FAST Offers Aviation Career Scholarships for 2021

The organization began as a Facebook group focused on providing support and mentorship for women who have pursued careers as pilots. Now, membership has grown to 11,800 members at last count, and it’s developed to the point where it is able to offer scholarships to eligible pilots, including type ratings.

The application window is open for several scholarships through the group’s website and candidates are encouraged to apply through April 1, 2021, for this year’s awards. Winners will be announced on June 15.

Scholarships include several donated by affiliated companies. The Citation-In-Flight Scholarship, sponsored by LOFT Advanced Flight Training, in Carlsbad, California, will award six CE500 or CE525 initial or recurrent simulator training courses to provide assistance at a “pivotal point in their flying,” according to the FAST site. The Continuing-In-Flight Scholarship, sponsored this year by Allison Fohr, and worth $1,250, will be granted to two applicants to help them pursue additional training, including an add-on rating or next-level certificate. The Back-In-Flight Scholarship, sponsored by an anonymous FAST member, provides $1,000 of assistance to two applicants who are returning to the flight deck after a career detour.

The Multi-Engine-Add-On-In-Flight Scholarship gives the winner the opportunity to enroll in an accelerated commercial multi-engine add-on course in a Piper Twin Comanche, sponsored by Endre Holen and Stephanie Goetz, with an added $2,000 in travel and lodging expenses. The Prep-For-Success-In-Flight Scholarship gives four hours of interview preparation time to two fortunate applicants looking to take their careers to the next level. This scholarship is sponsored by Raven Careers and Professional Pilot Career Coach/FAST member Lynsey Howell. The Mommy’s-Going-Back-In-Flight Scholarship grants $1,000 of flight training at an accredited flight school to help her return to flight status after a break for parental responsibilities. And finally, the Discover-In-Flight Scholarship provides a discovery flight to a friend or FAST member who would like to explore learning to fly.