EAA Youth Protection Program Enforcement
By EAA Staff
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The EAA Youth Protection Policy has been in effect for 10 years and remains a requirement for providing Young Eagles flights. Over time, EAA has made small adjustments to the program to help volunteers more easily track and complete their renewals.
The EAA Youth Protection Policy has been in effect for 10 years and remains a requirement for providing Young Eagles flights. Over time, EAA has made small adjustments to the program to help volunteers more easily track and complete their renewals.
Most recently, the youth protection training and background check were combined into a single, streamlined process within the “Training Information” section of members’ EAA web profiles. This updated area is titled “EAA Youth Protection Program.” Volunteers must complete the training and submit the background check to finish the course.
Note — EAA has also done away with the character reference form, as Young Eagles volunteer pilots age 17 can now submit a background check. Ground volunteers under the age of 18 do not count as qualified adults to supervise youths, so there is no process for them to become Youth Protection Program approved.
Once the background check is approved, the youth protection training and background check will share the same expiration date. To align with standard aviation timelines, the expiration date is 36 calendar months from the date the background check is approved.
For example, if you complete the Youth Protection Course and submit your background check on March 5, 2026, and the background check is approved on March 10, 2026, your Youth Protection Program expiration date will be March 31, 2029.
The Young Eagles team will also be monitoring the automated renewal email series more closely to ensure volunteers receive timely reminders to renew their Youth Protection Program status.
Beginning June 2026, EAA will adopt a zero‑tolerance policy for pilots providing Young Eagles flights without current Youth Protection Program status. If a pilot flies a Young Eagle while not current, the youth will still receive credit for the flight, but neither the pilot nor the sponsoring chapter will receive credit. Even after the pilot renews, the flight will not be retroactively credited.
EAA’s Youth Protection Program is essential to the long‑term viability of Young Eagles. These requirements reflect industry‑standard practices for vetting adults who work with youths and help assure parents that their children are in safe, responsible hands when they take to the sky.
If you or your chapter have questions about the EAA Youth Protection Program, please contact us at youngeagles@eaa.org..