EAA, Sporty’s Open Doors to Aviation for 40,000 Young Eagles
The Sporty’s course, which was first offered to all Young Eagles in 2009, allows young people to take the FAA sport, recreational, and private pilot ground school courses as part of furthering their education and interest in aviation.
“Sporty’s understands the Young Eagles mission and provides a way for kids and teens to explore aviation using the most up to date training technologies available today. This means that more than 40,000 young people have had the opportunity to pursue their dreams of flight,” said Brian O’Lena, EAA manager of Young Eagles.
The concept for the free online courses was developed with input from EAA pilots who had been flying Young Eagles. Those pilots reported that many of the young people wanted to discover more about aviation but lacked access to resources. The goal is to build the next generation of aviators and boost student pilot starts with a group already engaged through the Young Eagles program.
“There's no better way to ensure a robust aviation community than by attracting new young people to the pilot ranks,” said Sporty's President Michael Wolf. “Sporty's Learn to Fly online course in tandem with EAA's Young Eagles program provides a tangible and measurable way to achieve that goal.”
Young Eagles receive information on how to register and begin the Sporty’s courses immediately after their flights. The instructions and login information allow young people to get involved quickly.
What’s next? “Reaching more kids with these aviation opportunities, because all of us understand the urgency to get more people involved in flying,” O’Lena said. “The Young Eagles Program is celebrating its 25th anniversary year in 2017 and thanks to the support of Sporty’s, the most successful youth aviation program in history will continue well into the future.”
More information is available at www.EAA.org/YoungEagles.
