Expert: D. Norkus - 11/19/2010

Question
Hello,
Am a 23 Years old Zambian Woman who is desperately looking for a loan or financial assistance to start my flying.Do you offer scholarships to students or rather International Students who want to pursue this kind of course?Or if you offer loans that would be paid back when one starts working.
Waiting to hear from you.
Yours faithfully,
Diana Simwinji

Answer
Diana

I cannot help with a loan or information on how to obtain one. However there are a few organizations that give flight scholarships to women across the globe. They are based in the United States, but have international membership and a few awards are open to those who are student pilots. The criteria varies and membership is required.

The Ninety-Nines offers the Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship New Pilot Award. It will provide up to $1500 toward completion of the Recreational Pilot, Sport Pilot, or Private Pilot certificate, or non-U.S. equivalent, in any aircraft. You must be an Associate member of the organization and applications are due by Dec 1st annually. Other requirements include a solo flight, have a current medical certificate and must have passed the written exam if required for the pilot certificate sought.

http://www.ninety-nines.org/index.cfm/scholarships.htm


Women In Aviation, International gives many awards annually but most are for advanced aviatrixes pursuing a career. The annual deadline is in November. The 2010 deadline has passed, but this link lists what will be awarded and the requirements for each-

http://www.wai.org/education/scholarship_list_2011.cfm

The International Society of Women Airline Pilots, "ISA+21", does not require membership for their award, but they do require substantial achievement in aviation already. The Financial Scholarship Requirements include being a certificated FAA Commercial Pilot with an Instrument Rating, or non-US equivalent and the applicant must have time in fixed wing aircraft to commensurate with the rating sought.

http://www.iswap.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=658242&module_id=69813

Women in Corporate Aviation/WCA gives annual awards of $1,000-$2,000 to assist women and men who will positively impact the future of the Corporate Aviation Industry. Again, this often means having some aviation experience before you can apply, but it is a possible resource.

http://www.wca-intl.org/scholarships.htm

Kajuju Laiboni, of Nairobi, Kenya, won a $1,000 WCA scholarship to convert her European flight certificates to Kenyan flight certificates and to obtain her instrument procedures rating. Laiboni is the founder of Women in Aviation in Africa-

http://wafric.org/

Regards,
Dottie