Reno Event Draws Interest in Flying

In light of the recent incident in which a passenger with no flight training landed a single-engine Cessna after the pilot suffered a medical emergency and became incapacitated, a learn-to-fly event called “Flying Start” in Reno should turn out to be very popular. Considering that Darren Harrison, the passenger who saved himself and another passenger as well as the pilot, had no formal flight training, many people wonder if they could manage to perform the same feat, albeit that Harrison had amazing assistance from an air traffic controller who also happened to be a flight instructor. To address questions from those interested in learning to fly, the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 1361 is hosting the event on May 28 in the terminal building at the Reno/Stead Airport (RTS) in Reno, Nevada.

The event will present practical information on how to find an instructor, general FAA regulations, the certificates required, and explain the costs of training and how to decide among the various flying activities and equipment available. Free introductory flights with a chapter member are available by appointment after the seminar. The EAA’s Flying Start program was established in 2018 and has taken off nationwide with more than 200 events and a record number of 55 flights in May 2022. The Reno Chapter 1361 hosts Young Eagles flights as well as a Young Eagles Build-and-Fly hands-on workshop in June. The chapter also hosts continuing education classes on both visual and instrument flying online and “hangar flying” discussions at its monthly meetings.