By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

Children between the ages of 8 and 17 will have a chance to take to the skies over central Alabama for free on Saturday, April 30, as the county’s Experimental Aircraft Association will hold its Young Eagle Day.

During the day, several local pilots with the Shelby County Chapter of the EAA will take kids on free flights lasting about 20 minutes. Flights will begin at 9 a.m., and will run continually through about 2 p.m., according to event organizer and EAA member Larry Harris.

The Shelby County Airport has held several previous Young Eagles flight days, and has seen between 50 and 80 participants in each class. During the event, local pilots will have a variety of small one- and two-engine planes on hand to fly the kids.

In the past, the Young Eagles events have drawn more than 100 kids.

Flights are free on Young Eagles Day, but participants must fill out a registration form in advance – indicating desired flight time – and bring it to the airport on the day of the event. Registration forms are available at the Shelby County Airport terminal, or by emailing ShelbyEAA825@gmail.com.

Registration forms should be filled out, signed by parents and brought to the airport the day of the flight. Participants should arrive at the airport 45 minutes before their scheduled flight to allow time for check-in and briefing.

The national EAA regularly sponsors Young Eagles Day programs at airports across the country in an effort to eventually combat a growing shortage of commercial pilots entering the workforce in the future, according to local EAA members.

In addition to Harris, EAA members managing the event this time are coordinator Chris Roberts and president Shawn Manning.