Scholarships and Grants for U.S. Flight Training Students

 

U.S. SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDERS

Take advantage and apply for aviation scholarships – offered by Women in Aviation to the EAA. Consider the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aircraft Pilots Workforce Development Grant Program, the U.S. Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association, as well as the Canadian Pilot Association COPA’s Neil J. Armstrong ab-initio Scholarship. 

Or consider the National Business Aviation Association, the Aviation Distributors and Manufacturers Association, and several other organizations that offer scholarships for aviation students. The Experimental Aircraft Association  (EAA), for example, provides up to $10,000 to deserving youths to cover flight training expenses, through a fund, totaling $1,550,000 in scholarships annually. Chapters apply annually from November 1 to January 31 for these $10,000 scholarships. 

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Wings Airline Academy

There are even flight schools that offer scholarships - in the form of free CFI training: Wings Airline Academy, with campuses in the U.S. and the UK, is now offering more than $100,000 in scholarships to U.S. and UK-based students. Following successful selection and completion of Wing’s US/FAA Commercial Pilot’s License (CPL), each person selected for a 2023 Wings Scholarship will then be eligible to complete Wing’s Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) rating at no cost which normally costs $9,000. For U.S. students, Wings offers a range of financing options for your PPL and CPL, and then your Wings scholarship covers your CFI training. 

Aviation Scholarships in North Dakota

High School Juniors, Seniors, or Recent GED recipients from North Dakota, USA, can receive scholarships for their training as a professional pilot, aviation maintenance, aviation engineering, unmanned aircraft systems, airport management, atmospheric sciences, air traffic control, or other aviation-related fields.

NBAA Scholarships

The National Business Aviation Association launched a new scholarship to support students interested in a career in business aviation who are currently enrolled in programs to achieve this goal. Two $1,500 scholarships will be given out annually.

Overall, the NBAA Charities scholarship program, generously supported by NBAA member donors, offers nearly $100,000 annually in cash awards as tuition reimbursement for enrolled students and nearly the same amount in monetary and training awards for working professionals in business aviation. This includes pilots, maintenance professionals, schedulers, dispatchers, flight attendants, and flight technicians.

Piedmont Airlines

The subsidiary of American Airlines is proud to offer prospective pilots selected for the cadet program a $30,000 bonus and a guaranteed career path to the world’s largest airline. For most pilots coming out of flight school, building flight time is long and expensive. Piedmont is offering these incentives to help alleviate that burden. And unlike traditional cadet programs, Piedmont’s cadets can earn hours when they want, where they want.

Pilots with 500 hours of flight time and a commercial license with multi-engine and instrument ratings or pilots who hold a CFI certificate can apply to Piedmont’s cadet program with no additional flighttime requirement. Once accepted into the program, pilots will receive a $7,500 signing bonus. In addition, they will earn money for every 100 hours of logged flight time, up to $12,500. Pilots will also earn $5,000 upon entry as first officer and an additional $5,000 at year one. On top of that, pilots who join the cadet program can earn an additional $10,000 for every future pilot they successfully refer to Piedmont. 

Airline Pilots Association Scholarships

Children of medically retired, long-term disabled, or deceased pilot members of the Air Line Pilots Association are eligible for the Air Line Pilots Association scholarship program. The total monetary value is $12,000, with $3,000 disbursed annually to the recipient for four consecutive years provided the recipient maintains a 3.0 GPA is maintained. 

Global Air Scholarships

Applications are now open for the GlobalAir.com Calvin L. Carrithers Aviation Scholarship, which will provide four students $1,000 each towards their aviation training in a collegiate aviation program in the United States during the 2023-2024 school year.

Applications must include a short essay that details the applicant’s interest in aviation, future career path, and how they intend to complete their aviation program.

Applicants also have the option to include a letter of recommendation.

 

MBTA Educational Foundation Scholarships

Amount: $2,000. The MBTA has a separate 501(c) 3 charitable foundation that awards scholarships through the MBTA Educational Foundation. Most of the money raised for the scholarships comes from the foundation’s annual Super Raffle. Preference may be given to students attending Maine universities or colleges.

More scholarships for flight students can be found here:

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United Airlines Train Pilots in Their Aviate Academy

 

CNN reported recently:  American Airlines wants to hire 2,000 pilots this year. Delta anticipates adding between 100 and 200 pilots to its ranks each month this year.  United expects to train 500 pilots through the Aviate Academy every year over the decade.
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An Airline Transport Pilot training as a beginner costs almost $90.000. Even private pilots have to pay almost $70.000, so it is a commitment that you need to be sure about. Nonetheless, if newly certified ATP holders are able to land an airline job at the end of it all, the cost and hard work are surely all worthwhile.

United’s special ‘Aviate’ program

So how can airlines support budding pilots to reach their goal of working for an airline despite the financial obstacles? United Airlines, for one, has come up with an interesting solution in the form of its ‘Aviate‘ program. This provides $2.4 million in scholarships and covers the cost of private pilot training. This reduces the fees from $89,000 to $71,250.

The program sees the new pilots begin their careers at United’s regional partners. Interestingly, this is an area in which it has recently been experiencing pilot shortages. As such, it may just be the ideal solution.

Inside The Aviate Program: How United Is Securing Future Pilots

United Airlines has an enormous need for pilots over the next ten years and beyond. Between retirements and fleet expansion, the airline has a mammoth task ahead of it to fill its pilot ranks and keep the airline flying smoothly. One of the ways United has been working to ensure it maintains a strong pipeline of pilots for the future is through its Aviate Program, which offers one of the most direct ways for aspiring pilots to enter the pipeline and get a job with the airline.

This pathway to United is based on training that helps aspiring pilots earn a Private Pilot License and then move further with aviation training. The Aviate Academy comes at a cost, but United and Chase are partnering to provide $2.4 million in scholarships to help cover expenses for the program. There are also loan options, though United is focused on ensuring that financial background does not serve as a barrier to entry.

United’s Aviate Academy in-house flight training operation is the first for any major airline in the US. Phoenix’ Goodyear airfield, where the training takes place, is putting the school's first class of about 60 students on a streamlined path to a new career.

An aviation consulting firm says airlines worldwide need an estimated 34,000 new pilots by 2025 to meet growing demand and keep up with retirements.  If it's a crisis, it's a crisis for small communities.

Traditionally, airlines looked to the military to provide a steady stream of qualified candidates. Civilian pilots had to come to the table with thousands of flying hours cobbled together on their own — the Federal Aviation Administration requires a minimum of 1,500 hours of piloting experience to earn an Airline Transport Pilot certificate.

This is the model is an economic opportunity to let people come in who don't have $100,000 to spend on their certification but have great potential, great ability — to let them get through the whole process of becoming a commercial airline pilot.

United says its academy costs $71,250, with scholarships available.  Delta Air Lines recently dropped its requirement that pilot applicants have a four-year college degree, too.  While the industry average pay for pilots is more than $190,000, according to the Labor Department, entry-level pay is notoriously low and training costs are high, frequently exceeding the limits of federal student loans. 

Airlines cut costs by asking veteran flight crews to take early retirement packages during the depths of the pandemic are now staffing up.  Now the aggressive hiring puts pressure on the regional airlines, which operate smaller planes branded United Express, American Eagle, and Delta Connection that also serve as career feeders to the mainline carriers.

In United's inaugural Aviate Academy class, 80% are women or non-white 

— disproportionate to United's current pilots of which only 19% are not white men

The first step is the 10-month Aviate academy, where students graduate with multiple credentials.  The dormitory is on campus near the Cirrus SR-20 single-engine planes the students fly.  After graduation, United points trainees toward jobs at partner companies, such as flight schools, where they can build the necessary hours.  Then participants fly regional jets for a United partner, and two years later, have top priority to be a first officer at United.

Read more details:

https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/31/business/united-airlines-flight-school/index.htm

https://www.aerocrewnews.com/aviation-news/aviator-bulletins/united-officially-opens-flight-academy-and-welcomes-historic-inaugural-pilot-class/

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