Big Bear City, CA, August 23, 2010, 3:00pm – On Saturday, August 21, 2010, at the Big Bear City Airport, 84 children between the ages of 12 to 18 from Southern California communities, including Big Bear, attended a full day of hands on aviation education in a program known as “Youth Aviation Adventure” or YAA. The Big Bear Airport Pilot’s Association organized and hosted the event that was founded in 1997 by two Ohio pilots to enable Boy Scouts to earn their Aviation Merit Badge. At the end of the day this weekend, 62 Boy Scouts satisfied the requirements to earn their Aviation merit badge. In March of this year, BBAPA member Richard Foat suggested the idea that the Pilots Association host a YAA event to educate community youth on the many opportunities, rewards and careers that aviation has to offer. Participants included scout leaders, airport volunteers, Big Bear City Fire personnel, Civil Air Patrol cadets, Upland Fire and Mercy Air Helicopters, and 2 dozen Big Bear pilots. The children who participated learned about aircraft preflight checks, airport operations, airport firefighting operations, helicopters, aerodynamics, and careers in aviation, aircraft engines, homebuilt aircraft, and navigation.
