Walt and Terry Barbo PPL Scholarship
Colorado Pilots Association · Colorado
Section 1What Colorado Pilots publishes
2 awards per cycle
Amounts, dates and eligibility change between cycles. Always confirm on the provider's page before applying.
Section 2Deadline reminders
Applications open January 1, 2027.
Leave your email and we'll flag it once this window is live, so you can apply early instead of scrambling at the deadline.
Section 3What this award leaves to fund
- This award
- $2,500
- Private certificatePilotBound national estimate
- − $18,025
- Left to fund
- $15,500
All six lenders in our comparison lend this much. Stack whatever else you can win first, then price only what is left.
Compare lenders →Section 4Who this is for
Open to Colorado residents aged 16 to 22 who are working toward a Private Pilot Certificate. Applicants must submit an essay describing their aviation journey and goals, plus a letter of recommendation from a CFI.
Section 5How to apply
- Read the full requirements on Colorado Pilots Association's official page. Applying is free.
- Line up the slow pieces early: recommendation letters, transcripts, and any medical or student pilot certificate the provider asks for.
- Write the essay with numbers, not passion: name your certificate goal, your school, your hours so far, and exactly what this award covers. Build your plan so every figure in the essay is real.
Section 6Price your school
Selection boards fund plans with a school and a number in them. Every figure below is what the school itself publishes, with the source and the date it was checked.
Local flight schools
1716 flight schools across 50 states, with the hourly rates each one publishes.
Accelerated academies
105 zero-to-career academies and the fixed program prices they publish.
Degree programs
51 aviation colleges, with tuition and flight fees summed into one estimate.
Where you could spend it: 14 Colorado schools publish a full rate card.
Every figure is the school's own, with the date it was checked.
- Alpine Flight TrainingGypsum, CO · Checked September 5, 2026$215/hr$85/hr instruction
- Arapahoe Flight ClubColorado Springs, CO · Checked August 16, 2026$165/hr$65 to $75/hr instruction
- Colorado Flight CenterGrand Junction, CO · Checked August 16, 2026$150/hr$70/hr instruction
- Colorado Sport PilotLoveland, CO · Checked August 16, 2026$180/hr$60/hr instruction
- Colorado's BEST Flight SchoolEnglewood, CO · Checked September 5, 2026$170/hr$65 to $75/hr instruction
- Cortez Flying ServiceCortez, CO · Checked August 16, 2026$130/hr$50/hr instruction
Section 7Also worth a look
Section 8Quick answers
How much is the Walt and Terry Barbo PPL Scholarship?
The published award is $2,500. Two $2,500 awards per annual cycle. One application cycle covers multiple awards (2 awards per cycle).
When is the Walt and Terry Barbo PPL Scholarship deadline?
The deadline on the provider's official page is February 15, 2027. Applications open January 1, 2027. Opens Jan 1, closes Feb 15 each year.
Who is eligible for the Walt and Terry Barbo PPL Scholarship?
Open to Colorado residents aged 16 to 22 who are working toward a Private Pilot Certificate. Applicants must submit an essay describing their aviation journey and goals, plus a letter of recommendation from a CFI.
How do I apply for the Walt and Terry Barbo PPL Scholarship?
Apply for free on Colorado Pilots Association's official page. There is no application fee, and no legitimate aviation scholarship charges one or asks for your Social Security number. Have your essay, recommendation letters, and any required certificates ready before the window opens.