Grant Targeted Towards Individuals In Intermediate Training
Stages
As past recipients of Women in Aviation, International
scholarships, both Deborah Hecker and Evelyne Tinkl knew how
career- and life-changing a WAI scholarship can be. Both women had
won WAI type rating scholarships in 1998 and went on to have
successful airline careers.
Their own positive experiences were the impetus behind launching
and funding a scholarship for individuals in the intermediate stage
of flight training which they named the Keep Flying Scholarship.
Its purpose was to provide the next logical license or rating for a
career pilot. Specifically, the Keep Flying Scholarship would
ideally fund training for a commercial certificate or instrument,
multiengine or flight instructor ratings.
"This is not the first time a scholarship winner has launched
her own scholarship," says WAI President Dr. Peggy Chabrian. "Other
past scholarship winners want to give to another WAI member what
they have experienced themselves. It's a testament to the
dedication of our members."
At the 2011 WAI Conference this past February, the three pilots
from the "Keep Flying Scholarship" had a conversation with pilots
from South Africa. Soon, it was decided to expand the Keep Flying
Scholarship into developing countries. A meeting with Refilwe
Ledwaba, founder of the Southern African Women in Aviation &
Aerospace Industry (SAWIA), allowed both parties to exchange ideas
and develop scholarship concepts. Within three hours, funding was
arranged by Keep Flying Scholarship friend Christy Dobelli. In
collaboration with SAWIA, the Keep Flying Scholarship for a night
rating was awarded to South African pilot Michaela Meiswinkel on
May 9, 2011.
"When I was 15, I had to decide on a career and make subject
choices accordingly," said Scholarship winner Meiswinkel. "I
started 'shadowing' at local flight schools, following instructors
around, asking questions. Then a family friend took me up on my
first flight, gave me the controls, and when that amazing feeling
of having the aircraft in my hands and the open sky around me took
hold, my interest became my passion."
Peggy Chabrian
The Keep Flying Scholarship has been awarded annually since
2003. In 2009, Janet Patton, another airline pilot, joined the Keep
Flying Scholarship team. To date, scholarships totaling over
$36,000 have been awarded, and the scholarship has been privately
funded by these three WAI members with the support of a small
circle of dedicated and generous airline pilot friends and by
family members.
"We are an international organization and no matter where our
members call home, they are united by a common passion for
aviation," said Chabrian. "The Keep Flying International
Scholarship is an ideal way to provide opportunities to our members
worldwide."
Scholarships available for 2012 will be posted in mid-July 2011.
These scholarships will be awarded during the 23rd Annual
International Women in Aviation Conference at the Hilton Anatole in
Dallas, Texas, from March 8-10, 2012.