EAA's Multi-National Effort To Recruit Young Pilots

On May 28, Jared Aicher will climb aboard a Cessna 172 and depart on a trip to 60 cities scattered across the 48 lower United States and the Caribbean. His mission: to give more than 400 kids airplane rides through the EAA Young Eagles program. Local EAA Chapters across the country will welcome Aicher and his "Eagle Flight" project as he travels the country offering free flights to youths aged 8-17 at each stop.

"Many children's dreams of flight are never realized due to the high costs of operating an aircraft or a lack of local resources to spark an interest in aviation," said Aicher, 33. "The goal of The Eagle Flight is to help children around the world realize their dreams of flight, get them into the cockpit, and register each one as a Young Eagle."

West Mesa Aviation of Albuquerque, New Mexico, provided the airplane. Several local EAA chapters have agreed to help when the Eagle Flight lands in their city. Aicher is scheduled to land in Oshkosh at Wittman Regional Airport on Memorial Day (Monday, May 30).

Phase I (through July 1) of Aicher's journey begins with his first stop in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The crew will spend June 12-19 in the Bahamas, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Representatives from Utah Valley State College, where Aicher attends, will fly in chase planes to promote EAA's AeroScholars program to high school students.

Dates for Phase II have not yet been set, but Aicher plans to fly to 64 countries giving Young Eagles flights to children around the world.

Aicher is an Aviation Science major and has been flying for more than 14 years. He holds a Commercial Pilot Certificate with an Instrument Rating and hopes to work in flight research and development upon graduation.

FMI: www.theeagleflight.org