EAA Young Eagles Will Receive Logbook And Free Access To
Sporty’s Online Pilot Training Course
EAA and Sporty’s
Pilot Shop are promoting a new partnership to enhance the EAA
Young Eagles Program, a nationwide initiative that has used general
aviation to touch the lives of more than 1.4 million youths since
its inception in 1992. Through this partnership, young people
who receive an inspirational and educational introduction to
personal flight via the EAA Young Eagles Program will also receive
from Sporty’s the tools they’ll need to take the next
steps in pursuing their interest in aviation.
Upon completion of a flight with a Young Eagles volunteer pilot
— often the youth’s first time aboard a general
aviation aircraft — the youth will receive a logbook for
recording this and subsequent aviation experiences. The youth,
dubbed a “Young Eagle,” will also receive an access
code to the Sporty’s Online Complete Pilot Training Course.
Both the logbook and the entire flight training course will be free
of charge to Young Eagles.
“Our local chapters who fly 80,000 – 100,000 kids
every year have been asking for a way to follow up with those kids
who are inspired to further explore aviation,” said EAA
Chairman and President Tom Poberezny. “Sporty’s has now
opened the door of opportunity to those young people and, in so
doing, has demonstrated a commitment to cultivating the next
generation of aviation enthusiasts and achievers.”
According to Hal Shevers, founder and chairman of Sporty’s
Pilot Shop, this partnership sprung out of a desire to “move
Young Eagles from the right seat to the left seat,” and to
give the youths and their parents a clear direction for such an
achievement.
“How many parents know their child may take flying lessons
at any age? How many know their child may solo an airplane at just
16 years of age, and a glider at 14? And how many parents
understand the lifetime opportunities that open up for their
children through a passion for flight?” Shevers said. The
online training is designed to provide more than just a start, and
more than just ground school. “Our course guarantees that a
motivated student will pass the written, oral, and flight
tests,” Shevers said.
EAA’s Poberezny shares Shevers’ enthusiasm about the
prospects for inspired Young Eagles to move forward. “This
solid instructional program, combined with the encouragement and
mentoring that these young people will receive from the EAA
community, will give Young Eagles a boost in fulfilling their
aviation dreams,” Poberezny said.