Special Young Eagles 2008

COPA Affiliation with Young Eagles Program (Update).

By John Quarterman
May 23, 2008

This is a notice to all COPA Flights and COPA members that COPA is awaiting a new agreement from the EAA which is required to continue Young Eagles Flights from June 1, 2008 onwards. Because this agreement has not yet been established, COPA has no choice but to suspend all participation in the Young Eagles program effective June 1, 2008.

The Young Eagles program is a wholly-owned program of the EAA. For several years pilots from several organizations were permitted to perform Young Eagles flights and COPA was a key contributor to achieving one million kids in the air in time for the 100^th anniversary of powered flight in 2003. However, in the past year EAA reviewed its liability insurance and tightened up on the requirements, resulting in a policy that only EAA members can fly Young Eagles flights. This is reflected in its materials and forms.

In an effort to remain a participant in this important program, COPA entered into negotiations with the EAA leading to a formal agreement. In the meantime, a letter was issued by the EAA to authorize Young Eagles flights organized by COPA Flights. This letter of authorization terminates on May 31, 2008.

COPA has already met the initial requirements of the EAA by putting in place more than a year ago a comprehensive insurance policy meeting the EAA requirements as they were expressed at that time. However, more recently the EAA has decided that it requires  COPA to name EAA as one of the insured parties in its insurance. This has proven difficult to achieve. 

The temporary authorization has been extended several times to permit continuing negotiations but there have been complications due to several legal and insurance inputs from the USA, Canada and the UK (COPA’s underwriter). COPA has done everything possible to permit continued participation in the Young Eagles program but the stumbling block continues to be developing an agreement that is acceptable to our underwriter and results in affordable liability insurance for COPA. As of this date, an agreement has not been achieved and the EAA will not extend the authorization beyond the end of May.

Please monitor the front page of the COPA website www.copanational.org for either a notice that an agreement has been achieved or a further extension has been granted before you carry out any Young Eagles flights after May 31.

Under no circumstances should COPA Flights carry out Young Eagles Flights under the "COPA Flight" Banner past the current authorization date of May 31, 2008, without confirming that a new extension has been given. Unless this occurs, only EAA members may fly Young Eagles as of June 1, 2008 and COPA accepts no responsibility or liability for these flights.

Due to the critical nature of our negotiations and regrettable lack of a timely extension to the temporary letter of authorization by the EAA, COPA does not have any YE supplies

COPA is still hopeful that the terms and conditions present in the new draft agreement - can be met by COPA and will be the start of a new long-term relationship between the two organizations.  

Despite our hope for a positive outcome, the lack of a temporary authorization extension has necessitated a halt to planning for Young Eagles Flights after May 31,2008.

This is a reminder that the COPA Flights e-NewsFlash newsletters are available in PDF format for download from the COPA website.

Read them at your leisure at www.copanational.org/non-members/NewsFlash/NewsFlash.html