AOPA offers several options for prospective pilots to fund their flight training through its You Can Fly scholarship and incentive program. As of December 1, the next round of scholarships has become available, and AOPA members are encouraged to apply.
The AOPA High School Flight Training Scholarship, funded by the Ray Foundation, offers a total of $10,000 to each one of 80 high school students (aged 15 to 18) who successfully apply to the program for 2021. Recipients are able to use the funds for flight training towards an initial pilot certificate (sport, recreational, or private pilot), and they must complete at least one significant milestone in their training program within one year of receiving the scholarship—such as a first solo or pilot certificate.
The AOPA Teacher Flight Training Scholarship gives the opportunity for up to 20 teachers to learn how to fly, also courtesy of the Ray Foundation. The stipend is also worth up to $10,000 per successful applicant. In order to qualify, the teacher must be a full-time employee of a school or school system, and teaching the AOPA High School Aviation STEM Curriculum.
The AOPA Primary Flight Training Scholarship funds students at least 16 years of age towards training for a sport, recreational, or private pilot certificate—to the tune of $2,500 to $7,500. Finally the AOPA Advanced Rating Scholarship covers those pilots who wish to move up in the ratings—and secure from $3,000 to $10,000 towards an instrument rating, a commercial certificate, or initial, instrument, or multi-engine instructor certificates and ratings. For each of the scholarships, an AOPA membership is required—though there are options for students to look into, as the association offers a 6-month free membership for beginning student pilots.
More resources for those who are interested in learning to fly can be found at Flying’s Learn to Fly hub.
