The EAA Young Eagles registration form is a single sheet, printed on both sides, that a parent or legal guardian completes and signs before a child between the ages of 8 and 17 takes a free introductory flight with a volunteer pilot. You fill in the child’s information and sign the release on the back; the pilot completes their section before or after the flight; and the finished form is handed to chapter volunteers at check-in, who log the flight with the Experimental Aircraft Association.1https://www.eaa.org/eaa/youth/free-ye-flights
Where to Get the Form
You can pick up a paper form at a Young Eagles rally, or pre-register online through EAAChapters.org before the event. Rallies are hosted by local EAA chapters at airports around the country, usually on weekends. Upcoming events are listed by location at YEDay.org.
The current form was released in June 2021 and replaced an older tri-fold booklet. Two things that used to live inside that booklet are now separate: the informational handout about what the Young Eagles experience involves, and the photo and image release. If a chapter asks you to sign a photo release, it’s a different document from the registration form.
What the Parent or Guardian Fills In
The parent side of the form asks for the child’s basic information: full name, date of birth, and mailing address. You also provide a phone number and email, which the EAA uses to send follow-up materials, including the activation code for the child’s free student membership benefits.
Fill in every field. Chapter volunteers review forms for completeness before matching your child with a pilot, and a form missing information can delay the flight or stop it from happening at all.
What the Pilot Fills In
The pilot completes their own section separately, either shortly before the flight or immediately after landing. They record the aircraft make, its N-number (the registration number painted on the tail), the date of the flight, and their pilot certificate number. That information ties the flight to EAA records and confirms the pilot’s FAA standing. You don’t need to fill in any of this; leave that side blank.
Who Is Allowed to Sign the Release
This is the single most common reason a child gets turned away at a rally, so it’s worth being direct about it. Only a biological parent, an adoptive parent, or a court-appointed legal guardian may sign the release on the back of the form. Stepparents cannot sign. Grandparents cannot sign. Aunts, uncles, teachers, scout leaders, coaches, and family friends cannot sign. There are no exceptions, even if the adult accompanying the child lives in the same household.1https://www.eaa.org/eaa/youth/free-ye-flights
If someone other than a qualifying guardian will be bringing your child to the rally, sign the form at home before the event and send it along. The signature does not have to happen in front of chapter volunteers; the form only needs to be complete and signed when it reaches the ground coordinator at check-in.
What Your Signature Actually Does
Your signature confirms that you understand the nature of the activity and acknowledge the risks involved in general aviation flight. It also activates the EAA’s insurance coverage for that specific flight. The EAA’s excess liability policy only applies when every program guideline has been followed, and a properly signed registration form from a qualifying adult is one of those guidelines. Without that signature, the pilot cannot fly your child.
Date the signature for the day of the event. The form must be completed before the flight, and it stays on the ground with chapter volunteers during the flight itself.
Online Registration Instead of Paper
Many chapters now use the online registration system at EAAChapters.org, either alongside the paper form or in place of it. You create a parent account, enter your child’s information, and reserve a spot for a specific rally. The system also handles waitlists and will notify you if the event is rescheduled or canceled because of weather.
Pre-registering helps chapter organizers plan how many pilots and ground volunteers they need, and it generally speeds up check-in on flight day. The liability release still has to be signed by a qualifying parent or guardian. Some chapters capture the signature digitally through the online system; others print the form for you to sign on arrival. If you’re not sure how your local chapter handles it, check the event listing on YEDay.org or contact the chapter coordinator directly.
What to Do on Flight Day
Arrive at the airport with your completed and signed form. Hand it to the ground coordinator at the check-in area. Volunteers verify the child’s age and confirm the form is complete, and your child is then matched with a volunteer pilot based on availability.
Flights typically last around 15 to 20 minutes. The pilot covers all costs, including fuel; there is no charge to the family. After landing, the pilot finishes their section of the form and passes it to chapter volunteers for processing. The flight is entered into the EAA’s World’s Largest Logbook, a permanent record on display at the EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Your child receives an official Young Eagles certificate and a personal logbook containing a unique code that unlocks their free EAA Student Membership and the educational benefits that come with it.
Parents don’t need to verify pilot qualifications or insurance themselves. Chapter coordinators confirm each pilot’s eligibility, Youth Protection Program clearance, and aircraft coverage before the rally. Your part of the paperwork begins and ends with the registration form: fill it in, sign it as a qualifying guardian, and hand it over at the airport.