Expert: David A. NewMyer - 12/16/2011

Question
i stay in Kenya i'm kindly asking whether there are scholarships one can get, if your dreams have been to become a pilot and you are not financially able to support yourself due to lack of the tuition fees required for one to become a pilot. these is because I've always desired to become a pilot and my career dreams have always been to become a pilot.

Answer
Hi, Victor

There are several key sources of scholarships and financial aid for those interested in flying careers (most of these scholarships assume that you are pursuing flying via a university degree of some sort):

1.  The United Nations Development Programme at www.undp.org sometimes has scholarship funding available to students from developing nations.  Contact them at their website or contact their local office in Kenya for more information.

2.  Similarly, the Kenyan government via the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority might have some scholarships available for Kenyan citizens interested in studying aviation.  Go to their website at www.kcaa.or.ke

3.  Also, check the EASA or East African School of Aviation for possible scholarships there.

4.  Here in the USA, there are a large number of colleges and universities that offer aviation as part of their curricula.  Go to the website of the University Aviation Association at www.uaa.aero  and click on "Universities and Colleges" for a long list.  

5.  Also, on the UAA website, at www.uaa.aero  you will also find a link to Scholarships.  On that link you will see that UAA has a listing of aviation scholarships available for purchase via the website.  I would only obtain it, however, if you were planning to study aviation in the USA or Canada.  Also, the applications for some of those scholarships are listed on that website.

5.  Go to www.avscholars.com  for some good aviation-related financial aid and scholarship information.

6.  Finally, if you wish to attend a university or college in the USA, Europe or Canada, they sometimes have scholarships and financial aid for new students based on your entering scores and academic qualifications.

I hope that this information has been helpful to you.

I wish you all the best in your pursuit of an aviation career.

David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale