AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2018 - 13

AOPA ACTION SPECIAL REPORT

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The future is now
You Can Fly program works to stop the
decline in the pilot population
B Y J U L I E S U M M E R S WA L K E R

A PARADIGM SHIFT for the future of aviation is underway in Frederick, Maryland.
At the home of the world's largest general aviation organization, an innovative
program is steadily working to stem the
decline of the pilot population. Through
a series of targeted, measurable initiatives, the donor-funded You Can Fly
program is seeing major success in its
goal of bringing more pilots into aviation,
keeping more pilots flying, and bringing
back rusty pilots.
"We're working on many fronts," said
Katie Pribyl, AOPA senior vice president
of aviation strategy and programs and a
graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University. "We're introducing high
school students to careers and opportunities in aviation, getting lapsed pilots back
in the air, improving the flight training

experience so more people who start flying earn a certificate, and growing the
universe of flying clubs so pilots can have
affordable access to aircraft and be part of
a strong community."
In addition to the extensive aviation
background of leaders such as Pribyl, You
Can Fly initiatives are led by a former editor of Flight Training magazine for the
flight training program, a former high
school teacher for the high school program, an aviation educator and CFI for
the Rusty Pilots program, and the founder
of a flying club for the flying club initiative. These four programs have made great
strides since You Can Fly was established
in 2015 (see "Moving the Needle," p. 14).
"The mission of You Can Fly is simple,
but not easy," said Pribyl. "We exist to get
more people flying more. To do that we have

to directly address the underlying causes
that have led to a decline in the pilot population-and there's nothing easy about that."
This is a donor-funded program and
does not make use of AOPA member
dues. The work of You Can Fly is promoted through the AOPA Foundation,
which has raised $4.5 million in 2017
to support the program. This funds the
new You Can Fly facility (see "You Can
Fly Academy Now Open," p. 15); support
of the You Can Fly program, including
the recently completed ninth-grade high
school curriculum and continued work
on the tenth- through twelfth-grade programs; the flying club initiative, which
continues to add new clubs across the
country; the Flight Training Experience
Awards and scholarships; Rusty Pilot
seminars held throughout the country,
which have helped an estimated 4,600
pilots return to flying; and the You Can Fly
Ambassador program, which puts AOPA
pilot/experts on the ground-and in the
Continued on p. 15
GETTING RUSTY PILOTS back in the air and

supporting flying clubs are among the You
Can Fly initiatives.

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AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2018

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