Young Eagles and Background Security Checks

[Eric Cernjar]

I love the Young Eagles Program, have participated in MANY Young Eagles events but am witnessing its agonizing death.
Eric, is Jack Pelton too far in the ozone to field questions and reply on THIS forum? Have found Jack to be VERY approachable. Yet, his participation here is deafening. Is he reading and is he aware of this forum? What would Paul do facing similar?

The webinar... will Jack Pelton participate and will questions be fielded?

I'd agree that Jack is a very approachable person. In fact I just saw him at last night's chapter meeting in Oshkosh and he seems to enjoy hanging out with members. He is absolutely aware of the forums and the overall sentiment of the membership, and as we have said earlier the adjustments to the program have been a direct result of communications we have received both from the forums and through other venues.

On the webinar, I am not sure if Jack will participate but I do know we have two senior leaders of the staff moderating the event, Rick Larsen and Bret Steffen. Yes, questions will be fielded during this webinar and I do strongly encourage all who have questions and concerns to participate.

Thanks again,
Eric

[Eric Cernjar]

EAA how about answering just this one question. What protection is there in this for the pilots and volunteers?

This is another one I'd strongly recommend asking during the webinar. In short I'd say it largely depends on the circumstances.

[Yooper Rocketman]

I'd highly recommend attending the webinar on Monday night. Some of these questions will be addressed, and additionally you have the ability to ask questions.

Generally speaking, I do not feel you are at a financial risk going through this process. You aren't providing a social security number, a credit card number, or any other information that could be used to harm your credit. Typically hackers are going after private and valuable information, not mailing address information. That said, if you can demonstrate that you were harmed due to this background check, yes there is insurance in place.

I will be leaving for vacation tomorrow, so likely will not have access to the webinar. This is my first post, as I just found out about this blog last Saturday at our monthly chapter meeting. I read all 71 pages of posts yesterday before making this first post. I am the President of EAA Chapter 439 out of Iron Mountain, MI (in the U.P.), and have been for about 15 years, and have flown around 300 YE's. I can't say how disappointed I was in, not only the program but, the implementation. Being a trusting (and clearly now, a naive) person, I reluctantly did the training and registered for the background check. I DID question national on why background checks for other organizations wasn't considered (I am a nationally registered USSF soccer ref, and also do high school soccer). I can't imagine the thoughts of someone in law enforcement or child education being subjected to this absurd policy. My response back was about as terse as it gets. My thoughts at the time; this is a member organization?

About two weeks after my registration I get a letter from the IRS, questioning the refund I applied for. Well, we owe a substantial check to them this year, and had not even sent in our tax return yet. This is the second year in a row someone has tried to get a refund on our account. We expected this year to be different, since the "IRS had purchased us one year of 'identity protection' because of last year's issue". Our CPA could NOT complete our tax return last week on line, as there is now a security block on our account. We also have had several issues changing or opening accounts this past year, even though we have not one cent of debt. My SSN has now been sent across two (or three or four) business computer systems (and is stored securely where?) because EAA management did not heed the advice of several members during the review of the program before implementing it. It was only after reading this blog that it occurred to me I have never surrendered my SSN on the 6-8 background checks I have agreed to previously.

I am the president of three different non-profit, 501C3 aviation organizations, and just gave up that position on a fourth (soccer club). I also own and run an 8 figure per year truck dealership. I would NEVER implement something like this without a ton more input in my own company, none alone with a non-profit member organization. The totality of the impact of this policy will probably not be realized for a few years, but have no doubt, this will seriously impact our program for kids, at a time when virtually every youth program in this country is struggling with declining numbers. Several have said, what would Paul think? I have to ask, why wasn't this done while Paul was alive. I think we all know the answer to that.

Although I have completed the registration, I can't say what our chapter will do. I believe once chapters review the logistics of continuing YE Flights, the reality of this program will cause a considerable percentage of chapters to discontinue supporting the program (as evidenced by the 70 pages of prior posts to mine). Don't be fooled into a false sense of how many have registered being an indication of how many support this program, and will continue to fly YE's. As the restrictions become an actual reality and are part of Chapter YE events, we will have a some comply with every aspect, some just ignore it, and others throw in the towel. As a chapter leader, I will be open minded but we will not ignore the policies. I seriously doubt we will get enough pilots and volunteers to complete the YPP. I can't continue this program without volunteers, and you just made a really big challenge a whole lot tougher.

I don't have access to our chapter YE pilot numbers, as I haven't apparently ever registered. If someone from national is reading this, I would be interested in knowing how many Young Eagles Chapter 439 has provided since inception?

Tom Sullivan
EAA Chapter 439 President
EAA # 410923

[Eric Cernjar]

Tom I emailed you directly, thank you for your feedback.

[ssmdive]

I'd highly recommend attending the webinar on Monday night. Some of these questions will be addressed, and additionally you have the ability to ask questions.

Generally speaking, I do not feel you are at a financial risk going through this process. You aren't providing a social security number, a credit card number, or any other information that could be used to harm your credit. Typically hackers are going after private and valuable information, not mailing address information. That said, if you can demonstrate that you were harmed due to this background check, yes there is insurance in place.

The point is my email was ignored. So your claim that HQ answered questions asked was FALSE. Took 2 months and finally you gave me half an answer.

As for me wasting more of my time so I can volunteer on your program - Not a chance. I am done with YE before I got started. You don't seem to get the grasp of the issue. I PAY to be an EAA member. You want me to follow stupid rules and stupid procedures so I can DONATE my time and money to work inside your program? You don't pay for my fuel. You are not helping pay for my maintenance. You are not doing anything but providing me an event. You want me to expose myself to lawsuits in the case of an accident and sexual abuse claims. Now you want me to jump through more hoops so I can donate my time and money to participate in your program? And you want me to waste my time attending meetings so you can explain your excuses on why the program was so badly laid out and implemented?

This program was not set up to protect me, the PILOT, it was not set up to protect the chapter. It was set up only to protect the EAA HQ that seems only interested in putting on an airshow every year.

So give me ONE reason why I should participate in YE? If you are going to say to give back or get kids involved... Why in do I need the EAA to take someone flying when all the EAA has done is put barriers in my way? My logbook shows that I took 11 people flying for the first time in a GA aircraft last year. I did acro with several of them (which I can't do in a YE flight).

https://youtu.be/FrAVODhWCps

So how exactly is the EAA going to help me for all the BS you want me to go through? Basic aggravation vs benefit here... What good is YE to me, why should I jump through all your hoops? All this is only to protect the EAA, no one else. Where is the benefit to ME?

If I didn't have to be an EAA member to be an IAC member there is no way I would pay you so you can boss me around when I try to volunteer my time and money. It has become abundantly clear that the EAA cares only about protecting itself here and it only really cares about an airshow anymore and not the MEMBERSHIP.

[Eric Cernjar]

The point is my email was ignored. So your claim that HQ answered questions asked was FALSE. Took 2 months and finally you gave me half an answer.

As for me wasting more of my time so I can volunteer on your program - Not a chance. I am done with YE before I got started. You don't seem to get the grasp of the issue. I PAY to be an EAA member. You want me to follow stupid rules and stupid procedures so I can DONATE my time and money to work inside your program? You don't pay for my fuel. You are not helping pay for my maintenance. You are not doing anything but providing me an event. You want me to expose myself to lawsuits in the case of an accident and sexual abuse claims. Now you want me to jump through more hoops so I can donate my time and money to participate in your program? And you want me to waste my time attending meetings so you can explain your excuses on why the program was so badly laid out and implemented?

This program was not set up to protect me, the PILOT, it was not set up to protect the chapter. It was set up only to protect the EAA HQ that seems only interested in putting on an airshow every year.

So give me ONE reason why I should participate in YE? If you are going to say to give back or get kids involved... Why in do I need the EAA to take someone flying when all the EAA has done is put barriers in my way? My logbook shows that I took 11 people flying for the first time in a GA aircraft last year. I did acro with several of them (which I can't do in a YE flight).

https://youtu.be/FrAVODhWCps

So how exactly is the EAA going to help me for all the BS you want me to go through? Basic aggravation vs benefit here... What good is YE to me, why should I jump through all your hoops? All this is only to protect the EAA, no one else. Where is the benefit to ME?

If I didn't have to be an EAA member to be an IAC member there is no way I would pay you so you can boss me around when I try to volunteer my time and money. It has become abundantly clear that the EAA cares only about protecting itself here and it only really cares about an airshow anymore and not the MEMBERSHIP.

While I strongly disagree with your last statement, at the end of the day we very much appreciate everything you have done for general aviation and the young eagles program. As you have said, it seems that the YE program isn’t a great fit for you. Regardless of your future participation in the YE program, we are thankful that you continue to share the spirit of aviation with the pilots of tomorrow.

Thanks again,
Eric

[Bob H]

Eric C;
Can the pilot integrity check be presented to the YE membership as an EAA insurance policy to protect pilots should they be accused of some bad behavior? If it were part of a pilot protection program, it might be more palatable to YE pilots.
Bob H

[Eric Cernjar]

Eric C;
Can the pilot integrity check be presented to the YE membership as an EAA insurance policy to protect pilots should they be accused of some bad behavior? If it were part of a pilot protection program, it might be more palatable to YE pilots.
Bob H

Hi Bob,

I want to be honest here and feel it would be disingenuous to give your question a blanket 'yes'. There are times where we are able to protect our chapters and members but it really depends on the circumstances in question. I know that's not the answer you're looking for but I don't want to mislead you. The goal is primarily for youth protection and any services we can offer for pilots/chapters depend on the situation.

If you have further questions on this I do think it would be worth your time to attend the webinar on monday night

[vettdvr]

Ok let me think about this as a pilot. I pay for the plane, insurance, physicals, insurance, maintenance and EAA trust me with the lives of under 18 people. Now you want a background check. It would seem that statistically given the number of pilots day time flying with parents present or guardians that interest in my training to fly would be more important than background checks. Granter the world has thrown out the ten commandments and therefore the only guiding light is criminal law in this case for attorneys to prosecute. After much consideration I have decided to no longer do background checks. I have done this one for YE and when it expires I will no longer take the risk unless Identity protection is provided by EAA to cover my financial risk.

[Jkan]

Hi Bob, ...................................

The goal is primarily for youth protection and any services we can offer for pilots/chapters depend on the situation.
..............................................

Headquarters must protect youth from all the perverts out there who are flying young eagles. WHAT A CROCK. For your information, Eric, there are no, nor have there ever been, any problems with child abuse from Y. E. pilots. It becomes increasingly embarrassing to associate with a group of individuals as we have in upper management at EAA. The longer they try to protect this failed program, the deeper the whole they are digging. It seems clear, that this program is to protect EAA, however the Young Eagles pilots, ground workers, and volunteers are taking the rap.