Q. I am nearly halfway through training for an FAA private pilot certificate. I have been working as a substitute teacher to fund my goal: finding a career in aviation. Since many career pilots are required to go through extensive training at the university level or beyond, I wonder if there are scholarships for such programs, or any other options to help pay for training.
A. You are knocking on the same door as countless others. The question that has perplexed more than a few aspiring aviation professionals is, simply, “How do I fund my education and training?” What you will find, sorry to say, is only a scattering of scholarship resources, mostly aimed at collegians. Those that are available have very strict guidelines and limitations such as a minimum grade-point average, membership in an organization, or attendance at a specific academic institution. At that, funding is minimal, perhaps no more than a few thousand dollars. Competition is fierce for the few dollars available.
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) offers five $1,000 awards annually to undergraduates studying aviation at NBAA and University Aviation Association (UAA) member institutions.
The AOPA Air Safety Foundation, along with the UAA, administers the ASF/McAllister Memorial Scholarship. The award amount is $1,000. The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and Women in Aviation International (WAI) are among other organizations that actively award scholarships and stipends.
There is no source of direct funding out there that will grant an aspiring aviation professional tens of thousands of dollars, although a back-door entry to earning significant funding could be through an academic or sports scholarship to one of the large university-based aviation programs. But, for the average Joe or Joan, the news is not encouraging.
It is suggested that you mine the Internet for possibilities. Simply enter “flight training scholarship” in any search engine and start digging. There just may be something that will suit your needs.
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