Volume 15, No. 1

GREETINGS
It's been a long winter for many of us, and looking ahead to planning Young Eagles activities for 2011 is a sure sign that spring is coming. For those who are new to the role of Young Eagles coordinator, welcome! This publication provides quarterly updates and tips for making your job as coordinator easier. By the way, if you're no longer active in this role, please let me know so we can update our records. Thank you for volunteering to be the leader and resource person for the Young Eagles program in your area. I look forward to a great year and working with both new and returning coordinators.

YOUNG EAGLES PILOT CREDITS
The Young Eagles Pilot Credits are again valued at $5. Pilots who fly and register at least 10 Young Eagles in a calendar year earn credits that can be used to help offset the cost of sending a camper to an Air Academy session or to support your local Young Eagles outreach efforts. For more details, click here. This year's credits have been mailed to each chapter coordinator. If you haven't received your credit letter by now, please contact our office. 

COORDINATOR INFORMATION
We're working on updating the Chapter Coordinator CD for 2011. It contains all the information necessary to support your chapter's Young Eagles program. The CD will give you instant access to the updated Young Eagles materials, and in some cases, the ability to customize the information for your specific needs (such as the news release). You can also access the resources on our website.

IYED 2011 - CALENDAR REMINDER
The 18th International Young Eagles Day is June 11, 2011. Annually, we set aside one day to encourage all EAA chapters and members to participate in the program. If you haven't already done so, start planning your event now. If you need some help getting started, browse through the Flight Rally Planner. Don't forget to file your event insurance request and list it on EAA's Calendar of Events.

YOUNG EAGLES EVENTS
There are two important items that need to be confirmed prior to the Young Eagles flight.

1) Make certain the pilot is a current EAA member. If not, you can call EAA the day of the rally and make them a member. 
2) The Young Eagles registration form should be reviewed prior to the flight to make certain the child isn't over 17. Our liability waiver is for minors, not adults, and a nonqualifying flight will not be recorded as a Young Eagles flight.

It's also important for your Young Eagles to have the latest information on the steps they can take to continue their interest in aviation. Don't sell them short-make sure you're using the latest materials and please send the old forms to the recycle bin. Order online here.

If any of your chapter's pilots fly at times other than scheduled events, please make sure they have the updated materials as well.

The results emerged from a joint EAA/FAA project that matched the names of Young Eagles flown, now ages 15 to 34, since the program's inception in July 1992 with the FAA registry. EAA Chairman Tom Poberezny announced the figures in his "Position Report" column published in the March edition of EAA Sport Aviation magazine.

"Since the Young Eagles program began, it has become the most successful youth aviation education program in history," said Tom, who flew the first Young Eagles at EAA Oshkosh 1992. "Now with nearly 20 years of flights by EAA member pilots, the numbers show that Young Eagles is making an impact on the pilot population that is unmatched by any other single program."

One of the most remarkable findings is that more than 1.1 million Young Eagles who are now ages 15 to 34 are 5.4 times more likely to earn a pilot certificate than those of the same age who haven't had a Young Eagles flight. Already, 7.3 percent of all pilots below age 35 are former Young Eagles, a number that will grow as the group reaches the age-late 30s to early 50s-when their participation in aviation accelerates.

Among the facts found in the preliminary research:

• 9 percent of those pilots are female, a 50 percent difference when compared to females being just six percent of the current U.S. pilot population.
• Two out of every 100 young people who take their first Young Eagles flight at age 17 earn pilot certificates. The older a Young Eagle is at the time of a first flight, the more likely that young person will become a pilot. Young Eagles ages 13 and up are especially more likely to pursue a pilot certificate.
• The more flights that a Young Eagle takes, the more likely that young person will become a pilot. The research was conducted by EAA and FAA beginning in September 2010, and reviewed by Grant Thornton, a leading national accounting and auditing firm.

"More young men and women are becoming pilots at an early age because of Young Eagles, so they will have a longer and greater impact on aviation," Tom said. "Everyone involved in this program can be very proud of the results. More importantly, these results build excitement for what is yet to come to welcome the next generation of aviators through Young Eagles and other EAA programs."

Those programs include EAA's Flight Plan for young people, encompassing Sporty's Complete Pilot Training Course-online and free of charge-that has already been accessed by more than 6,000 Young Eagles in just two years, as well as EAA student memberships available to all Young Eagles at no cost.

• Chapter Coordinator
• Field Representative
• Ground Support Volunteer
• Young Eagles Humanitarian (presented for efforts to reach special needs Young Eagles)
• Young Eagles Horizon (recognizing efforts to go beyond the basic Young Eagles flight).

The nomination period is open through May 30, 2011. Nomination materials should include detailed descriptions of the nominee's accomplishments, any relevant background information, and letters of recommendation from fellow EAA members. The 2011 awards will be presented in a special ceremony held during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh at the museum's Eagle Hangar on Wednesday, July 27, 2011. You can download the official nomination form here.

MICHELLE'S THOUGHTS
I'm currently training at the local Library for Literacy as a tutor. I believe it's good to volunteer for something you're passionate about - like Young Eagles. As we were introducing ourselves at the library, I explained that I work at EAA in the Young Eagles program. Our instructor very excitedly told all about the wonderful experience both of her sons had on their Young Eagles flights. I couldn't help but think, with all the unrest in our world today, how blessed I am to be involved with people who give unselfishly to create these wonderful memories.

You may not always see the impact you're making today, but I guarantee it will come back to you. Thank you for being such an encouragement and showing such dedication to the success of the Young Eagles program.

May this year be a fantastic year for you, and if I can be of any assistance, please contact me: e-mail, 877-806-8902, or P.O. Box 2683, Oshkosh, WI 54903.

Take care,

Michelle Kunes
Young Eagles Program Administrator