The Experimental Aircraft Association is offering certain eligible Young Eagles participants a certificate for a free first lesson.
The program, part of the association’s Flight Plan of the Young Eagles program, is the next step in attempting to transition young people from simple enthusiasts into certificated pilots.
Kids are at least 14 years old, have taken a Young Eagles flight, and have finished the first chapter in Sporty’s Pilot Shop Private Pilot online training course. The course is free to Young Eagles participants, and includes a logbook as well.
Once the chapter is complete, participants are sent an e-mail with a voucher to go to a flight school of their choice for the lesson.
More than 3,000 students have already signed up for the free course from Sporty’s, a benefit that began just a year ago.