Young Eagles comment

[rleffler]

Sorry you've had a bad experience with your chapter. Ours is always looking for pilots and usually sends out emails to all the "interested" pilots in advance.

Note however, you don't need to be working with a chapter to do YE rides. All you need is your little kit from the EAA and some kids.

This is correct with one caveat. You don't have the advantage of the EAA's umbrella insurance unless the YE event is registered in advance with national.

I would also second Ron's comment is that this is the exception rather than the rule. Don't let one guy whose communication skills suck defer you from your agenda. Show up to some meetings, get to know some of the other members. Then show up at the YE rally. I'm sure that they won't refuse an additional pilot. If they do, the chapter has other issues.

[somorris]

This is correct with one caveat. You don't have the advantage of the EAA's umbrella insurance unless the YE event is registered in advance with national.

Are you sure about this, Bob. I talked with EAA and my understanding was that as long as you meet the requirements (not the advance registration part) you were covered.

[Mike M]

Are you sure about this, Bob. I talked with EAA and my understanding was that as long as you meet the requirements (not the advance registration part) you were covered.

Ditto.

[FlyingRon]

The pilot is protected by the EAA insurance provided: he's an EAA (National) member, licensed/medical/current, has his own coverage of at least $100,000/SEAT, and has filled out the ye registration form (and carries it). The chapter insurance covers people helping on the ground during rallies. You must do this under the auspices of an EAA chapter to get coverage for the ground volunteers.

[WLIU]

To fly Young Eagles you can affiliate yourself with any type of chapter under the EAA umbrella. That means EAA, IAC, VAA, or Warbird Sq. The Young Eagles Coordinator for IAC Chapter 35 organized his events under the auspices of a local EAA chapter that ran out of energy and folded. Following that chapter's demise, Harlan had a conversation with me, as the IAC Chapter President at that time, and our IAC chapter became the official host of the events.

So if the EAA chapter in your immediate vicinity seems to be underachieving with their Young Eagles program, there may be another one of the EAA family of chapters a couple of miles away that is looking for pilots to participate. And I will note that each chapter has its own personality so you may find it worth your while to "shop around" to find the best fit for your interests.

Our experience in southern NH is that if we can recruit pilots, we can get kids to fill the seats. We are fortunate to have a larger local FBO host our Young Eagle days and we commonly have 12+ pilots who fly 80-100 kids. Harlan Loken, our Young Eagles coordinator reaches out to the local schools and other youth organizations. If he knows more pilots will show up, he reaches out to more organizations that have kids.

And if you find an IAC or VAA or Warbird chapter that does not have a Young Eagles Coordinator, well you can volunteer to organize their Young Eagles day(s). No smart chapter president turns down a volunteer.

And if an IAC chapter president doesn't think that kids want a Young Eagles ride in an acro ship, I can tell how otherwise impatient kids will line up, and let other kids go fly in Pipers and Cessnas, while they wait for a 1G ride in an Extra 300 or a Pitts Special. And my S-2A has an open front cockpit.

Best of luck, Merry Christmas,

Wes
N78PS

[GroupW]

Thanks for all the information. I've ordered supplies from the web site. It looks like there's adequate information on the web to figure out how to do it, and a number to call for questions. I'll feel a bit like I'm competing with the local chapter, but perhaps I'll be able to locate some young people who wouldn't otherwise be aware of the program. In any case, I'll be prepared if and when I do. I've given quite a few flights to young people in the past, and it'll be great to be able to offer the benefits of the YE program to encourage them to continue their experience.

[FlyingRon]

To fly Young Eagles you can affiliate yourself with any type of chapter under the EAA umbrella. That means EAA, IAC, VAA, or Warbird Sq.

No, to *FLY* Young Eagles you only need to be a member of the NATIONAL EAA (plus be otherwise legal: licensed, medical, current and have a legal aircraft).
Once again, there is NO REQUIREMENT to be a member of any CHAPTER to fly Young Eagles or be eligible for the insurance bump up (you just need to meet the above and have 100,000/seat limit already in place).

[Bill Greenwood]

"Group W" is that really your name? Anyway one thing you might do is contact a local scout chapter if there is one wherever you are. which you don't say.
In past years scouts used to have an aviation badge, then I think they got anti aviation after listening to legal cautions. Anyway, I was a scout leader when my Son David was that age, and we took all the kids flying in our Piper Cub, except one. We used a personal liability release and permission for all the parents to sign, and to my surprise every parent signed without objection. The only one out of a dozen who didn't go was one boy who was frightened on his own and opted out.

One key point, is that while we invited the whole troop, we did not call it an official scout event so as to avoid any question of liabllity for scouting, it was just a private event.

Of course, you will only fly if the weather is excellent and your safest possible route etc. It is almost imperative to have one or more parents to be a helper and organizer on the ground while you do the flying. And be MOST CAREFUL AROUND PROPS, no loading or even getting near the plane when the prop is turning, and no dumb photos of a kid standing in the prop arc!!!!!

Good luck

[WLIU]

There is still a Scouting merit badge for aviation, but I understand that they have made it hard to fly Scouts as a Scouting event. So we have Scouts come to a Young Eagles day so that they can fulfill the requirements for their merit badge. And that supports two organizations at once.

Best of luck,

Wes
N78PS

[PaulDow]

... and has filled out the ye registration form (and carries it)...

An issue that will hopefully never be needed is that I would recommend not taking the completed registration & liability waiver form with you on the flight. If it's ever actually needed, it could easily get lost or damaged during an incident.