By CARLEY WALKER, STEM Flights Director of Development
I recognize some people reading this might consider the title of this article as clickbait.
Others reading this will be a little startled at the bold statement with advice on how to manage your own aircraft, while some others might think “no problem, wasn’t planning on it.”
Whatever side of that sentiment you fall on, I urge you to never fly a kid under the age of 18 in your aircraft — unless he or she is signed up in a formal program that can give follow-up resources and support.
When kids are enrolled in a free aviation program, they receive so many benefits that many pilots alone cannot offer, such as mentoring, free ground school, internship and camp recommendations, additional flying opportunities, flight training scholarship support, and career pathway exploration.
We’ve all wanted to give a kid a ride in our airplane, hoping to inspire that next generation, or at the very least give them a thrilling experience they will remember forever.
These rides can be life changing, which is why you owe it to the student to give them follow-up resources that can help them on their aviation journey.
I can’t tell you how many students STEM Flights pilots have flown that were not sure about a career in aviation or aerospace, but after the resources and support they received from our organization, they found it easier to navigate the pathway into flight training or other aviation-related careers.
Signing kids up for STEM Flights or other aviation programs — such as the Civil Air Patrol, and the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles program and AeroEducate — takes just minutes and gives them a lifetime of follow-up support.
And, in a recent development, STEM Flights is collaborating with EAA’s AeroEducate program so that STEM Flights students have access to AeroEducate’s resources and AeroEducate’s students have the opportunity to take a flight with a STEM Flights volunteer.
When you are donating a flight to a young person, you are hoping that something takes hold and perhaps you have just lit the spark, adding back into the already small population of humans that fly planes. This is why it’s so important to take that spark to the next level, to give the kids something they can build on.
How Does It Work?
Each organization has its own requirements for introductory flights, from age restrictions to “homework” required before or after a flight.
At STEM Flights, students are required to submit an online application, upload a letter of recommendation, and complete a STEM and aviation curriculum.
When students have “skin in the game,” the flight experience is productive for both pilot and student. When you fly a kid who really wants to be there, who has done homework and given extra time, it is much more enjoyable and engaging.
After several years of tracking student outcomes after a STEM Flight, we have data that shows our flights and volunteer pilots create pathways into aviation and aerospace careers.
We only ask that our pilots fly safe, have fun, and encourage the students. We take care of the rest: Help with scholarships, career exploration, additional mentoring, and more.
Pilots who have 250 hours, a private pilot’s certificate, and access to an aircraft are invited to apply as a volunteer pilot/mentor. We do not offer flight instruction.
STEM Flights also has a mobile app, which makes it easy for volunteer pilots to see available flights in your area.
Signing up to fly with STEM Flights is easy and the training can be completed online in under 30 minutes.
So don’t give a ride to a kid — become a mentor to a deserving student who truly wants to be in your aircraft. Flight experiences change lives.
For more information: STEMFlights.org, EAA.org, AeroEducate.org, GoCivilAirPatrol.com
Open a flight sim center for entertainment! I don’t know how many kids I’ve got hooked on flying but it’s been a bunch, and I have more or less become a recruiter for the Civil Air Patrol. I’ve have also had adults take a simple “Discovery Flight” on a basic simulator and have them go on to get their pilot’s license and other ratings as well.
I loved aviation all of my life. I would have loved to get a flight as a kid period. I flew RC, did rocketry and high power rocketry, I immersed myself in aviation space as a kid. I ended up purchasing a Gleim study book for my written and joined a local flying club to learn as inexpensively as possible. When I got my license, I started giving people rides. For school programs, Young Eagles, NASA Teacher in Space program and even when I saw people watching at the fence of the airfield. I know at least three of those went on to get their licenses. If I see someone with interest, I will always do what I can to foster that, you never know when it will be that moment that makes them decide they are going to become a pilot. And for those that do not go onto, you have given them a memory that will last for life.
The “programs” to provide a GA flight to a young person are valuable. But I wouldn’t discourage pilots from sharing an informal flight with the kid who just hangs out at the airport or a friend’s kid. GA flying continues to get more expensive, and most kids won’t ever get a flight, but experiencing GA flight, an AMTRAK trip, a city and distant bus ride, ferry boat, airline flight, subway, etc. opens up the transportation world for kids and gives them travel options and experiences for their future. CM-TX
I’m 67 and would like a STEM ride 🙂
Contact a local EAA chapter at eaa.org. Most will provide an ‘Eagle Flight’ at no cost.
Well said! I’ve flown hundreds of kids over my 50+ years of flying. The difference between involving them and just giving them a ride is day & night. Though both are possible to inspire- the latter is a much better use of my time & resources. Good follow up seals the deal.
Maybe the statement should be, “Don’t *just* give a kid a ride in your airplane.”
Check out this great Kids program based in Norwood, MA….
https://abovethecloudskids.org/dream-flyers-program/
I flew a Boy Scout one time. He ended up in the Navy in submarines! LOL
Sorry. Gonna have to disagree. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math aren’t for every young person. When I was 14, I rode my bike to the local airport. A nice guy gave me a ride to Catalina Island and back. I would go on to solo 3 days before I could legally drive a car. I received my PPL on my 17th birthday. I won a collegiate flying competition spot landing competition. I got my college degree in English literature. I became a school teacher. I joined the Air Force, earned my wings, and became an instructor pilot. I finished my career as the Chief of Safety Education. A couple years later, I became a regional airline pilot. I flew hundreds of flights in and out of Aspen, LaGuardia, and O’hare. Not a STEM in sight. Go ahead, offer that kid a flight, you never know what it will yield.
Everything you just mentioned about your career involves “STEM”…
A single flight for any child at any age can be awe inspiring. I know this to be fact. In the 53 years I have flown GA aircraft I can say I have inspired a number of children to become pilots. My son for example. He was introduced to aviation the moment he was born, and flew with me all his life. He is now a professional airline pilot. I was a big brother in the Big Brother, Little Sister program. I had a little brother, nine at the time, and he two flew with me many times. He is now a professional airline pilot. I took a young adult for his first flight. He was hooked. He became a fighter pilot in the Air Force, then went on to fly for Delta. Yet another young adult was so inspired he entered the Air Force and flew B52s. Just that one moment can be enough to inspire a passion to become a pilot. There were days when families would visit the local airport to watch the planes take off and land. Some still do this today. I have let children just sit in the plane, especially my float plane. That experience alone can be the spark of a dream. I have letters from families who sent me a kind thank you note for letting their children get up close and personal to the airplane. Never say never.