Fuel Your Aviation Career with Scholarships and Training

Fund your Dreams

You don’t have to be rich to follow your aviation dreams. Hundreds of companies and organizations offer more than $20 million in scholarships and other assistance for aspiring pilots and other aviation roles — and much of it goes unclaimed! Learn more about the options and opportunities to finance your future in aviation.

The following are examples of available aviation scholarships. Be sure to register with AviationStart to receive the full list for free. It includes hundreds of available aviation scholarships, including flight training scholarships, many of which go unclaimed.

Flight Training Scholarship Programs

  • The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association provides 80 private pilot license scholarships for high school students ages 16-18. Students must have a minimum 2.7 GPA and have passed their private pilot license written exam. Applications are closed for 2025 and open in October for 2026.

  • The Chicago-Area Business Aviation Association and the independent vendors FlightSafety and CAE will award two applicants with advanced training toward a career in business aviation. This year, both awards will be a Citation series SIC course through the FlightSafety and CAE Professional Pilot Training Award. The retail value of each award is approximately $22,200 per scholarship. Preference is given to Chicagoland-area residents.

    This is one of many scholarships the association awards. The application deadline is May 31.

  • This award supports a student interested in becoming a certified flight instructor. This is one of many scholarships the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) awards annually, which total more than $135,000 to students pursuing flight training. 

  • The Ninety-Nines, an international nonprofit organization of licensed women pilots, awards up to five $20,000 scholarships a year to complete an additional pilot certificate or rating or pilot training course such as multi-engine rating, commercial certificate, King Air competency or qualification training, or Boeing 737 type rating.

  • This $4,000 annual scholarship is open to an active pilot with considerable interest in aviation who is seeking advanced flight training or pursuing a profession in aviation. The applicant must be a Montana resident.

Other Scholarship Programs

  • The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) scholarship program offers nearly $100,000 annually in both cash awards as tuition reimbursement for enrolled students, as well as monetary and training awards for working professionals.

  • Sponsored by Leonardo Helicopters, this scholarship provides two Whirly-Girls, or female Associate members, the opportunity to attend the complete AW139 Airframe Maintenance Course. This training will take place at the Training Academy located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is valued at $45,700. Leonardo provides this 6-week course, which includes 4 weeks of in-classroom theoretical training, and two weeks of hands-on training in the Maintenance Training Simulator (MTS).

  • Obtain a Full Initial Flight Attendant Scholarship through VVIP International that covers Safety Equipment, Emergency Procedures, CRM, Aviation Security, Formal Presentation Skills, Menu Planning, and Inflight Troubleshooting for corporate aircraft.

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Not Sure Which Aviation Career
is Right for You?

That’s okay! Whether you're exploring career options or just interested in aviation-related hobbies, there are plenty of programs and organizations
to help you get started.

Check out these training opportunities below to discover what excites you most in the world of aviation.

  • The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Young Eagles Program offers children ages 8-17 a free flight in a small airplane. This is a chance to see if you’re interested in flying as
    a hobby or a career. To date, the program has flown over 2.5 million Young Eagles.

  • Does your high school offer a STEM-based curriculum? The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has developed free aviation courses for high school students. Currently utilized in more than 1,400 schools nationwide, the classes prepare students to complete the Private Pilot Written Exam. The offerings include the UAS drone track and the pilot track.

    If you’re between the ages of 13-18, you can become a
    Student Member of the largest pilot organization for free!

    Get a complimentary subscription to Flight Training Magazine, access to online flight planning tools, the Pilot Information Center (in-house CFI’s & aviation experts to answer your questions), and access to AOPA’s Safety Courses

  • The FAA ACE Academy provides unique summer aviation education programs for K-12 students who are interested in aviation and aerospace. The program provides students with a wide range of aviation career exploration experiences and also focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Thousands of students attend each summer where they are introduced to a wide range of aerospace careers, receive behind the scenes tours of airport operations, and in some locations flights in actual aircraft.

  • NBAA 40 Under 40 Honoree Tom Lelyo and Texarkana College have created the first credentialed aviation sales program. If you are curious about a career in aircraft sales, please visit the AvSales Talent & Texarkana College Aviation Sales Program

  • The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) offers a program that connects aspiring aviation professionals with successful members of the industry. Mentors are available in all aspects of the industry, pilots, dispatchers, flight attendants, and even flight department managers.

  • Here’s a unique option for history buffs who also want to fly: the Commemorative Air Force. The CAF, a nonprofit historical and educational organization, owns and flies the world’s largest collection of World War II military aircraft. It also allows civilians to learn, work on, and fly some of the most interesting aircraft. CAF membership is open to anyone over 18. There’s a cadet membership option for students between 13 and 17 years old, and scholarships to help pay for your Private Pilot’s License!

  • The Civil Air Patrol (CAP), the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Airforce, is one of the largest nationwide opportunities for students to learn about aviation and obtain their pilot’s license. CAP operates in all 50 states, Puerto Rico (including the U.S. Virgin Islands), and Washington, D.C. It also offers character and leadership programs for its cadets and k–12 aerospace education programs.

  • The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), has more than 195,000 members that design, build, and fly model aircraft and drones. With chapters scattered throughout the country, it’s a great opportunity to explore RC aircraft.

Technician working with large industrial robotic equipment in a factory setting.

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