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WAPA YOUNG EAGLES ENDED

Recent Insurance rules changes at the EAA have stopped WAPA from sponsoring Young Eagles events. WAPA EAA Member Pilots can certainly continue to offer Young Eagles rides, but WAPA as an organization is not permitted to sponsor Rally's or other group events. This issue is that EAA Chapters are separately covered by an Insurance policy, and the EAA now requires that any Young Eagles events fall under the insurance of an EAA Chapter.

WAPA and Young Eagles

WAPA The Worcester Area Pilots Association runs occasional "Young Eagles" days where WAPA pilots give free introductory rides to youth, ages 8 through 17. The experience includes a thorough briefing and "Pre-Flight" inspection of the aircraft where the Young Eagle is introduced to the aircraft systems. It is followed by an approximately 20 minute flight in the local area. During the flight the Young Eagle is encouraged to follow along on the controls to gain an understanding of how the aircraft is controlled.

Young Eagles is a program sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association You can find out more about the program at The EAA Young Eagles website The EAA met their goal of flying 1,000,000 new Young Eagles by the end of December 2003. Each new Young Eagle receives a certificate, and their name is recorded into the Worlds Largest Logbook

WAPA has no direct affiliation with the EAA. WAPA's only role is to provide an opportunity for EAA member pilots to meet up with Young Eagle candidates in the Worcestera area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Sign up? The flights typically run at 30 minute intervals from 9:00 AM through 12:00 Noon. Last year's event was

What else is required? The Young Eagle's parent or guardian must sign a release form and waiver of liability before the ride can be given. We will have the paperwork prepared in advance if you sign up online.

You can read the offical brochure and print out a copy of the parental permission form with the following links:

Will you fly in bad weather?. NO! The flights will be only done in good weather conditions. We want the clouds to be no lower than 3000 feet, and we want the winds to be relatively light. We want the Young Eagle to have an enjoyable experience. Although flying in stronger winds is perfectly safe, the turbulence can be uncomfortable and we will avoid it. So, the event is still subject to reschedule even if the weather conditions Look Good to a non-pilot.

Can parents fly along? The final decision on this is up to the pilot, however the Young Eagles insurance offered by the EAA does not cover adult passengers. We also need to be concerned about passenger weight and aircraft performance for the particular runway length. We emphasize that the focus of the event is on safety, and on the Young Eagle experience. Because of this, we discourage parents from flying along. We can provide suggestions for other introductory rides if desired.

What do you do with the information you collect? WAPA will never pass along or share your personal information. The information is collected in order to fill out the required paperwork in advance, and to be able to notify you of changes in the event. Your e-mail address will not be provided to anyone else. Note that the WAPA web site does not use encryption. If you are uncomfortable about providing any information online, you can sign up by phone using the above contact information. Note that the EAA does put the Young Eagle's name in the public Log book

Is the flight safe? Flying in an airplane is safer than many other forms of recreation. Each Young Eagle Flight takes place in a FAA registered airplane flown by a licensed pilot. Most of the WAPA Pilots have hundreds of hours of flight experience, some are Flight Instructors, and one is a FAA Safety Counselor. The flight is conducted according to federal regulations. No aerobatic or non-standard maneuvers will ever be performed when a Young Eagle is inside an aircraft.

How do I find out if the event is still being held? WAPA will attempt to make a decision by Noon of the day prior to the event, and an announcement will be published on the WAPA Web Site. However, the weather is often unpredictable, and last minute changes may be required. If you sign up in advance, you will receive a call if conditions require that the event be postponed.

Is WAPA part of or affiliated with EAA? No. WAPA is an independent pilots organization in Worcester. Young Eagles is a program of the EAA. Although WAPA pilots organize local Young Eagles events, WAPA is not affiliated with the EAA. Any WAPA Pilots who participate in the Young Eagles event must be current EAA members.

Can you do a special event for our organization? Yes! If your organization would like to sponsor a special Young Eagles day for your members, contact George Clark via e-mail or by phone at 508 852-8023.

Can we bring our whole family along? Yes! Only one Young Eagle is flown at a time. If you have other young children, remember that the operating area of an airport can be very dangerous. Please ensure that everyone remains in the visitors area and away from any aircraft unless accompanied by the pilot, and that all children are closely supervised. The propellor of a running aircraft is not easily seen and can do a lot of damage.

My child is younger than 8 or older than 17. Can he or she still participate? The EAA program only provides insurance for children in the specified age range. The final decision is up to the pilot of the aircraft, however we discourage participation in the formal event for anyone who falls outside of the specified guidelines.

Where can we find out more about flying? Anyone interested in aviation is welcome to attend WAPA meetings. They are held the first Thursday of most months. The actual schedule is posted on the right side of the WAPA home page. There are several flight schools and independent instructors in the Worcester area, and any WAPA member will be glad to assist you with further information. You can also check out several web sites including Learn to Fly at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Assocation and BeAPilot.com

-- GeorgeClark - 28 Apr 2005
Buttons . . . check. Dials . . . check. Switches . . . check. Little colored lights . . . check. --'Cavin and Hobbes'

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