Young, Aspiring Aviators Now Receive Support Through EAA’s Young Eagles Connect Portal

Young people who are pursuing an interest in flight through the EAA Young Eagles program now have additional free support as they learn, thanks to the Young Eagles Connect portal that connects them with mentors who can offer encouragement and guidance.

The support is available to all EAA Young Eagles who enroll in the complimentary Sporty’s Learn-To-Fly Course that is available to all youth who complete a Young Eagles flight. It allows students to share their course progress with a mentor, such as their Young Eagles pilot or an EAA chapter member, so mentors can follow the young person’s training journey.

“The goal of Young Eagles Connect is to have aspiring aviators stay connected, stay inspired, and stay on course,” said David Leiting, EAA Eagles Program Manager. “This connection is an added benefit to Young Eagles who look to discover more through EAA’s programs that are available to follow their initial Young Eagles flight.”

Mentors can view video progress and FAA practice test results through Sporty’s CFI Portal. If the mentor is a CFI, they can create a free account at sportys.com/cfi and will receive automatic access. Those who are not CFIs but want to mentor Young Eagles and track their progress can contact the Young Eagles office at EAA to request access to Sporty’s CFI Portal.

The EAA Young Eagles Program has hosted more than 2.4 million young people for free flight experiences since the program’s launch in July 1992. It is the foundation of a growing suite of EAA youth aviation education programs, ranging from online and EAA chapter-based activities, to the EAA Air Academy summer residence camp and activities associated with the annual EAA AirVenture Oshkosh fly-in convention.

Kim Stevens

Kim Stevens is the publisher of State Aviation Journal, which he founded in 2009. A longtime commercial-rated pilot, he was introduced to state aviation in 1992 as Director of the Nebraska Department of Aeronautics, later serving as Deputy Division Director for the Arizona Department of Transportation's Aeronautics Division. From 2013 to 2018, he was Director of Communications and Operations for the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) in Washington, D.C. Relocating to North Carolina, Kim worked for the Raleigh-Durham International Airport for two years and now concentrates solely on the Journal. Prior to his aviation career, Kim spent a decade in the newspaper and magazine business.