So I scrapped and schemed and worked a number of odd jobs through my teen years to pay for primary training and then went off to college and amassed an eye-watering level of student loan debt while completing my advanced ratings, all to graduate just after the 9/11 attacks. In retrospect I was fortunate. My seemingly poor timing put me in a very good position when the pilot shortage finally gathered steam, and as expensive as flight training seemed then, it has become even more so. It was also an era of easy borrowing and low interest rates.

If you, like me, lacked the foresight to be born into wealth and are now trying to finance your dream of becoming a professional pilot, you face greater obstacles than I ever did. Post-COVID inflation has made most things more expensive, and everything in aviation from used aircraft to engine overhauls to insurance has outpaced it. Meanwhile, interest rates have skyrocketed, with prime lending rates above 8 percent for a full year now and most unsecured loans at least 3 percent above that. Few reputable banks are offering noncollege flight training loans these days, and this void has been filled by lenders who can be described as little better than loan sharks. Predatory interest rates of 17 percent or more are common. 

Sadly, many of the flight schools appear to be willing accomplices, prominently advertising “easy” financing “as low as 4.5 percent” or some similarly unrealistic rate. Many of their partner lenders will not reveal actual rates or terms until the student has already been accepted to the training program, with a proposed start date. Every week there are posts on aviation forums by students who have just learned, shortly before starting training, that their proposed $130,000, 15-year loan will end up costing $250,000 or more, with monthly payments above $2,000. Unfortunately, many see little alternative but to sign on the dotted line, justifying the terms with optimistic career earnings projections and the perceived rush to get their ratings “before the pilot shortage is over.” It’s an effective trap for lower-income kids with a dream but not much financial literacy. 

Honestly, had I been put in that position at 18 years old, I probably would have signed on the dotted line myself. I was financially illiterate at that age too. I’ve learned a lot about money since then, though, and about the aviation industry. Let me offer some really sound advice:

• Be very wary of any flight school that requires significant money up front. There are many cases of schools suddenly closing or otherwise absconding with students’ funds or refusing or delaying repayment of the balance after the student has flunked out or quit midway through training. At the very least, they should require no more in your account than is required to complete the next block of training (e.g, private pilot certificate, instrument rating, etc).

• If a flight school’s preferred lender isn’t upfront about rates or terms, be very skeptical. Anyone who requires you to be accepted at the school and have a start date before revealing loan terms is likely springing a debt trap on you.

• A hard truth of aviation is that the majority of those who start primary training quit before earning their private pilot certificate, and the attrition rate for professional programs is similarly high. Not everyone will enjoy flying, and not everyone is cut out for it. You won’t really know if it’s for you until you’re at least through primary training. Don’t make any momentous financial decisions until then.

• Career earnings for a pilot can be high, but also vary quite widely depending on timing, keeping a clean record, maintaining a Class I medical, networking ability, and sometimes just plain dumb luck. Do not base financial decisions on best-case scenarios. And in any case, plan on several early years of earning less than $50,000, perhaps substantially less.

• Do not, under any circumstances, accept any substantial loan at more than 12 percent interest. It will be a millstone around your neck. Unlike most debt, student loans are not dischargeable in personal bankruptcy. Having to repay a crippling amount of high-interest debt early in your career will cause a high level of stress and may well lead to career decisions that prioritize short-term earnings over long-term advancement. 

• There was a period during the pilot shortage when it made some sense to spend more and even accept less than satisfactory loan terms in order to finish training quickly and reach the airlines ASAP. In my opinion, that period is over. Hiring is starting to return to traditional norms, and there’s even a bit of a glut of low-time pilots. It’s difficult to be hired at regional airlines at 1,500 hours right now, for example. 

All of this points to doing your training in a way that minimizes borrowing until interest rates come down. First, get as far into your training as you can while paying cash. If you have a decent job now, pay cash to train toward a private pilot certificate at a local flight school while still working. Make the decision to quit and take on debt only once you have your certificate. If you don’t have a job that will pay for primary training, put major effort into securing aviation scholarships and grants. Most aviation organizations offer them, and you should apply for every single one. Some are relatively small, but the dollars add up, and there’s a multiplicative effect as your name gets out there. In fact, this is a fantastic way to get a head start on networking.

When you reach the point that you simply have to finance your training, shop around. You’ll be surprised to find there’s a fair amount of variance among private student loan lenders—not all are loan sharks. If your intended school is pushing use of a predatory lender, I’d be very skeptical about training there. After all, when the lending is more lucrative than providing the actual training, that makes the training a loss leader—and quality is likely to suffer accordingly.

• READ MORE: 6 Mistakes to Avoid When Looking for Pilot Training Loans

Rates vary significantly based on credit scores and history. If you know that you’ll be applying for loans in the next few years, put a strong effort into increasing your credit history and scores now. Alternatively, you’ll get better rates by having a cosigner with good credit. This doesn’t need to be a parent, but given that they’ll share responsibility for the loan with you, you had best have a good relationship and proven yourself trustworthy to anyone you ask to cosign on a loan.

The Federal Reserve is expected to start lowering interest rates next summer. As long as your lender does not tack on substantial origination fees, you may well be better off taking multiple smaller loans throughout your training, versus one big loan at the start. And while variable rate loans can be a gamble, I think they’re a decent bet now, so long as yours is adjusted monthly or quarterly and is tied to a fair index (the former standard, London Interbank Offered Rate [LIBOR], has been discontinued, and Secured Overnight Financing Rate [SOFR] is the best replacement). 

Finally, the best interest rates going these days in the U.S. are for federal direct subsidized and unsubsidized Loans. For the 2023-24 school year, they’re set at 5.5 percent for undergraduate students and 7.05 percent for graduate/professional students. The catch is these loans can only be used at nationally accredited institutions, which largely limits you to college flight programs (both four-year and two-year). With pilot supply and recruiting returning to normalcy, however, I think that college programs will become attractive again.

Even if the major airlines do not reinstate their long-standing degree requirements, a degree will always be preferred and may well make the critical difference as the hiring process becomes more competitive.

The post Financing the Pro Pilot Dream…Without Getting Scammed appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

At the end of 2023 the fuel giant awarded one AVTRIP scholarship recipient and three pilot-in-training grants.

Cherry Kan was the recipient of the $2,000 AVTRIP scholarship. AVTRIP is the company’s pilot loyalty reward program, and the money is available to members. 

“I feel incredibly honored to have been chosen as the recipient of the AVTRIP scholarship, generously supported by Avfuel,” said Kan. “Navigating this journey, becoming a professional pilot as a second career, the scholarship will not only provide valuable financial assistance but also grant a sense of support from Avfuel. Beyond the immediate financial aid, being a scholarship recipient deepens my connection to the AVTRIP rewards program as a pilot, and I eagerly look forward to being a loyal member for years to come. My ultimate career aspiration is to fly internationally for a Michigan-based company as a corporate pilot. I am beyond grateful that Avfuel is with me on this journey.”

Rachel Marrow was the winner of a $1,500 pilot-in-training scholarship. Marrow already holds a private pilot certificate and is pursuing her instrument rating and commercial certificate.

“This scholarship holds immense significance for me as it serves as a crucial financial aid toward realizing my aspiration of becoming an airline pilot,” Marrow said. “The financial burden associated with flight training is substantial, and this scholarship will alleviate some of the costs for both myself and my family.”

Marrow hopes her story inspires others, adding that earningthe scholarship has reignited her commitment to achieving not only personal success but also serving as an inspiration for aspiring female aviators.

“I aim to share my passion for flying during my CFI training, breaking down barriers and encouraging others to pursue their aviation dreams,” she said.

Tariq Collins, a flight attendant from the South Side of Chicago, was the recipient of the $1,000 Avfuel pilot-in-training scholarship. Collins took his first ride on an airplane at the age of 6 and says it “forever changed his life,” thanks to the pilots on board. He is particularly interested in investing his time in aviation education to increase awareness of opportunities in underrepresented communities.

“I want to be the inspiration for someone else that looks like me to be able to pursue their dreams with confidence,” said Collins, adding that he plans to become a captain with a major airline.

Evan Unzicker was the recipient of the $500 Avfuel pilot-in-training scholarship. Unzicker is an early high school graduate now enrolled at Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois. His professional goal is to become a private pilot, and he says the scholarship will be a big help as he has been working various part-time jobs to pay for his schooling.

Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Avfuel has been providing fuel and services, including sustainable fuel and initiatives, to the global market for more than 50 years. It’s difficult to find an airport that isn’t served by its products.

The company noted these four recipients of the AVTRIP and pilot-in-training scholarships came in addition to another $30,000 awarded in 2023 as part of the Sheltair & Avfuel: Future Takes Flight Scholarship Program, which provides $5,000 scholarships to six aviators.

“It is incredible to see the true passion these students have for aviation—a passion we at Avfuel share,” said Marci Ammerman, vice president of marketing at Avfuel. “It is our honor to reward aspiring and inspiring aviators. In doing so, we can support the future of an industry we love. It’s a mission we continue to prioritize year after year.”

Applications for the 2024 AVTRIP and pilot-in-training scholarships open in April. The 2024 Sheltair & Avfuel: Future Takes Flight Scholarship Program applications are now available online through August 31.

More information can be found on the Avfuel website.

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Barns has known he wanted a career in aviation since high school and considered attending a college-based aviation program, but instead joined the U.S. Marine Corps. Following his service, he attended Millersville University, where pursued an aspect of his interest in aviation by earning a bachelor’s degree in meteorology.

Barns will be using the Sporty’s $2,500 Pilot Training+ Scholarship to earn his private pilot certificate at Reigle Field (58N) in Palmyra, Pennsylvania. The airport, located near Hershey, was established in 1942 by Chas and Ada Reigle and still has that vintage aviation vibe with a flight school that offers training in a J-3 Cub and 1943 Fairchild PT-23 as well as a Cessna 172.

• READ MORE: 6 Tips for Winning Aviation Scholarships

“The $2,500 award would be enough for me to pay for a tailwheel endorsement at my training airport and join the local gliding club,” said Barns. “I would then have the opportunity to earn glider ratings and build time toward my commercial certificate as a tow pilot.”

Barns noted that the local glider club always needs tow pilots, and he looks forward to building his hours through towing and gliding.

About Sporty’s Pilot Training+

Sporty’s Pilot Training+ is an all-inclusive membership that unlocks Sporty’s complete library of video-based courses for one annual fee. Membership also includes the opportunity to apply for three $2,500 scholarships, which are awarded annually.

To enroll as a Sporty’s Pilot Training+ member, visit sportys.com/pilottraining.

The post Sporty’s Flight Scholarship Awarded appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

This year’s scholarship class includes dedicated individuals from various regions, each pursuing different aspects of the aviation field—Lei Huot, Joel Mink, Justin Hernandez, Katrina Kienitz, Bailey Pollard, and Kyle Keyser. The scholarships are intended to support areas of aviation education such as primary training or obtaining advanced pilot ratings, aviation technician training, or continuing education.

The recipients also bring diverse aspirations to the aviation field. Pollard, for example, aims to inspire the next generation of women in aviation by obtaining her instrument rating and commercial certificate. 

“It is truly an honor to be awarded the Sheltair and Avfuel: Future Takes Flight Scholarship,” said Pollard in a press release. “Receiving this scholarship will allow me to continue and complete my instrument rating after putting it on hold for a few years …This opportunity is putting me one step closer to having my dream become a reality.”

Keyser is pursuing a career in aerial firefighting, with a strong desire to support those working on the ground. Huot is pursuing a degree in aviation maintenance science and seeks to work on jet aircraft, potentially maintaining military aircraft, as her grandfather did. Mink’s passion for aviation has driven him to earn FAA airframe and powerplant certifications, with the ultimate goal of becoming an aviation maintenance technician. Hernandez’s scholarship will support his aviation studies as he aspires to become a professional pilot.

This scholarship program not only provides financial assistance but also encourages and supports individuals to achieve their career goals and make valuable contributions to the aviation industry. With their diverse backgrounds and career aspirations, these recipients represent the future of business aviation.

In its second year, the Sheltair and Avfuel: Future Takes Flight Scholarship program plays a crucial role in helping aspiring aviators pursue their dreams and achieve excellence in their chosen fields. Applicants interested in the next round of scholarships will have the opportunity to apply beginning in December, with a June 1 deadline. The selection process for the 2024 scholarship recipients will involve evaluating essay submissions and giving special consideration to applicants facing financial hardship. The winners of the next scholarship class will be announced at the NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in 2024.

The post Sheltair, Avfuel Award $30K in Scholarships appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

This year’s awards, valued at $5,000 each, included scholarships for six university students and grants for eight young professionals. Scholarship money goes to support the students’ college studies while grant funding goes toward education, learning, and leadership opportunities.

“These supersmart young business aviation pros and students who are building their business aviation resumes are the future of the resale industry, and the IADA team wishes them very rewarding careers,” said IADA executive director Wayne Starling. “We welcome their progress as they develop and hone their professional skills.”

• READ MORE: IADA To Award Business Aviation Scholarships to Students at 21 Schools

IADA business aviation scholarships, which take the form of monetary awards from $1,000 to $5,000, are designed specifically for students planning careers in corporate aircraft-related sales, marketing, finance, legal, and insurance fields. The foundation noted that applications are open to those attending colleges and universities that offer coursework in corporate aviation management, aerodynamics, aircraft systems, aviation safety, finance, business marketing, economics, and aviation business or management.

To be eligible, an applicant must be a full-time undergraduate student enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester or a graduate student with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Applications open annually in June and close September 1.

Grants are awarded to young professionals employed by IADA members in the business aviation resale industry.

Further information is available at https://iada.aero/scholar.

The post IADA Foundation Awards 2023 Business Aviation Scholarships, Grants appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The three-year campaign, titled Hart Aviation Nation Delivers (HAND), has already spawned a collaborative, themed scholarship called “All Hands on Deck,” which brings together several sponsors. Four I Hart Flying scholars have been supported by the initiative in its first three months—and an upcoming event at Denver’s Rocky Mountain Metro Airport (KBJC) on National Aviation Day (August 19), will drive more participation from donors such as Immaculate Flight, Sheltair, AEG Fuels, and new partner, Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport.

“There’s incredible meaning and impact in this newly themed scholarship launch,” said Rachelle Spector, founder of the I Hart Flying Foundation. “It takes extra hands to help lift more women and youth in STEM and aviation. Our hearts give us life, and the ability to propel, yet also to aid one another in time of need. Our Hart Nation is united and continually delivers,”

“With an unmatched approach to supporting the next generation of aviation professionals, we’re excited to launch this next opportunity around the largest airshow in the world July 24 through 30 at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with additional special events and outreach to follow.”

At a press conference at AirVenture, Lyndse Costabile introduced two of the past scholars, Kristin Brooks and Allison Schlotthaur⁠.

“I have been so humbled and grateful to be a part of the I Hart Flying organization as not only a scholarship recipient, but to now be involved at EAA AirVenture, and promote an event in August with FlyteCo Tower in Denver Colorado,” said Kristin Brooks, 2022 Hart Scholar and recently instrument-rated pilot. “I love this opportunity to be able to promote women in aviation and share my story in hopes to motivate others to start flying!”

The post New Scholarship Initiative Launches from I Hart Flying appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The rebound in commercial airline travel, combined with the boost that business aviation has benefited from due to customers switching to private jet travel, has revealed a widespread workforce shortage and a need for skilled talent. IADA has designed its scholarship to help students with interests in business aviation further their education to find meaningful jobs in this industry. IADA’s executive director Wayne Starling welcomed students to apply online before the September 1 deadline. 

“The IADA business aviation scholarship program benefits university students seeking a career in business aviation, specifically within corporate aircraft sales, marketing, finance, legal, and insurance disciplines,” Starling said in a statement.

The list of participating schools includes:

• Auburn University
• Broward College
• Charleston Southern University
• Colorado Northwestern Community College
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech)
• Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)
• Indiana State University
• Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology
• Louisiana Tech University
• Metropolitan State University of Denver
• Middle Georgia State University
• Middle Tennessee State University
• Oklahoma State University
• Purdue University
• Saint Louis University, Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
• University of Nebraska, Omaha
• The University of North Dakota, John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences
• University of Oklahoma
• University of North Texas – Denton
• Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology

To be eligible, students at the participating schools must be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate or graduate course and have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0-grade scale. The scholarship application will require students to submit an essay about their passion, interests, or inspiration for aviation. The IADA board will review all applications and select awardees based on a points system designed to reward the highest-ranking students across the selected schools. Selected applicants will be advised of their awards through their university’s financial aid office no later than November 30.

To see how we ranked top flight schools and aviation college programs, check out FLYING’s Flight School Guide.

READ MORE: FLYING’s Flight School Guide Names ATP Its No. 1 Flight School

The post IADA To Award Business Aviation Scholarships to Students at 21 Schools appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Already, $33,000 has been raised for the 2022 scholarship awards—and donations are still being accepted, said the nonprofit’s founder, Rachelle Spector, aka Rachelle Sky Hart. She anticipates awarding at least four scholarships this year to eligible women attending accredited flight training schools in the U.S. or Canada.

As of 12 p.m. (PT) Monday, applicants could access the online I Hart Flying scholarship application. The deadline to apply is August 29. Winners will be announced September 23. 

Connecting Industry Partners and Pilots 

The aptly-named 2022 Industry Connect Scholarship is supported by three veteran I Hart Flying corporate donors, Immaculate Flight, AEG Fuels, and Dassault Falcon Jet—and for the first time, Paragon Aviation Group. 

“This is an incredible organization, and we feel honored to be able to support women in aviation,” said Megan Barnes, president of Paragon Aviation Group. “I was blessed to be born into an amazing aviation family and learned to fly at an early age. Being able to share this opportunity through the I Hart Flying team is a true gift.” 

In addition to flight training scholarships that usually range from $3,000 to $4000, each scholarship winner receives additional gifts, training aids and equipment—donated by a variety of other I Hart Flying supporters, said Lyndse Costabile, who leads media and corporate relations for the organization. These gifts include Bose headsets, training from the King Schools, a one-year subscription to FLYING magazine, and more. 

A new donor to the I Hart Flying scholarship “goodies,” Aerox, is giving a two-place portable oxygen system to each scholarship winner this year, as announced at EAA AirVenture, for when the new pilots “expand their horizons and start to fly higher!”

Scholarship recipients will also receive complimentary registration and travel funds to attend the annual National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA BACE), Costabile said. 

I Hart Flying’s mission of empowering women to become pilots is one that unifies the aviation industry, Costabile explained. “We are known as an organization to connect the industry together—even to bring competitors of the industry together to be in the same space for the greater good,” she said. “We’re not just connecting partners to I Hart Flying, we’re connecting partners to work together.”

According to Spector, this year’s scholarship theme—Industry Connect—celebrates the industry partners that are so important to the organization and the spirit of collaboration and interconnectedness that has fueled the nonprofit’s success over the past five years.   

“Our scholarships go so beyond financial support. We stay in contact and mentor and advise and connect our recipients with the industry,” she said. “It’s such a big industry, but you connect in such a small way, because everybody knows everybody. This is more…than just giving money to somebody and saying, ‘Hey, good luck, have a nice day.’ This is, what can we do to build meaningful relationships with not only the recipients, or finalists, or partners, sponsors and donors—this is a group effort if we want to fill that pilot pipeline.”

Merit-Based Application

Costabile cautions scholarship applicants to take their time with the application process and not to wait until the last day to complete it. The application is intense and competitive, she said. A committee of volunteers reviews the scholarship applications and assign points for each question/response. All personal and demographic information, including the applicants’ names, are removed, so that the application is assessed based solely on merit, she said.

Those who receive a scholarship are required to provide periodic updates, as well, regarding their flight training progress. “We require that they provide us with their updated logbook. We don’t make it easy; we have to make sure that they’re progressing,” Costabile said, to provide our financial partners with the return on their investment that they expect. “The whole point of I Hart Flying is to get more women into flying.”

Helping Women Achieve Their Dreams 

And the organization is doing just that. Over the last five years, I Hart Flying has helped 21 women pursue their passion for flight, according to Spector. The scholarship recipients include a woman who was at one time homeless, but who did everything she could to achieve her dream, and another woman who started her own airplane-detailing company to pay her way through flight training, she said. One thing they all have in common: “Their passion and drive shines through.” 

Spector said her journey as a pilot was unexpected. “A flight instructor randomly reached out to me on Facebook and asked me to come for a free flight. I’ve been flying ever since,” she said. “They offered me a scholarship to do my whole private pilot’s license for free and it changed my life forever.” After earning her private pilot certificate, she pursued flight with a fervor, racking up four ratings in just seven months. 

• READ MORE: FLYING Archives: I Hart Flying Scholarships Offer Opportunities

She credits flight instructor Bill Montei, who was working at Van Nuys Flight Center in California at the time, with changing her life. Now, Spector said she’s paying it forward.

“I knew I had a voice and I was in a position to do the same thing for others, and I said, hey, why not? So here we are five years later, let’s just keep up the good will and the good work building the pilot pipeline and getting more women in flight.

“At the end of the day, my biggest goal was what can I do to help somebody. Whether it’s one person a year, 10 people a year; it doesn’t have to be a big thing if at the end of the day, you’re helping someone. That means more to me than anything else.” 

With the current pilot shortage and a renewed focus on diversity and inclusion, Spector said the time is ripe for women interested in aviation to seize the opportunity to enter the workforce.

• READ MORE: Why Are There So Few Women in Aviation? Women in Aviation Advisory Board Gives the FAA a ‘Flight Plan for the Future’

“When you’re looking at the percentages, only 6 percent of women still occupy the pilot population…and that’s just fixed wing, we’re not even talking about rotorcraft,” she said. “Now that we need pilots, now is the time for women to shine…[And] we’re here to help in any way we can.”

The post I Hart Flying Scholarship Program Pays It Forward appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

A: Congratulations to your son for considering a change to pursue aviation as a career! While the financial assistance in place for young adults is somewhat clearer—in terms of student loans and other scholarships and stipends—it is a little murkier for those of us who are looking at a new role in our 30s, 40s, and beyond.

However, we have several ideas for your son to investigate.

Community College Programs

As you may know, community colleges provide a wealth of education and vocational programs for young people—but also tend to have courses geared for adult learners. These typically involve night and weekend classes, and flexible degree completion requirements.

You may not know that a lot of community colleges have great aviation programs. In fact, some of our favorites in the FLYING Flight School Guide offer just as rigorous a curriculum as four-year colleges but on a more manageable scale in terms of cost and schedule.

These community college programs may also offer stipends, scholarships, and/or work study programs for adults wishing to make a career change. Look at our guide as well as colleges in your area to determine if this is a path to pursue.

Scholarships and Grants

Aviation associations such as Women in Aviation International (WAI) and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association—among others—offer a roster of scholarships and grants that appeal to would-be pilots from a variety of ages and backgrounds. WAI in particular offers several scholarships annually that target folks making a career change—and your son can apply to most any of these, as there are no limits as regards to gender.

Look to local service organizations, as well, for ideas on finding scholarships focused on changing careers in general—and apply these funds to an aviation pursuit.

Use Your Resources

While not a source of financial aid, per se, one advantage an adult learner has over a younger person just starting out is that they potentially have assets—or just a decent credit score—that they can parlay into a secured or collateralized loan for flight training expenses. If your son has a house, there is the possibility of a home equity line of credit or other loan to give him the opportunity to pursue training in a focused way.

Not a homeowner? Another aspect of adult learners is maturity, and the ability to come up with creative solutions. One of these would be to find a flying club in his area, and join one that includes an instructor or a connection to a flight school. By investing in a share in an airplane, he may be able to lower costs while gaining support from fellow pilots through the training process for his private pilot certificate.

The post What Financial Help Can I Get as an Adult Learning to Fly? appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

After a hiatus since 2019, Daher is offering an internship fund for two college juniors or seniors, aged 18 to 24, who intend to pursue a career in aviation. The students must be U.S. or Canadian citizens with the ability to obtain a passport.

The experience will provide an opportunity for each young person to visit France for an internship of five weeks duration from June 13 to July 15, where they will work at the Daher facility in Tarbes in southwestern France, within the Aircraft Division, home of TBM turboprop aircraft manufacturing. The students will be exposed to a variety of aviation disciplines within the division.

French language skills are not required prior to the internship, but having them would add a lot to the experience. Roundtrip transportation will be provided from the U.S. to France, as well as local transportation in France and accommodations in a student-focused residence setting.

H2: From LFBT to KOSH

The Daher facility in Tarbes complements the company’s expanding reach in the U.S., with the Kodiak utility turboprop division in Sandpoint, Idaho, and recently acquired footprint in Stuart, Florida. The Tarbes Lourdes Pyrénées Airport (LFBT) is a towered field in view of the mountain ranges, and it serves a community of roughly 43,000 people. Toulouse and Bordeaux can be reached in less than two hours and three hours, respectively, by car or train.

This internship will include an opportunity to visit and experience EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, at the end of July, completing the journey in the U.S. Roundtrip transportation to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, is included in the scholarship, along with local transportation and accommodations there. 

The deadline to register interest and supply all materials is April 18, 2022, by visiting the Daher careers site.

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