Message-Id: <9108091405.AA18689@hpislwes.lvld.hp.com> To: Ross Oliver Subject: Teen Airlift, from Colorado Pilots Association In-Reply-To: Your message of "Wed, 29 May 91 13:25:19 MDT." <9105291325.aa04026@scoho.sco.COM> Date: Fri, 09 Aug 91 08:03:41 MDT From: Bill Standerfer Status: OR >I've been thinking about trying something like this at my airport >(Watsonville, CA), and would like to find out more about your program. >I've never orgainized anything like this before, and it would be a big >help to hear more about an existing successful program. Any info you >could send would be appreciated. Ross, Here is a copy of the posting I just put on the system this morning about the Teen Airlift program we started here in Colorado. Sorry for the delay, but I hope you get some use out of it. Best regards, Bill Bill Standerfer -- KF0DJ -- Baron N1746W -- CFI-A bills@hpisla.hp.com or {...}!hplabs!hpisla!bills Hewlett Packard Measurement Systems Operation PO Box 301, Loveland, CO 80539 -- 303-679-2378 **************************** My apologies to those of you who asked for this information when I first discussed this subject. It has been a little busy this summer! As I discussed a couple of months ago, the Colorado Pilots Association held a "Teen Airlift" program to introduce local high school students to aviation as a career possibility. Of course, a side benefit is that, even if they don't choose an aviation career, they may be more favorably inclined to these eccentric people in their "little airplanes". The project began by contacting teachers in four local high schools who would help to get the word out to the student body. Three of the four teachers were already aviation enthusiasts, and their efforts were quite successful. The fourth teacher had no particular interest in aviation, and her success (and effort) was minimal. Lesson to be learned: try to use teachers who are already dedicated to the cause. We did not contact one of the high schools that already has an aviation program since we wanted to find kids who weren't already in contact with aviation rather than to try to preach to the choir. Each teacher handed out information sheets and liability waivers to those interested. The liability waivers are an absolute MUST, so get a local aviation lawyer to draft one up for you. No one flew without a waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian. And before you ask, no I can't send a copy to you. Get a local to do it for you to make sure you get all the necessary local language in. The info sheet is one AOPA puts out. On the day of the flight, we had about 60 students out of 68 who signed up. There were about 25 airplanes out of about 29 who signed up. We had set a limit of 100 students total to keep the logistics to a manageable level. The plan was for each pilot to make no more than two flights if necessary. In our case, only seven airplanes flew twice. If you think you might have more than you can handle, you might try some sort of selection criteria, like GPA. We also asked on the waiver/questionnaire about a partner they might want to be paired with for the flight. We thought they might feel better about the flying if they were with a friend. There would also be some peer pressure to get them to the airport if they felt like backing out at the last minute. There was a brief orientation before the first group left for flying. Each student got a handout that talked about how an airplane flies, high wings versus low wings, etc. CPA volunteers provided cookies and drinks. This was all done in a local FBO's lounge area. After orientation, the drill was for two students to fly in each airplane. They would leave Centennial Airport, fly to some prearranged local airport, change seats, and return. This gave each student a chance to ride in the front seat and actually fly the airplane. Anyone left on the ground for the first round got a tour through the Centennial control tower. The Centennial tower folks were very accommodating and helpful. There was never any problem with the tours during a very busy Saturday morning. On the other hand, the majority of pilots who participated said they would do it again, but only if it is not held at Centennial. Trying to launch 25 airplanes almost at once at one of the busiest GA airports in the country is more trouble than most are willing to put up with. Try to spread your schedule out to account for this if you can. We asked only for "normal" (I'm gonna hear about this one) airplanes. That is, Spam Can City. Four place with side by side front seats gives a much better environment for this type of activity. A Stearman, Varieze, and MU-2 were on display, but not used for the flying. It was just more expeditious to use factory built, easy to enter, side by side arrangements. Pilots were required to provide copies of their pilot certificates and insurance. In the ground orientation we made sure that everyone knew that there are many facets of aviation and that we were attempting to show only a small part of it. *This is very important!* We were trying to show them aviation, not necessarily get a new crop of pilots. Taking them for a ride or on tower tours are ways to generate some excitement, but having someone also discuss other careers (mechanics, lawyers, FSS specialists, meteorologists, etc.) would be even better. If you want to really go all out, this kind of thing could turn into an aviation career day. However, that's probably more than anyone is willing to put together and more than the students have patience for. As I write this, the old Ham Radio term "Elmer" comes to mind. An Elmer is someone who takes someone who wants to learn radio under his wing and tutors him, sharing his knowledge and experience. Perhaps some form of this concept could be used to advantage in aviation. Granted, the dollars required for the first radio are orders of magnitude away from the first airplane (or even an airplane trip in some cases), but some form of encouragement could certainly be of benefit. Perhaps something like Civil Air Patrol's cadet orientation rides on a wider scale. All the students had a good time. Whether we got to any of them remains to be seen, but I hope we at least made some friends for General Aviation. BTW, there were a few parents who also got to fly and they all thoroughly enjoyed it! Bill Bill Standerfer -- KF0DJ -- Baron N1746W -- CFI-A bills@hpisla.hp.com or {...}!hplabs!hpisla!bills Hewlett Packard Measurement Systems Operation PO Box 301, Loveland, CO 80539 -- 303-679-2378