assist the organization and its members in a variety of aviation legal matters.
“Ronnie and Kathy each have the knowledge and skills that will allow EAA to continue serving our members in the ever more complex worlds of aviation law and legal matters that face those of us who fly,” said Sean Elliott, EAA’s vice president of advocacy and safety.
Gipson succeeds to the position after 10 years as a member on the Legal Advisory Council. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Memphis, where he advocates for general aviation issues through his scholarly work, which has been published worldwide in legal journals, and cited by Congress. As a lawyer, he represented aviation clients in FAA enforcement actions, accident/incident litigation, as well as purchase and sale transactions. Now, Gipson routinely gives webinars and presentations on issues critical to general aviation such as airport preservation; drone integration into the National Airspace System; and immunity for Designated Pilot Examiners.
Yodice is a well-known aviation attorney who has been representing aviation interests for more than 35 years, beginning in the FAA’s Office of Chief Counsel and now in private practice. Her experience also includes consulting, expert legal testimony, and lecturing on aviation legal issues. Yodice is a past president and current board member of the Lawyer-Pilot Bar Association and is a part-time lecturer at Kent State University’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering.
“Leading the EAA Legal Advisory Council is the perfect opportunity to bring together our passion and experience in the law to preserve and protect aviation for the next generation of pilots,” Gipson said. “EAA seeks to make aviation more accessible for all who want to participate and our role on the EAA Legal Advisory Council is to assist with policy to help provide pathways and clarity for those seeking to fly, build, and restore aircraft.”
Gipson succeeds Alan Farkas, who served as Chair of the council for the past 10 years. Farkas will remain as an active member of the council.
