Our annual fly-in is fast approaching and the great old guy that used to help fly kids is rumored to have lost his medical. Sad day all the way around for him and the kids. Those wanting their young eagle stuff signed simply got sent with Jack since he was part of the program, this year we may not have one unless I can get signed up in the next 3 weeks. Where do I start? What's it like ? Anyone wish they hadn't?

Join the EAA if your not already a member. It's simple online. Young Eagles is an awesome program!! The look on the kids faces is priceless when you rotate!! It is one of those programs that does not take a ton of effort but the rewards are huge. If you are able to do it I highly encourage you to take charge and keep the program going. I took my first flight at 7 years old and it paved the way for a passion that has become my profession and life.

Thanks, didn't realize it was through EAA. Looks like you have to be a legal pilot and an EAA member. We've flown hundreds of kids but only the one old pilot could sign their logbooks, looks like it would be pretty easy for all of us to do it. How much is a membership?

Any pilot participating should be able to sign. They didn't check any of my documents. Check out YoungEagles.org for tons of info. EAA national membership is cheap.

I just flew a couple Young Eagles last week and it's a blast. The kids want pictures of the plane, them in the plane, them with you and the plane. It will get you excited about flying too.

Here is some online info on how to get involved: http://www.youngeagles.org/volunteers/volunteer.asp

svanarts wrote:I just flew a couple Young Eagles last week and it's a blast. The kids want pictures of the plane, them in the plane, them with you and the plane. It will get you excited about flying too.

Here is some online info on how to get involved: http://www.youngeagles.org/volunteers/volunteer.asp

You can get litrature from the above mentioned site, need a current medical, plane in annual, and insurance. Ages of kids 8-17 with a parents signed release. The site will give you pilot and kids information and forms. Been the Young Eagles coordinator for Chapter 608 at BFF for about 14 years. Any specific questions please PM me.

HIGHLY Rewarding for all involved... highly recommended. I swear the pilots get more out of it than the kids do. I did.

This is one of the most important things you can do, to make an immediate and far-reaching impact on aviation having a future when we're gone. And it WORKS. If aviation has any chance of a future, Young Eagles will be at the very root of it.

Our Chapter 40 has flown over 5000 kids. SEVERAL of them went on to join the Aviation Explorers, CAP, or just went forward and started taking lessons. Two or three are in AF/NAVY flight training right now. Another is getting right seat time on charters, towards a career in the corporate world. Most importantly, we have 5000 kids and 10,000 parents who look at aviation in a positive light, and will think twice before voting to shut down an airport.

As mentioned, EAA has managed to make it a fairly low-stress project from the pilot's point of view. Not too much paper, and only basic legal stuff (like an airplane in annual and a current pilot). I suggest having one or two people on the ground (pilots' wives/husbands, non-pilots, pilots whose airplane is not in annual) to provide some ground support for any "event" where numbers of kids are flying.

Got a briefing today from a local chapter leader. Signing up with the EAA tomorrow and ordering their release forms and sign up sheets. I flew 56 kids last year in 8 hours and I wasn't the the high score. Amazing how people in a small town turn out for an airplane ride.

Im also looking into this as I started an aviation club at a middle school I teach at. The club will include some rc model airplane and flights in due time. Is it a good idea to have the minimum insurance required to be eligible for EAA million dollar coverage. Any other liabilities to worry about? We live in that type of day and age.

What about your liability as a pilot if something bad happens. Will the parents be understanding? I am just asking. Maybe an insurance person should take us thru the worst case scenario.

flyer

EZFlap wrote:......Most importantly, we have 5000 kids and 10,000 parents who look at aviation in a positive light, and will think twice before voting to shut down an airport......

That's the most important aspect IMHO. Most kids will not follow through with aviation as a hobby or career, but they will look at aviation in a positive light, as will their parents. That's the next best thing.

AvidFlyer wrote: Any pilot participating should be able to sign. They didn't check any of my documents.......

IMHO this is a mistake. If ever there's a crash & it turns out the pilot wasn't legit-- no license, no medical, out of BFR, airplane out of annual-- it'll turn into a real black eye for the YE program. Ditto if some sort of child molester pilot diddles a kid during a YE event -- maybe unlikely, but the TV news just had a story about a school bus driver doing something like that, so who knows. And I'd think that bus drivers have to go through a background check.