NFA-MD Wing Robert Ayres Solo & Ground Academy

The goal of the National Flight Academies is to give cadets an opportunity to fly approximately 10 hours, weather and schedule permitting, and receive instruction from an FAA Certified Flight Instructor.  Participants in this unique powered flight academy receive 15 hours of “hands on” flight time learning the basics of flying a powered aircraft (Cessna 172) and 60 hours of ground instruction to prep for the FAA Private Pilot Knowledge Test. The learning environment is specially designed for cadets with 1-to-1 instructor-to-student ratio providing opportunities for mentoring and individual attention.  Additionally, cadets get the opportunity to work with aviation professionals, civilian and military, who share their expertise on how to prepare for a career as an aviator.  For those interested in a career as a pilot, this is your first step towards a private pilot certificate and could help you achieve one item on the Cadet Wings "ideal candidate" list if you solo!

Contact for Activity: jhenderson@cap.gov

Website for Activity: https://mdwg.cap.gov/staff-sections/cadet-programs and click on the link for the Robert Ayres National Flight Academy and https://www.facebook.com/Robert-Ayres-Flight-Academy-402464026443640/

NOTE: Those who have attended a powered flight academy or have soloed a powered aircraft are not eligible for powered academy.

NOTE: Those who have soloed a glider are not eligible for glider academies.

NOTE: Those who are who are enrolled in Cadet Wings are ineligible to attend a national activity until they have completed the program or are disenrolled.

Participants:

1)Completed encampment and recorded in eServices by time of application 

2)Age 16 by activity start date

3)Start application for Student Pilot Certificate--Getting a Student Pilot Certificate is a multi-step process which typically takes 6-8 weeks.  Student pilot certificates issued after April 1, 2016 do not expire. If you currently hold a certificate which will expire before 31 Aug 2024, you need to get a new one issued. There is no charge to create an account and begin the certificate application process. Go to https://iacra.faa.gov/IACRA/Default.aspx to create an account and begin application. Go to https://iacra.faa.gov/IACRA/HelpandInfo.aspx?id=5 for help on creating account and applying for a student pilot certificate. If selected to attend, you will have to provide copy of your student pilot certificate to activity staff by the 31 March initial deposit date.

4)If selected, you must be able to qualify to obtain a valid Third Class Medical Certificate (for a list of Aviation Medical Examiners--AMEs--in your area, go to www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/medical_certification)

5)Hold a government issued photo identification card (driver's license or photo identification card issued by your state or federal government - not a school ID card)

6)Competed Powered Orientation flights numbers 1, 2 and 3.

7)If you are slotted for the activity, you will need provide proof of citizenship.  A list of acceptable documents is listed in Code of Federal Regulations: Title 49:Subtitle B: Chapter XII: Subchapter C; § 1552.3(h).  Please follow this link for information regarding why you must bring ORIGINAL  and/or UNEXPIRED identification to the academy. http://www.aopa.org/tsa_rule/uscitizen.html.  If you are not a US citizen, please contact the activity director when you are slotted for the information to provide in order to participate.

8)If selected, complete two ground school weekends prior to the activity.  Dates listed in Note above. 

Staff:

Cadets: N/A

Senior Members:

Opportunities for those with cadet supervision, food services preparation, primary flight instruction, ground instruction, mission administration, and/or mission operations experience

Great attitude and willingness to work a long day on the flight line

Need those who will drive to have CAP Driver's permit allowing operation of 12-pax van

Instructors:

Current FAA CFI (If only teaching ground school, then appropriately-rated Ground School instructor.)

Prior experience instructing pre-solo students in a Part 61 or Part 141 school

Current and qualified CAP IP listed in CAP Ops Quals, check pilot preferred

Completed and current TSA CFI Security Course and be able to present copy of certificate at check-in

Use the "Apply Online" link here or on the ncsas.com homepage to connect you to eServices' Registration and Payment System.  Applicants will need to complete the application to include uploading the following documents in PDF format to the supplemental tab of their eServices application.  All staff must apply via eServices, or they will not receive credit for the activity in their records. For staff applicants, you will be contacted to let you know whether or not you have not been selected. Applications will be accepted from 1 December onward.  To be considered for priority placement status, the completed application including supplemental documents must be submitted by 15 January.  Applications submitted after 15 January are accepted but are marked "late" and will be considered AFTER all applications submitted before the deadline. Priority timelines do not apply to staff applications. In addition, accomplish the following:

Participants:

See the Academy's website for application instructions.  You will need to combine both letters of recommendation into one file to upload them in eServices, as the system only allows one file in each category: resume, letter of recommendation and supplemental application.  In addition, you will need to combine the essay and your academic certification into one document to load into the "supplemental application" file area.

Staff: 

Cadets: N/A

Senior Members:

See the Academy's website for application instructions. 

Important Information:

Use the following course numbers to verify you are selecting the correct activity in the eServices “Preferences” tab of your application.  Activities appear alphabetically, but will have the course number next to them in the tab.  You can download a sortable spreadsheet on the ncsas.com homepage for a complete listing of activity preference numbers. If you can't see the course number on your device, try changing the zoom on the page.

• eServices Short Name: NFA-MD Wing Robert Ayres    

• Cadet Participant Course #: 409

• Staff Participant Course #: 410

• Activity Full Name: NFA-MD Wing Robert Ayres Solo & Ground Powered Flight Academy

NOTE to applicants:  This flight academy also includes a full ground school which requires attending 2 ground school weekends:TBD May and TBD June.

Go to the eServices CadetInvest Module and apply for Cadet Lift and Take-Off Program Cadet (TOP), to be considered for needs-based financial assistance or NCSA scholarships.  Also apply for flight scholarships. These programs are designed to offset costs associated with attending some NCSAs, as well as flight academies. They include payment of your activity fees and transportation to and from the activity. Go to the CadetInvest pages for more details. Deadline to apply for scholarships and financial assistance is 15 January. Being offered financial assistance is not a guarantee of acceptance into an activity. You must compete for and receive a slot at an activity. You will be notified if you are a recipient of financial aid/scholarship before you are required to accept or decline a slot at an activity.

• Actively participate in 80% of the contact hours and not dismissed early for behavior

• Activity Director determines course objectives met

Activity Staff does not provide transportation Baltimore Washington Thurgood Marshall (BWI); Dulles International (IAD). See note above.

Required Staff Training on TBD time TBD.