Aviation Resources for K-8 Students
Get kids excited about flying! Find aviation activities to inspire and educate kindergarten through eighth-grade students about piloting.
Flying Is Fun!
Have you caught the “flight bug”? Join the club!
Every day, more than 45,000 commercial flights take to the air in the United States, carrying 2.9 million passengers and nearly 122 million pounds of cargo.* While it takes a team of aviation professionals working together to make this happen safely, a professional airline pilot is at the controls of each plane.
Best of all, anyone with a passion for flying and the aptitude to meet the necessary requirements can become an airline pilot—regardless of your race, gender, or background. It takes hard work and planning, but even those with limited financial resources can find ways to achieve their dreams of becoming an airline pilot.
*2019 Federal Aviation Administration data
Get Started Exploring Aviation
This is an evolving list of activities. Be sure to check out your local aviation community—there may be plenty of activities and events for you to join. Send your ideas to Education@alpa.org.
- Request a pilot visit at your school or club event.
- Talk with the pilot on your next flight.
- Take a discovery flight.
- Visit your local airport.
- Build and fly model airplanes.
- Visit your local aviation museum.
- Research aviation online (e.g., how airplanes fly, the different types of aircraft, etc.).
- Join the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, or another organization with an aviation merit badge or focus.
- Become a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol.
- Enroll in a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) school.
Download Aviation Activities for K-8 Students
More Resources for Aspiring Aviators
Aviation Resources for High School Students
Find valuable resources and activities to inspire high school students who are considering a career as a professional airline pilot.
Aviation College Program Information
Valuable info about attending college to become an airline pilot, including a list of accredited aviation programs at colleges in North America and abroad.
Scholarships for Aviation Students
There are a number of aviation-specific scholarships available for aspiring aviators who need help financing their education and training.
Bring a Pilot to Your School
Want to hear about life as an airline pilot? ALPA pilots volunteer their time to provide interactive presentations for schools. Inspire your students about aviation—bring an ALPA pilot to your school!
Become an Airline Pilot
Anyone with a passion for aviation and the desire to fly can pursue a career as an airline pilot.
Get Started
Learn about the qualifications and training pathways to becoming a professional pilot.
Types of Pilot Jobs
From flying passengers to putting out fires, the piloting profession offers a diverse range of career paths.
A Day in the Life
Five ALPA members share their unique experiences flying for different types of carriers.