SAN CARLOS, Calif. — The Upwind Foundation has added two new programs: A helicopter scholarship and a youth training initiative.
Now in its fourth year, Upwind aims to transform a high school student into a private pilot during the summer between their junior and senior year.
The new helicopter scholarship does for helicopters what the original Upwind scholarship continues to do for airplanes: Create a newly minted helicopter pilot during the students’ summer between junior and senior year of high school.
The goal of the youth training initiative (YTI) is to provide funds for a youth or young adult to complete their training or perform additional training. The YTI is aimed at furthering a young pilot’s progression to more advanced certificates, ratings, and experience.
Upwind selects high school students and awards them a scholarship that includes everything they need to earn a Private Pilot certificate: Ground and flight training with expert instructors, as well as all the necessary books, charts, and basic flight planning tools.
Additionally, scholarship recipient receive mentorship and guidance from other pilots, and enjoy many other social and flying activities.
Applications are now being accepted for this year’s program, with the winner selected in March. Winners will begin ground training in April, with flight training beginning in June.
Deadline to apply is Feb. 26. To apply, download the application here.