EAA Sport Aviation

Learn to
Fly Day
Successful!

WITH MORE THAN 40,000 PEOPLE and nearly 450 events nationwide, EAA’s inaugural International Learn to Fly Day on May 15 was a tremendous success. The initiative introduced thousands of people to general aviation, through flights in general aviation aircraft, ground school seminars, and meetings with pilots, instructors, and other aviation enthusiasts.

About 150 Learn to Fly Day events were organized by EAA chapters, like one hosted by Chapter 979 in Port Huron, Michigan. That included the largest scheduled event, at Sporty’s in Batavia, Ohio, held in conjunction with the annual Sporty’s Fly-In. Between 300 and 400 aircraft and an estimated 2,000 people attended.

“With participation from PilotJourney, AOPA, Cessna
and others, International Learn to Fly Day truly was an
industrywide effort aimed at a single goal: introducing
more people to aviation,” said EAA President Tom
Poberezny. “EAA and its members are committed to
providing pathways to participation so more people can
enjoy the freedom and fun of flying. With this kind of
enthusiastic beginning, it’s a great start to what we can
achieve in the future to open opportunities for more people
and build aviation.”
A survey conducted by PilotJourney.com showed 64
percent of respondents introduced to aviation during
International Learn to Fly Day plan to pursue flight
training within the next three months. PilotJourney also
reported it issued a total of 15,526 free tickets for seminar-
type events through its website.

The nation’s media also took notice, with 500
documented news stories about local events, along with
numerous social networking postings from Facebook,
Twitter, and similar websites.
Next year’s event will take place on May 21, 2011, and
that day—the third Wednesday in May—will continue
as International Learn to Fly Day thanks to a resolution
passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.