Chapter Recognition Program Update 2026
By EAA Staff
March 2026 – EAA chapters have always been one of the most vital components in making general aviation fun, affordable, and accessible at the local level. To recognize chapters that have demonstrated outstanding commitment to general aviation, EAA uses the Chapter Recognition program. Beginning now in 2026, adjustments to the EAA Chapter Recognition program are in place, and we want to share these with you.
Traditionally, the recognition program has been based off 10 criteria and extra credit opportunities that have shown to correlate with active and engaged chapters. Beginning in the 2026 season, two of the traditional recognition criteria are being sunsetted, resulting in having only eight criteria instead of 10. The scoring method is also getting updated.
Let’s break this down. Notice that two of the traditional criteria are now crossed off the list in the 2026 season.
- Attends a chapter leadership training session
- Growing or steady membership
- Offers IMC or VMC Club programs
- Participates in Young Eagle or Flying Start programs
- Has EAA-approved Flight Advisor or Technical Counselor
Participates in EAA's Annual Chapter Member survey- Participates in Young Eagles Build and Fly, Young Eagles Workshops, sends a youth to the EAA’s Air Academy, or has a Ray Aviation scholar pass their checkride
Requests an EAA ChapterBlast email- Hosts at least two public events each year
- Owns/leases a facility
- Up to three extra credit activity points, such as a chapter build project, youth build project, chapter scholarship (separate from the Ray Aviation Scholarship), a chapter tool crib, IAC competition, etc.
EAA believes that helping chapters understand how their members want to engage in their chapter is healthy, and EAA recognizes the challenges to encourage chapter members to complete any survey. Although the annual survey results will not be used in chapter recognition, EAA will likely continue to offer chapter members the annual survey, however perhaps every other year. More to come on that front.
EAA also recognizes that the use of the EAA ChapterBlast program correlates to chapter activity (remember, activity = success); however, not all chapters need to use this handy tool. For these reasons, these two criteria are now removed beginning in the 2026 season.
Let’s take a look at the point system beginning in 2026.
A total of five (5) recognition points = Bronze Level Status
A total of six (6) recognition points = Silver Level Status
A total of seven or more (7+) recognition points = Gold Level Status
As traditional, chapters do not have to have their own chapter hangar/chapter facility to earn gold. Previously, nine points out 10 earned a chapter gold; moving forward, seven points out of eight earns a chapter gold. Don’t forget, chapters can earn up to three additional extra credit points to ensure their hard work is being recognized.
What Is Extra Credit?
Chapters have the opportunity to seek out extra credit by sharing their activities to EAA that “help bring more people to the chapter” and provide “value-added programming” to the chapter. The incentive for extra credit is for chapters to host activities, programs, and events that bring new members to the chapter. Some of the excellent activities provided by chapters include hosting ground school, youth career day, aircraft build or restoration project, youth day camps, and more.
How to Apply for Extra Credit Annually
The monthly EAA ChapterGram newsletter and monthly Chapter Video Magazine are the key resources to follow to learn about important chapter information from EAA HQ. Toward end of the calendar year, online links are provided in these communications to participate in extra credit submittals.
How Does EAA Know What Our Chapters Are Doing?
The criteria selected for the Chapter Recognition program truly correlates to healthy and active EAA chapters. Using EAA Chapter Insurance requests, Young Eagles program data, EAA youth programs data, chapter leadership training records, and more, EAA has insight into the correlated activities. The only homework for a chapter is to apply for extra credit points. Keep in mind, chapters can earn a gold level status without submitting for extra credit, but extra credit certainly helps.
Having a healthy EAA chapter brings value, people, and relevancy to your local chapter. Chapters reaching recognition status levels receive physical and virtual recognition. Virtual recognition in the form of electronic badges to be used as desired on chapter gear, newsletters, promotional materials, website, and the like.
Physical recognition is by way of an EAA-provided vinyl banner displaying the year and recognition level status of the chapter. The banners are personalized with the chapter number, name, and state.
Will These Updates Affect Our 2025 Recognition Status?
The traditional Chapter Recognition program will remain unchanged through 2025, meaning the traditional 1-10-point system will be used when recognizing the 2025 program results and reporting these out in early 2026.
Beginning in 2026, chapters will no longer need to secure the Member Survey or the ChapterBlast criteria to earn recognition points. The results of 2026 will be tallied at year end of 2026 and reported in early 2027.
