Aviation Merit Badge
Five requirements. Requirement 1 is eight explanations of aircraft and flight, one with a model aircraft. Requirement 2 is ONE thing to build and fly, requirement 3 is TWO flight operations from five, and requirement 4 is ONE visit from four. Requirement 5 is pilot certificates, the instrument rating, Aviation Exploring or Civil Air Patrol, and a career.
The plan behind this
Three choices, most of them arranged with others
Requirement 2, ONE of three things to build and fly:
| route | what it asks |
|---|---|
| 2(a) | build a model FPG-9, get others in your troop or patrol to make their own, then organize a competition to test the precision of flight and landing |
| 2(b) | build a rubber-band driven balsa wood airplane and fly it 25 feet in a straight line, with a smooth landing |
| 2(c) | build or obtain a fuel-driven or battery-powered electric model aircraft or drone, obtain The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) certification, and fly it with a successful take-off and landing |
Requirement 3, TWO of five flight operations:
| route | what it asks |
|---|---|
| 3(a) | in flight simulator software, set a course and fly the headings you established, with a successful take-off and landing |
| 3(b) | a preflight inspection of an aircraft, under supervision |
| 3(c) | observe and/or take part in aircraft maintenance; describe the maintenance schedule and requirements for an aircraft of your choice |
| 3(d) | read an aeronautical chart, measure a true course, and correct it for magnetic variation, compass deviation and wind drift to get a heading |
| 3(e) | a discovery flight, with your parent or guardian's permission; record the date, place, type of aircraft and duration, and report your impressions |
Requirement 4, ONE of four visits, each followed by a report:
| route | where |
|---|---|
| 4(a) | an airport: how the facilities are used, how runways are numbered and how they are determined to be "active" |
| 4(b) | an FAA facility: an ATCT, TRACON, ARTCC or FSDO |
| 4(c) | a military aviation facility, and how it supports defense and/or civilian activities |
| 4(d) | an aviation museum or an air show |
Requirement 1: eight explanations
Aircraft and three kinds of them; the evolution of flight and three notable times; fixed against rotary wing; piston, turbine and jet engines; the four forces, using a model aircraft; lift and Bernoulli's principle; control surfaces on an aircraft of your choice; and the instruments of a typical single-engine aircraft.
Requirement 5: certificates, ratings and careers
The student, recreational, remote and private pilot certificates; the benefits of the instrument rating; the commercial pilot and airline transport pilot certificates and certified flight instructor; an Aviation Exploring post and/or Civil Air Patrol facility near you; and three aviation careers, one researched and discussed with your counselor.
What this page is
The Aviation merit badge, drawn so the build of requirement 2, the two flight operations of requirement 3 and the visit of requirement 4 are drawn as questions, with the supervision, permission and certification they state. It is not a copy of the requirements: each step is a short label with a link to the official requirements, which are what actually governs and which change from year to year. The free official pamphlet is the fuller guide.
Sources for this page
- Aviation Merit Badge Requirements, Merit Badge Hub, last modified 2025-12-04 · The requirements themselves, and the free official pamphlet linked from them.
- Guide to Advancement, 2025, Section 7.0.0.3 · The process every merit badge is earned through, which this page does not repeat.
- Guide to Advancement, 2025, Section 7.0.4.3 · Which version of a changed requirement applies to a Scout who has already started.
- Guide to Advancement, 2025, Section 4.0.0.1 · Why the requirements are not in the Guide to Advancement and are expected to change annually.
Last checked against its sources on .