Bringing Youth into Aviation

Aviation activities:

• Watch airplanes coming and going at your local airport
• Visit an aviation museum 
• Go to air shows
• Read books about history of aviation and pilots like Amelia Earhart
• Attend an Aviation Day sponsored by a local airport
• Enroll in a youth aviation program
• Earn the Aviation STEM Badge at a 99s Girl Scouts / Girl Guides aerospace education program
• Join Aviation Career Exploring
• Go to the OBAP Aerospace Career Education (ACE) Academy
• Attend Girls in Aviation Day
• Go to aviation summer camp
• Buy a computer flight simulator
• Hang around small local airport to meet pilots, potential mentors
• Sign up for pilot ground school course, in classroom or online

Flying activities:

• Take a Discovery Flight at your local airport
• Take an EAA Young Eagles flight 
• Become a Civil Air Patrol cadet
• Take flying lessons

What is the minimum age to qualify for. . .

• No minimum age:
  Ground school
  Flying lessons
  FAA medical exam (but not worthwhile until age 15)
• Age 8: EAA Young Eagles
• Age 10: Aviation Career Exploring
• Age 12: Civil Air Patrol
• Age 13: Start FAA Student Pilot application 
• Age 14 minus 90 days: Student Pilot Certificate
• Age 14:
  First Solo - Glider or Lighter-Than-Air Balloon  
  FAA Knowledge Test for Private Pilot - Glider or Lighter-Than-Air Balloon
• Age 15:
  FAA Knowledge Test - Private Pilot Airplane
  All other FAA Knowledge Tests except ATP-ME (valid for 24 months; check other age requirements)
• Age 16:
  Private Pilot certificate with Glider and Lighter-Than-Air Balloon rating
  Remote Pilot certificate (to operate drones)
  First Solo - Airplane or Helicopter
• Age 17:
  Private Pilot certificate with Airplane or Helicopter rating
  Instrument rating 
• Age 18:
  Commercial Pilot certificate 
  Flight Instructor certificate
  FAA Knowledge Test for ATP-ME (valid for 60 months; check other age requirements)
• Age 21: Restricted Airline Transport Pilot certificate 
• Age 23: Airline Transport Pilot certificate 

May your dreams take flight!

© 2023 Jenny Beatty. All Rights Reserved. 

Photo credit: Sergey Makashin