Young Eagles
Helping introduce young people to aviation through encouragement, community, and chapter support.
Young Eagles Program Information
The Young Eagles program helps introduce young people to the world of aviation. EAA Chapter 1298 supports youth aviation, experiences that inspire curiosity, learning, and future involvement in flight.
Young Eagles, If you have participated in a previous event and have a log book, please bring that with you. We will add your next flight to your log book.
Chapter members, if you are interested in helping as a pilot or on the ground, please let leadership know your name, EAA number and whether or not you have taken the Youth Protection program with a background check.
Thank you for your help!
Becoming a Volunteer for the Young Eagles Program: More than 40,000 men and women worldwide have freely given of their time and talents to share the joy and excitement of aviation with young people. You can join the ranks in hopes of sparking an early interest in aviation by becoming a Young Eagles volunteer pilot.
OTHER SUPPORT PERSONNEL ARE NEEDED; NOT JUST PILOTS
Required to Participate: If you are a Young Eagles Pilot (either in Chapter Rallies or individually flown), Chapter Young Eagles Coordinator, Field Representative, or a Two-Deep Leadership Supervisor, you must complete both training and a criminal history background check (U.S. residents only*), with acceptable results in EAA’s judgment, before you may work with youth in the Young Eagles program, even if you have previously participated in services to youth.
Please note that parents and legal guardians of youth participants may be volunteers, and then they are subject to the same EAA Young Eagles Youth Service Standards as other Young Eagles volunteers. If you are a minor and a volunteer, you also are subject to the same EAA Young Eagles Youth Service Standards as other volunteers; Volunteers ages 16 and older can submit background checks through the standard volunteer training process.
EAA staff who are involved with Young Eagles activities are subject to the same requirements as other Young Eagles volunteers.
Encouraged to Participate:
If you work with youth in the Young Eagles program, but are not required to complete Training and Background Check as described above, we still
request that you complete at least the Training, in order that all volunteers will have consistent understanding of EAA’s Young Eagles Youth Protection Policy.
PILOT REQUIREMENTS:
You may already meet several of the requirements to fly a Young Eagle just by holding a current pilot certificate. Here are the requirements in full, which are designed to ensure you and your passenger’s safety.
To fly passengers in the EAA Young Eagles® program, you must:
- Be a current of member of EAA National.
- Complete the EAA Youth Protection Program, which includes a short training session and background check.
- Have a valid airman’s certificate (sport pilot or greater).
- Possess a current medical certificate or BasicMed (if applicable).
- Be current to carry passengers in the aircraft you plan to use.
- Have a current biennial flight review.
- Conduct flights in an aircraft that is in airworthy condition.
- Have Aircraft Passenger Liability Insurance for the aircraft used (owned, rented, or borrowed).
- Adhere to all applicable Federal Aviation Regulations.
- Complete a Young Eagles registration form before the flight, signed by you and a parent or legal guardian.
Founded in 1992, the Young Eagles program has dedicated 25 years to giving youth ages 8–17 their first free ride in an airplane.
It’s the only program of its kind, with the sole mission to introduce and inspire kids in the world of aviation.
Today, the Young Eagles program has flown over 2 million kids with the help of EAA’s network of volunteer pilots and ground volunteers.
Total Young Eagles Flown: 2,476,270 — Stats as of March 31, 2026! Join us in offering every child, tween, and teen (8-17) the chance to experience the Spirit of Aviation.
To become a Young Eagles volunteer please visit HERE to learn more and schedule your trainng! We look forward to seeing at our next Yougn Eagles Event!
Whether a young person dreams of becoming a pilot, wants to learn more about aircraft, or is simply excited to be around aviation, the chapter welcomes interest in youth-oriented aviation activities.