Av Opportunities For Young, Aspiring Pilots Options

[SF3aviatrix]

Many members of this forum are aspiring pilots and would love to begin flight training but do not have the financial means necessary. This topic is for you.

Opportunities for Teens in the USA
The Aviation Explorer Scouts or the Civil Air Patrol. Both will get teens into the world of aviation and the cost will be minimal. Members may even find reduced cost flight training when they are ready to start.

Aviation Exploring is a youth development program centered around aviation careers. Member benefits:

• Take orientation flights in military transports, helicopters, gliders, or single-engine general aviation aircraft
• Visit Air Force bases, aviation museums, air shows, or FAA facilities
• Learn to preflight an aircraft
• Take pilot training ground school classes

They also offer scholarships for those on the aviation career track. http://www.aviationexploring.org/

The Civil Air Patrol offers cadets the chance to take orientation flights in powered and glider aircraft at no cost to them. Paired with an experienced CAP volunteer pilot, cadets help preflight the aircraft, observe takeoff procedures and while aloft actually manipulate the controls and perform basic flight maneuvers. The program also enables cadets to learn about meteorology, navigation and aircraft instrumentation and technology. CAP Cadets fly approximately 16,000 hours in powered aircraft and 7,000 sorties in gliders each year. CAP cadet info-http://www.cap.gov/visitors/members/cadet_programs/

The EAA Young Eagles Program
The EAA Young Eagles program was launched in 1992 to give interested young people, ages 8 - 17, an opportunity to go flying in a general aviation airplane. These flights are offered free of charge and are made possible through the generosity of EAA member volunteers. Since 1992, more than 1.3 million Young Eagles have enjoyed a flight through the program. Young Eagles have been registered in more than 90 different countries and have been flown by more than 41,000 volunteer pilots. Participation is easy. Click Here to find the closest volunteer pilot. From there, arrange a convenient time to go flying.

Their youth activity programs also include Air Academy Camps, Scholarships and Internships, even high school aviation courses online that enables students to earn high school or college credits!

If anyone knows of other youth aviation programs, especially outside the US for our non-American members of FL350, please post the info here!


A bit of advice:
While some suggest that starting Private Pilot flight training early (ages 12-15) gets one a "head start" on hour building, IMO it really only serves to be a financial drain on funds that could better be used later on more advanced flying after the PPL that the airlines are interested in (like multi-engine, high performance & instrument time) that would truly aid a pilot on the airline career track. These programs I mentioned will give such aspiring pilots a way to get involved and quench their thirst for aviation without the major expense of paying for flight lessons stretched out over several years before they can even take the Private Pilot flight test.

[Piltdown Man]

In the UK we have the Air Training Corps and in (some) Universities, a University Air Squadron. Both are sponsored by the RAF and in each case you receive training, are able to go on interesting trips and have "hands one" flying some of Mrs. Queen's very own hardware (some with propellors, some without and some with no engine what so ever). In either case it is free, you are able to participate in something constructive and worthwhile, you'll learn lots and have a damn good laugh while you are doing so.

You'll also find that at some gliding clubs they may have cadet schemes whereby you work for the members in return get (some) free flying. This was certainly the case in my old gliding club at Dunstable. But as ever, when in doubt, pitch up and start asking questions, even at Flying Clubs - you never know what's available unless you ask.

Finally, there are various trusts set up to help pay for young people to earn to fly. A quick search will (hopefully) reveal how to get your hands round the moulah. But be warned, they are most are very competitive and the buggers who hand out the cash often appear to know the parents of the recipients - "After all, we can't have these grants going to wrong sort of people, can we?"

PM