TEACHER TOP Flights

One of the most exciting benefits of being a Civil Air Patrol Aerospace Education Member (AEM) is the opportunity to take a Teacher Orientation Program (TOP) flight in a CAP airplane, with an experienced CAP pilot, at a local airport. See TOP Flight story HERE.  

• This exhilarating program includes a pre-flight briefing explaining the parts and purposes of the airplane - an actual airplane flight, with the teacher given the opportunity to take the controls in the front seat, all while connecting educational applications to share with students! 
• If possible, the pilot can design the flight plan to fly over the school with students watching from the ground. The teacher or principal can speak to the students on the ground via cell phone to ground speaker. 
• Taking videos and/or photos to share the experience with students, OR., even live-streaming this flight will transfer flight excitement to youth in hopes of greater interest in STEM subjects using the aviation theme. 
• CHECK OUT THIS PRE-COVID TOP FLIGHT VIDEO!  
• Also, check out this 10-minute video to get an idea of what to expect when YOU get to fly with CAP! See how the students are involved in math on the ground!   Read the accompanying article which tells more about how the students were involved. WOW!

BUT consider this. . .

It is more fun to fly with a friend! Thus, educators are encouraged to ask a peer to also join as a CAP AEM. Then, the two can fly together! 

Another option is for a school or school system to schedule a TOP Flight Day with CAP and make it a grand event with media coverage involved!  TOP Flights can even be conducted as a part of an educator workshop at an airport or an aviation museum.