EAA has once again granted Chapter 186 a Ray Aviation Foundation Flight Training Scholarship for the eighth consecutive year. This pays up to $12,000 for a scholar working on the Private Pilot-Airplane certificate. The program is intensive, requiring the scholar to commit to completing flight training from beginning to checkride in one year. A couple of our past scholars had already soloed prior to applying for the scholarship. In that event EAA pays $7,200. If interested, see the Ray Aviation Scholarship article in this issue.
We are fortunate to have a highly engaged chapter membership which keeps us eligible to earn the right to give another Ray Scholarship. EAA has informed us that we have earned the Gold status recognition level for 2025. We earned 10 points on their scale. EAA criteria include whether a chapter owns or leases meeting space, maintains a tool locker, attends leadership training, has growing or steady membership, offers IMC or VMC Club programs, participates in Young Eagles, Air Academy and the Ray Scholarship, has FAA- approved Flight Advisors or Technical Counselors, holds public events and participates in the annual chapter member survey.
We have spent our Young Eagles credits for our 2024 flights on tuition assistance for two kids going to Air Academy this June and July. See more info in the Air Academy article in this issue.
In addition to EAA Chapter 186, of course the best aviation organization, there are other aviation groups and clubs in the area, such as Flying Club 1, VAHS, Smokehouse Pilots and booster clubs at each airport. When time permits, I enjoy attending these other organizations’ events. That leads to knowledge sharing and helps bridge the community. The VAHS has extended to all Chapter 186 members a free and open invitation to their annual meeting in May at Horse Feathers Airport (53VA). See the article in z previous post.
A member in EAA Chapter 1099 has been plodding through the bureaucratic process with EAA and DMV to get approval for a specialized EAA license plate. I believe he is getting close. We will let you know if, and when, it becomes available.
Blue Skies,
Bob