by Nancy Stock and Willie Turner
The pilot population continues to age and dwindle in numbers. World War II aviators are in their 70s and Vietnam-era aviators are in their 50s and 60s. Pilot shortages are being experienced in all commercial aviation venues, including the scheduled airlines. As a result the airlines are hiring less experienced pilots (800 hours total time in many instances!), and some are ending up in the right seat of wide-body aircraft right out of the chute. The military pilot situation is also a problem. They are having difficulty retaining their aviators because of attractive wages in the civilian market. The aircraft industry needs to initiate and support learn-to-fly and development programs similar to what was done from the middle ’60s to middle ’70s.
The EAA Young Eagles Program is an excellent example of such a program at the youth level. On the third Saturday of every month, Bay Area youngsters ages 8 to 17 have a chance to take to the skies at San Carlos Airport as the Hiller Aviation Museum, The San Mateo County Sheriffs Air Squadron and the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) hosts Young Eagle flights.
This is part of the EAA Aviation Foundation’s Young Eagles Program, which was created to get more young people interested in aviation. Volunteer EAA pilots have a goal to give one million young people an airplane ride by the year 2003—the 100th anniversary of powered flight and the 50th anniversary of the EAA, the world’s largest sport aviation organization.
Nancy Stock poses with three Young Eagles following their first airplane rides
"Free airplane rides are just part of the program," said Willie Turner, spokesman for the Hiller Aviation Museum. "We hope to build one-to-one relationships between pilots and young people, giving a new generation a chance to learn more about the possibilities that exist in the world of aviation."
Pilots who donate their time will also explain about their airplanes allowing young people to discover how airplanes work and how pilots ensure safety as a prime concern for every flight.
Young Eagles Collin Tsai, Anthony Kaveh and Kahn Paulsen prepare for their first ride in a light plane
Following the flight, the young person will receive a certificate making them an official Eagle Flight Member. Their name will be entered into the "World’s Largest Logbook," which is on display at the EAA Air Adventure Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Young people and their parents interested in the program are asked to call Willie Turner at the Hiller Aviation Museum, (650) 654-0200 for more details.
The Young Eagles web site is: http://www.youngeagles.org/.
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) web site is http://www.eaa.org/.
