EAA Sport Aviation - April 2011

Creating
Aviators

How you can be involved

AS THE FLYING SEASON comes around again for many of us, it’s often a time when we think about what we plan to accomplish in our aviation lives during the upcoming season. For some it’s additional ratings;

others seek new and exciting destinations to experience, or perhaps some new equipment for the airplane or our pilot selves. All of these are worthwhile endeavors that become part of our personal journey through the aviation experience.

There is one experience I am asking you to seriously consider including in your “bucket list” this season, and that is to participate in creating aviators. And I dare say that it’s really all about you; you are the person who achieved the rare and privileged status of pilot.

Each of us had to balance the required
resources of time, money, and commitment to earn our pilot’s
certificate. Each of us had to find a way to experience flight for
the first time—either through someone’s invitation or our own
perseverance. That experience forever answered our curiosity about
what it would be like to fly. Once we flew, our lives were forever
changed; we would never again be earthbound.

The next step is sharing that gift—the excitement, passion, and joy
of flying that only aviators understand.
Young Eagles flights are a wonderful way for you to share this gift.

I am personally inviting you to become a Young Eagles pilot and join the other 45,000 EAA members who have made the commitment to carry forward the passion and inspire others to experience the joy of flying. In his column in the March issue, Tom Poberezny shared the significant success we’ve already seen with the Young Eagles program. This new flying season allows us to become even more engaged in this great program.

But I will offer fair warning to you, my fellow aviators: when you
become part of the special group of Young Eagles pilots, it’s suddenly
no longer about you. It’s about them. The young men and women
who are fortunate enough to have intersected with you for their first
ROD HIGHTOWER

COMMENTARY / TOWER FREQUENCY

flying experience may well be positively impacted for the rest of their lives. Some may choose to pursue aviation and could become pilots themselves and accomplish great things in aviation. Most others choose the earthbound life and go on to accomplish great things in many ways.

But all have experienced something
that will remain in their hearts and minds
forever…that feeling of three-dimensional
freedom found only in the sky.

So how about it, will you join the special
ranks of aviators-creating-aviators and
share the gift? If your answer is yes, then
here are the requirements and how you can
do it:
• You must be an EAA member (which
provides you with important liability
insurance).

• You must meet the FAA currency requirements for pilot and airplane, including having a current medical. Sport pilots, of course, only need to hold a valid driver’s license.

• You must have your Young Eagles registration forms ready for parents and fliers. Also, don’t forget the Flight Plan materials that inform parents and youth how they can take the next step to further their aviation experience.

If you are a first time Young Eagles pilot, we have a kit that provides all the forms and information you need to start flying. You can fly Young Eagles as part of an organized chapter event, often called Young Eagles rallies, or you can do so on your own time and schedule. Here are some EAA contacts should you need assistance on your journey to becoming a Young Eagles pilot.

• Visit www.EAA.org/calendar to locate
various chapter activities.
• At www.YoungEagles.org/volunteers,
you’ll find a wealth of information about
organizing a Young Eagles event.
• Questions? E-mail us:

YoungEagles@EAA.org.

I’ m looking forward to seeing you this summer at one of our Young Eagles events, and I hope you will experience the fun and satisfaction that comes from sharing the gift of flight with others.