Application windows · Computed daily, reviewed Sep 1, 2026
Only what is accepting applications or opening soon, sorted by the nearest deadline. Status is computed from each provider's real dates, daily.
17
OPEN NOW
14
OPENING SOON
$204K+
IN AWARDS
Most students win a few and still have a gap to finance. The plan takes about a minute.
Showing 31 of 31 scholarships · $204,500 in top awards
How to win one →Aviation scholarships are seasonal, and most open in the fall. 17 are open now, 14 open in the coming months, and the rest run on annual cycles you can plan ahead for. Closed ones stay listed with their next window. Most students win a few of these and still have a gap to cover.
National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA)
$5,000
National · Adults
Open to aspiring agricultural aviators who are sponsored by an NAAA operator member; the applicant does not need to hold paid NAAA membership. Funds may be applied to flight training or aviation and agricultural coursework, and a sponsor recommendation letter plus a short essay are required.
Up to five $5,000 awards per cycle.
Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP)
Amount varies
Multiple awards per cycle; one application auto-matches to eligible scholarships via AwardSpring
National · Minority
Applicants must be active OBAP members for at least 3 full calendar months before applying, be 17 or older, and reside and train within the US at FAA Part 61 or Part 141 schools. A minimum of 10 volunteer hours with OBAP and 20 hours with external organizations are required, with exemptions for students enrolled in OBAP youth programs.
Individual award amounts are not published on the program page; varies by scholarship. Over $8 million distributed to nearly 600 recipients since inception.
Most of these open and close on annual cycles. Get a heads-up before a window you care about slips by.
Soaring Society of America (SSA)
Up to $3,000
1 award per year
National · Youth 16-18
Open to Junior SSA members ages 17 to 24 who hold a private glider rating or higher and can show cross-country soaring proficiency (FAI Silver Badge or Kolstad Century Award). Applicants under 18 need parent or guardian support.
Up to $3,000 in SSA credit toward CFI-G training and testing ($2,000 initial, plus $1,000 on earning the commercial glider rating).
Epic Flight Academy
$5,000 – $20,000
12 pilot awards per annual cycle (1 at $20,000, 11 at $5,000)
National · Youth 16-18
Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are current high school juniors or seniors, at least 16 years old by December 31 of the award year, with no previous pilot certificate. Recipients must be ready to begin training within 12 months of receiving the award and must complete training within 24 months.
Individual awards range from $5,000 to $20,000 per recipient depending on the specific award
The Ninety-Nines
Up to $6,000
Semiannual award; two cycles per year
National · Women
Open to women student pilots who have been Ninety-Nines Student Pilot Members for at least three months before the application deadline, have logged at least five flight hours in the six months prior to applying, and can demonstrate financial need. Targets completion of the private, sport, or recreational pilot certificate.
Up to $6,000 per award cycle, disbursed incrementally as specific training milestones are completed
All six lenders in our comparison lend this much. Whatever an award does not cover, you fund some other way.
Arizona Pilots Association
Amount varies
Arizona · Youth 16-18
Open to Arizona high school and college students pursuing pilot training or other aviation education. Applicants must rank in the upper half of their class and demonstrate leadership qualities, moral character, and community service involvement.
Award amount not published; varies by cycle
mikeroweWORKS Foundation
Amount varies
One trade-wide application; aviation is one of many eligible fields
National
Open to U.S. students enrolled in, or planning to enroll in, an accredited trade or technical program of two years or less; four-year degree programs do not qualify. Aviation is an eligible field, so it fits professional-pilot or aviation-maintenance training delivered through an accredited two-year college or vocational/technical school rather than standalone Part 61 lessons. Applicants must sign the S.W.E.A.T. Pledge, answer short questions about it, submit a 45-60 second video, provide an official tuition/cost statement, and supply two references from a boss, supervisor, or teacher. Free to apply; no membership required.
No fixed per-award figure published; awards cover tuition, books, and tools only (not room, board, or living costs). The foundation aimed to give away roughly $10 million across all trades in the 2026 cycle.
International Society of Women Airline Pilots (ISA+21)
$5,000 – $10,000
4 award types, 12+ awards per year (~$50,000+)
National · Adults · Women
Open to women pursuing an airline career. Awards fund advanced flight ratings (CFI, CFII, MEI) and airline type ratings; requirements vary by award, from an FAA Commercial certificate for the Financial Scholarship up to an ATP with 2,500 hours for the Type Rating.
Financial Scholarships $5,000 (advanced ratings: CFI, CFII, MEI) and Type Rating Scholarships $10,000 (B737/A320); 12 scholarships worth over $50,000 awarded in the 2025 cycle across all award types.
International Society of Women Airline Pilots (ISA+21)
$10,000
2 awards per year
National · Adults · Women
Open to women with an ATP (or ICAO equivalent), at least 2,500 hours total time including 500 hours multi-engine turbine, a current first-class medical, and a career goal of airline flying.
Two awards a year, each a $10,000 B737 or A320 type rating; training completed with Flight Training International in Miami, Dallas, or Denver.
International Society of Women Airline Pilots (ISA+21)
$5,000
2+ awards per year
National · Adults · Women
Open to women enrolled in an advanced flight training program (or who have completed ab-initio training), holding an FAA Commercial certificate (or equivalent) and a first-class medical, and pursuing an airline career.
A minimum of two $5,000 awards a year toward an advanced flight training program (CFI, CFII, MEI).
American Flyers
Amount varies
Awarded twice a year
National · Adults · Women
Open to U.S.-citizen women pursuing CFI-A and CFI-I ratings who already hold a private certificate, an instrument rating, and a single-engine commercial certificate (or ATP), plus a first- or second-class medical, a 3.0+ GPA, the CFI, FOI, and CFII writtens, and a spin endorsement. Requires three recommendation letters and a commitment to the 30-day academy at an American Flyers school. Employees of American Flyers are not eligible.
Awarded as funded CFI academy training at American Flyers rather than cash: 104 hours of classroom instruction, 10 hours of individual ground instruction, 14 hours dual in a Cessna 172 or 172RG, 6 hours dual simulator, and unlimited solo simulator time. Written and flight test fees, housing, travel, and living expenses are not included.
The Ninety-Nines
Up to $20,000
~20 awards across multiple scholarship types per annual cycle; one application covers all types
National · Women
Applicants must be women who have been continuous paid members of The Ninety-Nines for at least one full year as of January 1, must have a specific and realistic goal for advancement in aviation or aerospace, and must demonstrate financial need for most scholarship types. The membership length requirement is waived for the Vicki Cruse and Kitty Houghton sub-scholarships.
Varies by scholarship type; flight training awards up to $20,000; academic awards up to $10,000 renewable; approximately 20 total awards per annual cycle
National Air Transportation Foundation
$1,500
1 award per year
National
Open to college students (or high school seniors entering an accredited aviation program) who already hold a private pilot certificate, maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, and are pursuing a professional pilot career. Check and transcript required with application.
Minnesota Pilots Association
$3,000
Two named pilot awards (Erickson and Strathy), one application window
Minnesota · Adults
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.
Awards were $2,000 in recent cycles; beginning with the 2027 cycle all scholarships are $3,000. Funds go toward advanced rating training.
Western North Carolina Pilots Association Educational Foundation
From $500
Two pilot grant tracks (Program A certificate or rating, Program B intro lessons)
Western North Carolina
Open to residents of Western North Carolina who demonstrate an interest in aviation and financial need. Program A funds pursuit of a pilot certificate or rating from recreational through ATP, including instrument; Program B reimburses up to $500 for introductory or discovery flights. A separate mechanic track is not flight training. Free to apply.
Program B provides a $500 reimbursement for introductory lessons; Program A funds a certificate or rating and does not publish a fixed figure.
MAPA Safety Foundation (Mooney Aircraft Pilots Association)
Amount varies
National
Open to students already enrolled in and at least halfway through a qualifying program in flight training, aircraft maintenance, aviation engineering, or airport management systems, with a minimum 3.5 GPA. Requires an aviation-safety essay of at least 250 words, two recommendation letters, and an official sealed transcript, submitted by mail.
The award amount is not published on the foundation's scholarship page.
Vertical Aviation International (VAI)
$10,000
National
Applicants must hold a private helicopter pilot certificate and be enrolled in a commercial helicopter rating program at an FAA-approved Part 141 school (or international equivalent), and must hold at least a second-class medical certificate. VAI membership is required to apply.
$10,000 toward commercial helicopter rating training costs, plus complimentary VERTICON full registration for recipient and a guest
AOPA Foundation
$250 – $14,000
Large umbrella program with hundreds of named awards per year; one application covers all eligible scholarships.
National · Women
Open to current AOPA members who are residents of the U.S., D.C., Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, pursuing sport, private, instrument, commercial, or other aviation training; dedicated awards exist for high school students, women, teachers using AOPA curriculum, and corporate aviation employees.
Individual awards range from $250 to $14,000 across many named scholarships; high school students and teachers have dedicated pools of awards at $12,000 each.
Spring cycle Apr 1 to Jun 30, Fall cycle Oct 1 to Dec 31 each year
CloudDancer Scholarship Foundation
$17,500
5 pilot awards per cycle
National · Veterans
Must be a current active-duty U.S. service member (including Reserves and National Guard) or honorably discharged veteran, enrolled or planning to enroll in an accredited aviation program, with at least a 2.5 GPA and a passing score of 80% or higher on the FAA Private Pilot written exam within the prior 12 months. Valid FAA first- or second-class medical required at application and selection.
Pilot award of $17,500 paid in four milestone-based installments (selection, first solo, solo cross-country, check ride completion). Separate AMT maintenance awards also available at $5,000 to $10,000 each but are not flight training.
Opens May 1, closes July 31 each year. The 2026 cycle has closed; the provider now publishes that the 2027 cycle opens May 1, 2027.
Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
Amount varies
71 awards · one application
National
Open to US or Canadian citizens (or those eligible to work or study in the US or Canada) who are at least 16 years old and pursuing flight training at a US or Canadian flight school. A single application is used for all 25-plus named scholarships, covering certificates from private pilot through CFI, instrument, multi-engine, and other advanced ratings. EAA membership is preferred but not required.
Varies by individual named award; over $487,000 total distributed to 71 recipients in the 2025-2026 cycle (roughly $6,800 average)
Opens Oct 1, closes Dec 19 each year; awards announced on or around March 2
Grand Dames of Aviation
$1,500 – $2,000
4 awards per annual cycle, one application window
National · Women
All four awards are for women. The ProAvi Pilot and ProAvi STEM scholarships ($2,000 each) are for women 18 and older pursuing careers as professional pilots or in aviation and aerospace STEM fields. The Wings of Change scholarships ($1,500 each) recognize a passion for aviation and volunteer service, with a Junior award for ages 14 to 22 and a Senior award for ages 23 and up. The Aspiring Dames membership, open to women 18 and up at any career stage, is pay what you can (suggested $20/year) and waives the non-member application fee of $15 to $20.
Two ProAvi awards at $2,000 each and two Wings of Change awards at $1,500 each
Applications accepted June 30 to August 31 each year
LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation
Up to $17,000
National · Youth 16-18
Open to US citizens or permanent residents aged 16 to 23 as of the January 31 deadline who have not yet earned a Private Pilot Certificate. Applicants must be available for training from May through December and complete a Private Pilot written ground school before mid-May of the training year.
Covers actual flight and ground training costs; total budget is below $17,000 unless circumstances require otherwise
Opens October 31, closes January 31 each year; awards distributed by Memorial Day
Exploring (Learning for Life / BSA)
$5,000 – $10,000
Multiple awards, one application
National
Applicant must be currently registered and active in an Aviation Explorer post (Learning for Life / BSA). A minimum of three recommendation letters from non-family aviation or community contacts are required, and all scholarship funds must be used within 24 months of the award.
Awards range from $5,000 to $10,000; one standard application covers all scholarship categories
Opens February 1, closes April 30 each year; recipients notified by July 1
Professional Asian Pilots Association (PAPA)
$2,500 – $7,500
National · Adults
Open to paid PAPA members (individual membership starts at $45/year) who are at least 18 years old with a high school diploma or GED; explicitly open to all backgrounds regardless of race or ethnicity, including U.S. green card holders. Funds are disbursed directly to the applicant's flight school or university.
Generally $2,500 to $7,500; varies by sponsorship level each cycle
Spring and fall windows each year; the Fall 2026 window runs September 15 to 30, closing at 23:59 PT.
Sisters of the Skies
$2,500 – $15,000
Multiple awards per year across several named programs, each with a separate application.
National · Women · Minority
Applicants must be women of color pursuing professional pilot careers, from initial flight training through advanced ratings such as commercial and multi-engine. Specific awards have additional requirements (e.g., the Goetz/Holen award targets multi-engine or commercial candidates; the Rashanda Nicole Lee Memorial targets African-American women).
Individual grants range from $2,500 to $15,000 depending on the specific award; multiple scholarships offered each year at different amounts.
Fall cycle opens Oct 1 and closes Oct 15 each year; additional awards (Goetz/Holen multi-engine commercial, summer scholarship, United Aviate partnership) open and close on separate schedules throughout the year.
Stripes to Bars
Amount varies
15 awards in 2025 cycle
National · Veterans
Open to current and former members of any US federal uniformed service with other-than-dishonorable discharge status, who hold a valid FAA medical certificate appropriate to their training goals. Funds may be applied toward any FAA pilot certificate at any flight school nationwide.
Varies by award; the 2025 cycle distributed $52,500 across 15 recipients (roughly $3,500 per award on average)
Opens Jan 1, closes Feb 28 each year; awards announced starting May 1
Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
Amount varies
National · Women
Open to women who are US citizens, at least 17 years old, and pursuing a sport pilot certificate, private pilot certificate, or additional ratings. Candidates who actively participate in aviation community activities and events are given preference. EAA chapter members are prioritized during selection, though membership is not a hard requirement.
No individual award amount published; part of EAA Aviation Foundation pool that distributed over $487,000 across 71 students in the 2025-2026 cycle
Opens Oct 1, closes Dec 19 each year; winners notified on or around Mar 2
Air & Space Forces Association (AFA)
Up to $10,000
1 award per year
Destin, FL
Open to current AFA members (free Mission Membership qualifies) who can commit to training at Destin Flight Works in Destin, Florida. No prior flight experience is required; recipients are responsible for travel, lodging, and any training costs beyond the $10,000 award.
Up to $10,000 per recipient; covers instructor fees and aircraft rental toward a PPL
Opens Dec 1, closes Apr 30 each year; selections announced in July
Hiller Aviation Museum
$15,000
San Francisco Bay Area, CA · Youth 16-18
Applicants must be 16 to 18 years old and reside in one of 11 San Francisco Bay Area counties. Flight training must be completed at a Part 61 or Part 141 school within the Bay Area, leading to an FAA Private Pilot Certificate.
Single award of $15,000 per recipient toward flight training costs
Opens early February, closes early April each year; awards announced in May
Colorado Pilots Association
$2,500
2 awards per cycle
Colorado · Youth 16-18
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.
Two $2,500 awards per annual cycle
Opens Jan 1, closes Feb 15 each year
Aerospace Center for Excellence
Amount varies
Polk County, FL · Youth 16-18
Open to students aged 16 to 19 who reside in or attend a secondary school in Polk County, Florida, and hold at least a 2.75 unweighted GPA. The award supports students working toward their Private Pilot certificate.
Award amount is not published; the scholarship funds Private Pilot flight training toward the certificate.
Three windows each year (Jan 1-31, May 1-30, Oct 1-31); the next opens Oct 1, 2026.
Every scholarship here gets re-verified against its official page. Leave your email and we'll send a heads-up before deadlines close and when new verified scholarships are added.
Email it over and we'll verify it against its official page before it goes on the list.
Email a scholarshipAmounts, deadlines, and eligibility come from each provider's official page on the date shown. They change. Always confirm on the provider's site before applying. Information, not financial advice. Read how we keep this list honest →
Most aviation scholarships accept applications for a few weeks a year, and a missed window usually means waiting a full cycle. That is the entire reason this page exists: it strips the directory down to what you can act on today, sorted by whichever deadline lands next.
The counterintuitive part is that the best time to work on scholarships is often when your target award is closed. Winning applications are assembled in the quiet season and submitted early in the window: recommendation letters requested weeks ahead, the essay drafted against your real training numbers, transcripts and certificates ready. The applicants scrambling in the final week are the pool you want to stand apart from.
So work both lists. Apply to what is open here, and shortlist the closed awards in the full directory whose next cycle fits your timeline. Then build your plan so every essay names a real number, and finance only the gap your wins don't cover.
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
1403 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.
Closed awards stay listed with their next window, so you can prepare before they reopen.
Each scholarship's open or closed status is computed from the deadline on its provider's official page, and the page rebuilds every day. Nothing here is hand-labeled, so an award that closed yesterday cannot still show as open today.
The provider has published the date its next application window starts, and that date is still ahead. Opens-soon awards are the best ones to prepare for: finish the essay and line up recommendation letters now, then submit the day the window opens.
That is normal for parts of the year, because most aviation scholarships run one annual window. Use the full directory to shortlist awards whose next cycle fits you, set a deadline reminder, and spend the closed season preparing the application pieces that take weeks.
The heaviest concentration of application windows falls in autumn and winter, when the big membership organizations run their annual cycles. Smaller local and chapter awards open throughout the year, which is why this page is worth rechecking whenever your training plans firm up.
