AboutDottie Norkus Expertise I can address questions concerning: airline pilot employment & entry level airline careers in the Unites States, women pilots, flight training, pilot certification, non-university flight training scholarships (mostly for women), aviation & airline safety topics, aviation accident investigation, air carrier accidents and airline operations.
****Please note, I cannot address flight training or career queries from outside the United States. If you are not in the USA, please direct your question to the message boards at www.PPRUNE.org as you can surely find an answer there. For those in India try http://www.indianpilots.com
Also, I cannot address questions about aero engineering degree programs/careers or aviation management careers.
Experience U.S. Regional airline pilot. I have had 15 years previous experience in airline ground operations. I have previously flown as a commercial skydive pilot & ferry pilot.
Organizations I am a charter member of Women In Aviation International as well as the International Organization of Women Pilots: the Ninety Nines. I keep a database of Flight Training scholarships & grants for women (mostly SW USA) and mentor student pilots.
Education/Credentials Embry Riddle Aeronautical University certificate in Aviation Safety/Accident investigation.
Expert: Dottie Norkus Date: 7/14/2008 Subject: Scholarship for Ghanaian
Question AM 23 years GHANAIAN HAVING A CERTIFICATE IN HND. ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING. TO BE A PILOT IS ONE OF MY DREAMS AND I WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL IF YOU LEAD TO THE WAY OF GETING SCHOLARSHIP IN ONE OF THE PILOTING TRAING SCHOOLS IN USA TO MAKE MY DREAM COME TRUE.
Answer Anna
I have a database of flight scholarships for females at http://www.flightscholarship.info
Unfortunately, most all scholarships given in the USA require American citizenship, residence in a geographic area or an organization affiliation, so you do not qualify for most awards here. Also, most awards are one time grants that only cover less than 10% of the entire cost.
As a female Ghanaian, the only places you might be able to qualify for a flight scholarship would be from Women In Aviation International or the International Organization of Women Pilots: the Ninety-Nines.
However, even if you win a small scholarship, you still may not be able to come to the USA and do your flight training.
Any aspiring pilot that is not a U.S. citizen must get a special visa via the Alien Flight Student Program/AFSP that allows them to visit the United States for the purpose of flight training. Before the pilot candidate is approved for this visa, they must provide proof that they have all the funding required or have secured financing/loans for the entire pilot training course or they will not be issued the visa. The cost will vary depending on the school and the rates they charge but you should expect it will cost upwards of $60,000 USD. AFSP candidates may only enroll with flight schools on an approved list. You must contact one of the approved schools for an estimate of their program costs.
Additionally, non-U.S. citizens must apply online through the AFSP website and provide their fingerprints, biographical information, security documents including passport copies, and specific information about their desired training events. The AFSP processes candidate training request applications using four different categories distinguished by the type of training requested. An application fee of $130 for the background check is required. Get all the information about this visa and the application process here-
