It’s no secret that flight training is expensive. Even as you’re first starting as a student pilot, you may have to pay sky-high (no pun intended) prices for an airplane that has seen better days. However, funding is the last thing that should be a barrier to entry when it comes to aviation. Regardless of your background or specific goals as a pilot, you should have an opportunity to explore the world from the air and learn a new, incredible skill.
Fortunately, many organizations agree and offer scholarship funds to help pay for flight training. If you spend time researching your options, you will be able to find opportunities suited to your goals. Some scholarships have specific requirements to garner interest in aviation from individuals with skillsets or perspectives that are underrepresented in the industry.
Below are just a few of the various scholarships you can pursue to help you pay for your flight training.
EAA offers twelve or more scholarships each year to help fund various stages of flight training. The organization "invites those who are interested in pursuing flight or a career in aviation or aviation related/STEM fields" to apply for scholarships.
Deadlines vary by scholarship type. Generally, EAA utilizes application periods similar to the following:
Vary based on scholarship. All flight training scholarships must be used within one year from the date of award. Accordingly, applicants must be eligible for the flight training process when they submit their applications. Unlike many organizations, EAA does not require membership to be eligibile for a scholarship. Individuals from all coutries are encouraged to apply, but flight training scholarships must be used at a flight school in the United States.
Vary based on scholarship. Generally, EAA provides scholarships that have a minimum award of $5,000. In total, the organization awards over $1 million in scholarships each year.
Related Content: A Step-by-Step Guide to Your Student Pilot Medical Certificate
Aspiring aviators who have not yet obtained a private pilot’s license (PPL), but—should they be selected—can finish a program within 12 months
Scholarships open in May of each year.
Applicants must be located in the United States, over the age of 18, have a student pilot certificate, and have selected a flight school and/or Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) for their training. Successful applicants can demonstrate their passion for aviation and their ability to complete primary pilot training within 12 months of applying for the program.
$1,000 - $2,500
AOPA offers four different scholarships: the High School Flight Training Scholarship for current high school students, the Teacher Flight Training Scholarship for current high school teachers and administrators, the Primary Flight Training Scholarship for aspiring aviators who are over the age of 16, and the Advanced Rating Scholarship for pilots who are seeking an advanced rating or certificate (instrument, commercial, Certified Flight Instructor [CFI], Certified Flight Instructor - Instrument [CFII], or Multi-Engine - Instructor [MEI]).
Between early January and mid-March of each year
Vary by scholarship. Generally, successful applicants have not yet completed an FAA practical exam for the license or rating they’re seeking, are members of AOPA, and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Here are the specific requirements for each scholarship.
An applicant must meet the following criteria to receive an AOPA High School Flight Training Scholarship:
An applicant must meet the following criteria to receive an AOPA Teacher Flight Training Scholarship:
An applicant must meet the following criteria to receive an AOPA Primary Training Scholarship:
An applicant must meet the following criteria to receive an AOPA Advanced Rating Scholarship:
The amount awarded also varies by scholarship. AOPA awarded the following amounts to each scholarship winner in 2020:
Women in Aviation International (WAI) offers and facilitates a number of scholarship opportunities for women of all ages and backgrounds. Current scholarship opportunities aim to help fund training for private pilot, instrument rating, CFI, CFII, MEI, and more (including maintenance training, engineering, space engineering, space flight, and drones).
Scholarships must be submitted by November each year to be awarded at the Annual International Women in Aviation Conference the following March.
Vary based on scholarship. All applicants must be a member of Women in Aviation International by November of the year they are submitting the application.
Amounts vary by scholarship. In 2020, WAI awarded 151 scholarships valued at $831,365.
Women who wish to pursue a primary pilot certificate, an advanced rating, or courses in specialized branches in aviation. Details vary for each chapter of the 99s (which award the scholarships).
All applications are available by September of each year, but applicants are encouraged to contact their local 99s chapter for specific details.
Vary based on scholarship and location. Check with your local chapter of the 99s.
Vary based on scholarship and location. Check with your local chapter of the 99s.
Any individual who is currenty registered and active in an Aviation Explorer post, one of the career-oriented programs offered by Learning for Life (a branch of the Boy Scouts of America).
Generally, application submissions are due at the end of March each year.
Vary by scholarship. All applicants must be registered and active in an Aviation Explorer post. If under 18 years of age, applicants must obtain a signature from a parent or guardian. If funds will be used for training in the pilot, avionics, maintenance, or management categories, "the flight training must be provided by the FAA Approved Part 141 and Part 61 school or through an accredited college or university in pursuit of a degree leading to an aviation profession."
Amounts vary between $2,000 and $20,000, depending on the scholarship.
The scholarships above are only a few of the numerous opportunities available to fund your training at a flight school. Actively checking FAA and scholarship websites will give you the best opportunity to find openings as soon as available.
Though just a portion of the funds you will need for flight training, these scholarships will help you get started at flight school and allow you to explore the possibilities in the aviation world. For more help funding your flight training, check out the loan options you have for flight school and other ways to reduce the cost of flight school.