Able Flight opens 2017 scholarship window

The nonprofit Able Flight’s mission is to help people with disabilities learn to fly. The organization partners with Purdue University each year to put scholarship recipients through an accelerated sport pilot training program. Participants travel to Purdue’s campus in Lafayette, Indiana, where they receive flight instruction, housing, and meals. Applicants must have a flexible schedule that will permit them to travel to the campus for six to seven weeks without a break. Training takes place from mid-May to early July.

In addition to the full scholarship, Able Flight offers three others. The Return to Flight scholarship is for people who became disabled after they earned a pilot certificate and want to return to flying under the sport pilot rules. The Flight Training Challenge scholarship is for individuals who could benefit from dual instruction only and don’t plan to seek a sport pilot certificate. The Career Training Scholarship is for persons who want to train to earn an FAA repairman certificate for light sport aircraft with maintenance rating, or an FAA dispatcher certificate. Alternatively, the scholarship could be used for academic expenses while training for an aviation career.

At EAA AirVenture 2016, Able Flight celebrated its tenth anniversary and presented wings to eight recipients of its most recent scholarship program.

Scholarship applications will be accepted through Dec. 31. For more information, applications, and requirements, see the website.