Five Tips for Improving the Young Eagles Flight Experience— Part 5 of 5

March 2022 – Young Eagles rallies are often a marquee event for EAA chapters. Some chapters host one or two large rallies per year, flying between 50 and 100 youths, while others host these events monthly and cap the number of flights at 20 or 30 participants. No matter the size of the event, chapter leaders spend significant time on planning the event. What the facility set-up will look like, who will be volunteering to check in youth or park aircraft, and sometimes even what food will be served are considerations. All of this planning is critical to a successful Young Eagles rally.

Despite all this planning, how often are best practices shared for providing the best possible flight experience? The better the experience, the more likely the youth is to latch on to an interest in aviation. After all, the world’s best pancakes are no good if the proceeding flight isn’t enjoyable.

Here are five surefire tips for improving the Young Eagles fight experience at your chapter’s next rally. 

Five Tips for Improving the Young Eagles flight experience:

1. Fly One Young Eagle at a Time
2. Involve the Young Eagle in the Aircraft Walk Around
3. Provide a Thorough Passenger Briefing
4. Narrate the Flight
5. Review the Young Eagles Flight Plan

After exiting the aircraft and returning to the hangar/terminal, now is the pilot’s chance to fill out the Young Eagles logbook and certificate. When delivering the logbook, it is critical to go over the Young Eagles Flight Plan. Following the Young Eagles Flight Plan will help Young Eagles maximize this experience.

The Young Eagles Flight Plan is laid out in five simple steps.

Step 1. Take a Young Eagles Flight
• The chapter volunteer pilot has already completed the first step of the flight plan.

Step 2. Redeem a FREE EAA Student Membership *
• Student members receive all the same membership benefits as regular EAA members, including a free AMA student membership, access to a FREE AeroEducate account, as well as FREE access to the Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course.

Step 3. Activate FREE AeroEducate Account *
• AeroEducate is EAA’s newest youth initiative that provides a clear pathway for aviation involvement, which will lead to a career or lifelong hobby in aviation. Activities for youth are computer-based, chapter-based, and classroom-based. Learn more at AeroEducate.org.

Step 4. Take the Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course for FREE *
• Young Eagles receive free access to this course, which is valued at $279. The entire course is designed to teach users what they need to know to learn to fly and pass the FAA Knowledge Exam. Following completion of the course, users can receive their endorsement for the FAA Knowledge Exam. As an added bonus for Young Eagles, EAA will reimburse them for the cost of the FAA Knowledge Exam after they pass, if they also passed the Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course.

Step 5. Get a FREE First Flight Lesson
• Once Young Eagles have completed the first three volumes of the Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course, they will qualify for a free flight lesson voucher valued at $130. EAA will contact the Young Eagles as soon as they qualify.
* Steps 2, 3, and 4 can be completed by following one of two available methods:
Option A. When a youth is registered for a flight via YoungEaglesDay.org, there is an option to opt in for a student membership, AeroEducate, and FREE access to Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course.
Option B. If a student did not opt in while registering on YoungEaglesDay.org or a paper sign-up was used, Young Eagles can visit YoungEagles.org/Join and enter the code from the back of their Young Eagles logbook. This code will also activate their AeroEdcuate account as well as their FREE Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course.

For more information on the Young Eagles program visit EAA.org/YoungEagles.