East Coast Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

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June 13, 2009
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Home > Youth in Aviation

East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen Youth in Aviation

Youth in Aviation Program

The ECCTAI Youth in Aviation Program (YIAP) started as an idea from Bill Broadwater and Lonely Eagle Ted Robinson back in 1996. In keeping with the Chapter's basic charge to continue the Tuskegee legacy and inspire minority youth, they formed the committee and the program design came together.

YIAP is essentially divided into three levels:

Level I is designed to expose high school students (ages 15 - 19) to possible careers in aviation through discussions, activities, guest speakers and fieldtrips. Students meet in the fall at College Park Airport (where free classroom space has been generously donated since the program's inception) for all-day sessions on five consecutive Saturdays. The sessions cover aviation history, career overviews, and the basics of flight, air traffic control, maintenance and a small aircraft flight experience.

Level II is designed for the serious student who has decided s/he is interested in becoming a pilot. For those who qualify, ground school is conducted for 8 - 10 weekends to enable the student to pass the FAA written exam (a prerequisite to Level III). This is conducted in late winter/early spring as to not interfere with finals around the end of the school year.

Level III, the flying portion of the program, is held during the summer for students who have successfully completed Level II. They receive at least 15 hours of flight instruction through Herb Jones' Metropolitan Aviation Flight School at Hyde Field in Clinton, Maryland. The hope is that they will solo within that time.

The committee decided early on that it was better to help several students to at least solo (with the hope they would be inspired to continue) as opposed to just financing one student to receive a pilot license. The sense of "comradery" the Tuskegee Airmen experienced could not be achieved by focusing on just one student to completion. One year, there were enough funds to support a student to licensing, and the student has continued to pursue a career in aviation at Embry Riddle.

From the beginning, most of our students have come to the program by word-of-mouth and through referrals from Rick Jones' summer aviation camp program. Some of YIAP short and long term goals are:

To provide more up-to-date teaching materials (simulators etc.) for Level II and III students.
To offer Level II and III type programs for students not interested in flying (i.e., maintenance, ATC, weather, etc.).
To have enough funding for all Level III students to receive their license.
Compile and publish booklets for conducting/teaching Level I for new members and other TAI chapters to use.
Discover ways to work with other aviation organizations so we may use funds for maximum effect.

Young people interested in applying for YIAP may fill out this online form, or download this PDF version and mail it to ECCTAI to the attention of the YIAP Director.

The Chapter thanks Yvonne McGee for contributing this overview of the Youth in Aviation Program.

East Coast Chapter,
Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
P.O. Box 8541
Bolling AFB
Washington, DC 20032-8541