Many major aviation museums across the U.S. provide exceptional summer camps for teens and younger. Some are at no cost, and some include financial aid. Participating in museum programs is a great way to explore your interest in aviation and/or to find out whether it’s the right field for you. One of the best programs includes the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, OH. They offer camps across many ages, all the way up to an Introduction to Becoming a Pilot (Ages 14-18). On the West Coast, there is the Museum of Flight in Seattle, WA, which offers week-long day camps for many areas of aviation. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (Washington, D.C.) offers a free “S.H.E. Can” STEM Camp for Grades 6-8 specifically tailored for underrepresented girls in the DC area and exposes campers to an aviation career with hands-on challenges and flights with certified flight instructors. Checking your local aviation museum for camp and/or program opportunities is a great way to start. 

 Young Eagles Flights: For ages 8-17, EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) offers free flights with volunteer pilots to give them their first experience in aviation. https://www.eaa.org/eaa/youth/free-ye-flights

Eagle Flights: For adults (18+), EAA also provides free introductory flights. You fly with a volunteer pilot who lets you help steer, get a feel for the controls, etc., free of charge.  https://www.eaa.org/eaa/learn-to-fly/introductory-flights-for-free/eaa-eagle-flights-program

Young Eagle flights are usually provided at rallies/events across the US. Regular Eagle flights focus on quality over quantity, offering an introduction to the cockpit and pursuing a pilot’s license. Eagle flights are targeted for young people who are interested in aviation but don’t know how to start. Eagle flights not only give you an experience in the sky, but they also make dreams of flying a reality. According to the EAAs website, Eagle Flights participants will receive the following benefits:

• A free, six-month EAA membership after the completed Eagle Flights registration form is received by the Eagle Flights Office.

• Reimbursement for the cost of the FAA Knowledge Exam, once the Eagle Flight participant passes the exam. ($175 value).

• If the flight is taken following a chapter Flying Start event, special ground school opportunities may exist.

• A commemorative plaque from EAA, once the participant has earned their pilot certificate.

EAA has many local groups of aviation enthusiasts all over the US, called chapters, who share a passion for aviation. They provide Eagles and Young Eagles flights.  You can find Eagle and Young Eagle flights located near you on EAA’s website within the EAA website. 

Here are step-by-step ways to get started:

Obtaining your student pilot certificate is the first step in training to become a private or commercial pilot. To fly a fixed-wing powered aircraft, here are the general step-by-step instructions under FAA regulations in the United States:

1. You must be over 16 years of age and fluent in English.

2. Hold a third-class FAA medical certificate (Ensure standard ability in vision, hearing, etc). Register with the FAA’s Medical Application Portal (MedXPress) via this link: https://medxpress.faa.gov/medxpress/Account/RequestAccount.aspx. Find an Aviation Medical Examiner near you via this link: https://www.faa.gov/pilots/amelocator. Exams typically take 30-60 minutes and cost around $100-$150.

3. Wait for the certificate to arrive. TSA will perform a background check before sending a plastic card in the mail in about 2-3 weeks, if approved. 

4. Begin flight training with a certified flight instructor. You can start flying before having your student pilot’s license, but you can’t fly solo until you have both the certificate and medical.

Once you complete the milestone of flying solo, the next step is to work toward a Private Pilot License (PPL) and an Instrument Rating (IFR), improving your craft in the cockpit and racking up flight hours. After your 18th birthday, following years of hard work, a Commercial Pilot License is on the horizon.