Female aviators can now apply for more than $100,000 in helicopter flight training and educational scholarships from the Whirly-Girls Scholarship Fund. Applications are due Oct. 3, 2021.
This year, scholarship sponsors include Airbus, Erickson & Volo Mission, FlightSafety International, Garmin, Leading Edge Flight Academy, Central Oregon Community College, Night Flight Concepts, Robinson Helicopter Company, Survival Systems USA, and many private individuals, according to association officials.
Opportunities are available for both experienced and newly-certificated pilots, officials said, adding examples include classes in turbine transition, software use, commercial flight training, and a helicopter rating.
“When the original 13 members of the Whirly-Girls founded this organization, they were the only female helicopter pilots in the world,” said Whirly-Girls Past President Alison Martin. “They envisioned a place where female pilots could find support and camaraderie and help one another succeed. Today, our group has grown to over 2,000 members but, despite this growth, females still comprise fewer than 6% of pilots. This cripples our industry, and our sponsors provide these career-building scholarships in an effort to advance women and aid the growth of aviation. Every female pilot owes it to herself to apply.”