Roots2Wings
The next century of flight needs more than pilots.
Roots2Wings connects aviation history and curiosity with people, learning and opportunity. It begins with the Roots/Curiosity course and grows through relationships around each learner.
The entry course
Roots/Curiosity: discover what flight can open.
Aviation brings together engineering, operations, maintenance, software, media, public service and many other ways to contribute. The Roots/Curiosity course introduces that wider world through history, questions and safe drone learning.
The Roots/Curiosity course will facilitate completion of the FAA’s Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) and help participants obtain their TRUST completion certificate through an FAA-approved test administrator.
The approved test administrator issues the completion certificate after the participant completes TRUST. We will help participants access the test and save or print their certificate. The TRUST test itself is free; course delivery arrangements and any participation costs will be explained separately.
Read the FAA’s TRUST information and approved test administrator list (opens in a new tab).
The Roots2Wings pathway
- Roots / Curiosity
Start with a question.
Discover the people and decisions behind flight, explore safe drone use and complete TRUST with an approved test administrator.
- Explore / Connect
Find people who can help.
Continue through mentors, local institutions, clubs and learning opportunities matched to interests and readiness.
- Wings / Progression
Take a supported next step.
Explore further learning, flight and drone training, projects and career pathways through providers with clearly defined requirements and capacity.
Our current milestone: the first 100.
We are raising $100,000 to support the first 100 Roots students. Each $1,000 campaign unit supports the whole operating model: administration, events, outreach and impact. Gifts of every size help.
An interest form starts a conversation. Course dates, locations, ages, providers and available places will be shared before enrollment. Funding units and confirmed student places are reported separately.
A few useful distinctions
Is TRUST the same as a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate?
TRUST is the FAA’s recreational drone safety test and completion certificate. Part 107 is a separate remote pilot certification pathway with its own requirements. Further training referrals will identify the provider and requirements.
Does expressing interest reserve a place?
It tells us about the family, school or organization that would like to participate. Enrollment follows when a suitable course, provider and place are confirmed.
Who should use this form?
Parents, guardians, adult family members, schools, mentors and prospective delivery partners can contact us here. Please keep child-participant information out of this general inquiry.
What comes after the introductory course?
The next step depends on the learner’s interests and readiness, and on available mentors and providers. It may be further learning, a club, a visit, a project or a training referral.
Help a young person find their next step.
Parents, guardians, schools and prospective partners: tell us your hub and how you would like to participate. Please do not include a child’s personal details.
Regional roadmap
We are connecting local schools, airports, museums, mentors and community supporters around the Roots2Wings pathway. Start with a useful relationship. Build the capacity to follow through.
Three regions. Deliberate development.
Target windows guide preparation. Activities and available places depend on local leadership, delivery arrangements and resources.
| Region | Target window | Hubs | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| West | 2027–2028 | Phoenix · Las Vegas · San Diego | Planning |
| Central | 2029–2030 | St. Louis · Chicago · Oshkosh | Planned |
| East | 2030–2031 | New York · Washington, DC · Lakeland | Planned |
Phoenix · Las Vegas · San Diego
Our first focus: the West.
2027–2028 · Planning
Phoenix
Help connect Arizona schools and families with aviation, museum and engineering relationships. We are seeking convenors, mentors and introductory-course delivery conversations.
2027–2028 · Planning
Las Vegas
Turn early event conversations into year-round school, aviation, community and industry relationships. MCON is an early activation opportunity within this wider work.
2027–2028 · Planning
San Diego
Connect the Spirit of St. Louis engineering story with today’s museums, educators, aviation organizations and technical mentors.
Regional windows can overlap.
The Central window runs from 2029–2030; the East window begins in 2030 and continues through 2031. That overlap is intentional. We will develop local leadership and delivery capacity at a pace the relationships can support.
Nine local functions, working together.
| Local function | Contribution |
|---|---|
| City director | Convene the committee, coordinate next steps and maintain local accountability. |
| Airport connection | Connect aviation operations, appropriate access and the local flying community. |
| Museum connection | Bring history, interpretation and collections into learning. |
| School connection | Connect educators, families and appropriate participant pathways. |
| Engineer / mentor connection | Make technical questions and the people behind the work accessible. |
| Government coordinator | Connect relevant public services and civic resources. |
| Industry coordinator | Develop useful employer, provider and resource relationships. |
| Media coordinator | Share accurate stories and communicate local opportunities. |
| Community coordinator | Connect volunteers, local groups and practical support. |
From an introduction to an active relationship.
A name on a research list is a starting point. An active partnership needs an agreed contribution, a counterpart, an owner and a next step. We will publish local leads and partner roles as those arrangements are confirmed.
Who can help connect your city?
Choose a hub and tell us about your role, organization or proposed contribution. This is a conversation about developing the network.