Young Eagles Pilots and Chapter Coordinators Update

March  2022 – After a long winter, the calendar has finally flipped to March, which means that spring flying season is finally upon us. In fact, looking at the seven-day forecast here in Oshkosh, I count three days with highs in the 40s and one with the high reaching the lower 50s. Time to pull out the Cub and pop open the door — okay maybe we aren’t quite to that point here in the upper Midwest. However, March does mark an important month in the annual Young Eagles planning calendar.

For many of you chapter coordinators and volunteer pilots south of the 35th parallel, March and April are two of the prime months for flying Young Eagles. The increase in flights thanks to those that enjoy great flying weather also means that chapters in northern latitudes are in the thick of planning their first Young Eagles rallies of the year. Here at EAA HQ we are preparing to process more Young Eagles flights, and are ensuring that all of our resources are in line to help all of you plan and manage successful Young Eagles events.

In anticipation of peak flying season and International Young Eagles Day on June 11, the EAA Young Eagles webpage has been completely overhauled. While there are a number of new Young Eagles resources, all of the resources you have come to know and love are still available, but the site has been reorganized for simplified navigation. A number of minor edits are yet to come, but here are some of the major changes you will see.

• Consolidation of the Young Eagles homepage
• New page containing Information for Parents webpage
• Detailed page describing the Young Eagles Flight Plan
• Restructure of the Young Eagles Volunteers page, which is now broken into subsections
• New page dedicated to the Young Eagles Digital Signature iPad App

To provide an additional level of planning support, I will be hosting an EAA webinar in advance of International Young Eagles Day. During this webinar, I will discuss rally planning best practices, how to utilize Young Eagles online registration, integrating the new digital signature app, and how to maximize the Young Eagles flight experience.

Planning for International Young Eagles Day | April 21, 7 PM CDT | Register Now!

In addition to the number of new online resources EAA has developed, volunteers are also encouraged to download the Young Eagles Handbook. This handbook covers the entire Young Eagles program including volunteer requirements, volunteer recognition, Young Eagles rally planning, and so much more!  

So, as the frost begins to thaw here in the north, and peak flying season is enjoyed down south, I hope you are in the midst of planning and managing successful Young Eagles activities. As always, the team here in Oshkosh is here to support your effort. You can reach us at YEagles@eaa.org or 800-564-6322.

Tailwinds,

David Leiting, EAA Lifetime 579157
Eagles Program Manager