Minnesota Pilots Association Aviation Scholarships
Minnesota Pilots Association · Minnesota
Section 1What Minnesota Pilots publishes
Two named pilot awards (Erickson and Strathy), one application window
Amounts, dates and eligibility change between cycles. Always confirm on the provider's page before applying.
Section 2Deadline reminders
Applications close April 1, 2027.
Leave your email and we'll send a heads-up before this window shuts, along with other verified deadlines worth catching.
Section 3What this award leaves to fund
- This award
- $3,000
- Private certificatePilotBound national estimate
- − $18,083
- Left to fund
- $15,100
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 Minnesota residents who already hold at least an FAA Private Pilot certificate and are pursuing an advanced rating such as instrument, commercial, CFI, CFII, or multi-engine. Applicants must not have completed the checkride for the rating they are seeking. No membership or application fee is required.
Section 5How to apply
- Read the full requirements on Minnesota 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
1714 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: 8 Minnesota schools publish a full rate card.
Every figure is the school's own, with the date it was checked.
- Aloft AviationLakeville, MN · Checked September 12, 2026$175/hr$85 to $90/hr instruction
- AV8 Flight SchoolEden Prairie, MN · Checked September 12, 2026$215/hr$90/hr instruction
- Bemidji Aviation ServicesBemidji, MN · Checked September 12, 2026$116/hr$45/hr instruction
- Great Planes AviationRochester, MN · Checked September 12, 2026$166/hr$90/hr instruction
- Inflight Pilot TrainingEden Prairie, MN · Checked August 20, 2026$150/hr$150/hr instruction
- Lakes Area AviationLittle Falls, MN · Checked September 12, 2026$125/hr$60 to $75/hr instruction
Section 7Also worth a look
Section 8Quick answers
How much is the Minnesota Pilots Association Aviation Scholarships?
The published award is $3,000. Awards were $2,000 in recent cycles; beginning with the 2027 cycle all scholarships are $3,000. Funds go toward advanced rating training. One application cycle covers multiple awards (Two named pilot awards (Erickson and Strathy), one application window).
When is the Minnesota Pilots Association Aviation Scholarships deadline?
The deadline on the provider's official page is April 1, 2027. Applications are open right now. Applications due April 1 each year; the 2026 cycle has closed, so the next deadline is April 1, 2027.
Who is eligible for the Minnesota Pilots Association Aviation Scholarships?
Open to Minnesota residents who already hold at least an FAA Private Pilot certificate and are pursuing an advanced rating such as instrument, commercial, CFI, CFII, or multi-engine. Applicants must not have completed the checkride for the rating they are seeking. No membership or application fee is required.
How do I apply for the Minnesota Pilots Association Aviation Scholarships?
Apply for free on Minnesota 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.