EAA said this week that Sporty’s has made its new Learn To Fly course available to all Young Eagles free of charge. Sporty’s has previously offered its recreational and private pilot courses free to Young Eagles, and more than 15,000 students already have accepted that offer. The new Learn To Fly course helps students to focus on the first step — the first solo — and then choose whether to pursue a sport, private, or recreational pilot certificate. The upgraded course is available for iPads and other mobile devices as well as desktop computers, EAA said. EAA also said it will provide a free first flight lesson and will pay for the FAA knowledge exam for all Young Eagles who complete the Learn To Fly course. Also this week, the Flying Musicians Association and the 99s announced programs to help those seeking an aviation career.
Focus on the Future, a project of the Flying Musicians and the Wolf Aviation Fund, is hosting its inaugural event on Saturday, Sept. 22 in Atlanta, Ga., for youth interested in pursuing a flying career. The daylong conference will offer meetings with representatives from schools around the country and seminars on topics such as how to finance an education and how to develop a career plan. The event is free for students and their parents, guardians, and counselors, but pre-registration is required (scroll down for the free student and parent registration option). Similar events are planned for locations around the country, including Las Vegas, Boston, Chicago, Orlando, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Honolulu. Also this week, the Eastern New England Chapter of the Ninety-Nines announced that it has four $1,500 scholarships open to those training for a career in aviation. Applicants must be a resident of one of the six New England states or studying in New England. Two of the scholarships are for women only, but two are open to all. The deadline to apply is Jan. 31, 2013.
