Bronze Eagle Fly-In

The Waco Chapter of The Links Inc. and the Bronze Eagle Flying Club of Houston partner each year to bring the Bronze Eagle Youth Fly-in to the Central Texas community.

The event, co-sponsored by the Waco Chapter of The Links, Inc. and the Bronze Eagles Flying Club (BEFC) of Texas,  targets African Americans, Hispanics, girls, and other underrepresented groups in STEM-related occupations.

Demetra Kennedy, Links chair, said the 2011 Boeing Pilot & Technician Outlook indicates that by 2030, the global aviation industry will require 460,000 new commercial airline pilots and 650,000 new commercial airline maintenance technicians,

“The good news is there are many scholarships available in the aviation field,” she said. “These scholarships can open doors to exciting career opportunities. We need to make sure our children take advantage of them!”

The Fly-in allowed local youth to meet an astronaut/pilot and experience flying in a plane. Participants also operated flight simulators, learned about Black aviation pioneers, and experienced the world of air traffic control.

The Bronze Eagles Flying Club (BEFC) of Texas is a nonprofit charity flying organization and chapter of the Black Pilots of America (BPA). The organization also offers various services, including free familiarization flights, free aviation career training, and a National Summer Flight Academy for eligible students.