More Than $10,000 In Funding Offered

Gearing up for AirVenture this week, two organizations have collaborated to offer more than $10,000 worth in flight training scholarships. The scholarship program was officially launched last week on social media, with the application period closing on August 10.

Commemorating their one-year relationship with EAA, I Hart Flying, a California-based nonprofit, teamed with EAA Chapter 43 in Denver, Colo. through launch of their themed scholarship ‘Eagles Soar, Harts Explore,’ a four-week social media campaign focused on engaging, inspiring and educating followers about aviation, and to explore flying as a career path! “If we do not step up and be a driving force to meeting the talent demands of our industry, who will?” expressed Rachelle Spector, founder and president of I Hart Flying.

In early March 2018, I Hart Flying launched a similar social media scholarship campaign with east coast’s Liftoff Learning. Nearly 250 combined total applications, more than 1.5 million social media impressions and engagements followed by more than 500 global inquiries were reported. Liftoff Learning’s winning recipient, Justina Darby, is currently working toward her private pilot license. I Hart Flying was able to extend two awards to Hailey Truax and Lauren Konopka to advance their flight training.

Both organizations are adamant about increasing a diverse pilot population, and now. "Our chapter recognizes that the faces in our meetings are getting older, and fresh young ones are not showing up the in the same way they used to,” stated Eric Serani, EAA Chapter 43. “For this reason, our chapter is heavily involved in many ways to get the next generation inspired and involved in aviation. Scholarships like this one are the ‘hart’ and soul of what Chapter 43 is all about!"  This scholarship opportunity is also focused on bringing the excitement back for flying, for aviation. “People do not get as thrilled about flying as they used to. We are making a team effort to ‘ignite the magic’ for aviation, engage more people to explore one of the most amazing phenomenon that’s transformed our world as we know it,” shared Spector.

"Currently in my career field there is a fighter pilot shortage, and that's a problem,” stressed Tyler McBride, EAA Chapter 43. “While this scholarship isn't a recruitment for the Air Force, it is the perfect opportunity to get our generation reengaged in aviation.” While the demand for professional pilots looms, so does financial barriers for exceptional future aviators to enter the field, and those currently advancing flight ratings fall short due to limiting finances, rising costs of training. According to the July 2017 Boeing report on commercial flights, roughly 640,000 new pilots globally are in demand until 2036, where 117,000 alone are needed in North America.  “Our ultimate goal is to break down barriers and share the beauty of flight, while also helping to meet these growing pilot demands in our industry,” added McBride.

EAA AirVenture will be the next opportunity these organizations have a shared presence bringing their ‘altitude problem’ before young audiences, media, on-air radio interviews, airshow performances and the many partners on board for the journey ahead to change our world, one flight training scholarship and outreach event at a time.

(Source: Joint news release. Images provided)

FMI: www.eaa43.org/scholarships.htm, iHartFlying.org