How to Land the Perfect Business Aviation Scholarship

Airlines most likely come to mind when most people think about aviation careers – but don’t make the mistake of overlooking the numerous and varied opportunities available in business aviation.

In fact, by 2032 – less than ten years from now – experts say 106,000 professionals will be needed in business aviation to meet projected growth and replace retiring workers.

“The aviation industry, not just the airlines, needs trained and dedicated people more than ever,” explained Mike McHugh, aviation education coordinator for the North Dakota Aeronautical Commission. “The industry has rallied together to help people get that training in the form of a number of scholarships covering not just pilots and mechanics but every aspect of aviation.”

Aviation groups like NBAA, AOPA, EAA and Women in Aviation are all good starting points in a successful search for scholarships, but McHugh suggests starting at this website: futureofaviation.aero.

“It has hundreds of scholarships listed, searchable by job type, the student’s age, background and area of interest,” McHugh said. “Most students are surprised that there is so much more to aviation than just being a pilot.”

Research scholarships are offered by your state or companies in your area. Don’t overlook the companies your parents or family members work for. It never hurts to ask.

“These scholarships may not have anything to do with your area of study, but they can help cover the cost,” McHugh said. “Also, you can apply for multiple scholarships at the same time.”

Making Your Application Stand Out

In today’s competitive scholarship environment, how do you make sure your application gets noticed?

“I always tell students to approach it like they’re applying for a job,” McHugh said. “The more effort you put into it, the better your chance of success. That means starting early and having a plan.”

“Most scholarships require an essay, as well as letters of recommendation and a transcript,” explained Molly Hitch, NBAA’s senior manager, professional development. “Once submitted, reviewers will grade your application and assign scores that are averaged together. The final score will be ranked against other submissions and the highest-ranking applicants receive the awards or their top choices for training.

“Take time to get a good recommendation letter from someone who knows you well and can speak to the scholarship you are applying for,” Hitch added. “These letters are critical to the applicant and should not be taken lightly.”

Details Matter

Also, pay attention to the details. Misspellings or grammatical errors in your letter of recommendation, essay or resume may be acceptable for a passing grade at some high schools, but not in the competitive world of scholarships.

“A well-structured essay with correct punctuation and no spelling errors stands out today,” said Mark Scheele, corporate chief pilot and member of NBAA’s Business Aviation Management Committee. “Make sure your essay is clear and well thought out with a main point and logical supporting points.”

Avoid rambling essays. “Outline your thoughts first to keep your essay on track,” Scheele said. Read the application’s instructions and follow them.

“If there is a writing prompt or a question, make sure you are actually answering that question in your essay,” Scheele said. “It’s often obvious that the applicant has something to share, but they never actually answer the question.”

Another great tip is to have someone proofread your materials to ensure you find every tiny typo or grammatical error. Beware of online proofing programs, which may not fully recognize many words and terms commonly used in aviation.

As for filling out the applications, Hitch strongly cautioned against copying and pasting information from one form to another without making sure you’ve changed it to fit the specific scholarship you’re applying for.

“Research the organization that you’re applying to and see how you may be able to relate your situation to that organization or why they’re special to you,” Hitch said. “It’s always a bummer when applicants don’t know what NBAA is or who the donors of the scholarships are.

“Also, keep in mind who you are applying for the scholarship from. Neither NBAA nor our members are connected to the airlines, so make a point of telling us why you want a career in business aviation,” she said. “Also, if there is a particular type of training that is of interest to you, showcase how it will help you achieve your goals.”

First-Timers Often Make These Mistakes

It helps to be aware of other mistakes that many first-time scholarship applicants make. The biggest non-technical mistake is not applying for aid in the first place.

“I talk to students all the time that say they don’t think they’ll qualify for a specific scholarship,” said McHugh. “My advice is always to not only apply for that scholarship, but to apply for others, even if they are not related to aviation. Students can apply for more than one scholarship at a time. Many students don’t realize that.”

Don’t wait too long to begin. “It’s best for students to start when they are juniors in high school,” McHugh said. “It takes a lot of research to narrow down which opportunities are best for a particular student.”

Cover Letter and Resume

Create a cover letter and resume highlighting your academic and personal accomplishments and send them with your application, even if they’re not required.

“The cover letter is an opportunity to tell your story and highlight why you should receive the scholarship,” Scheele said. “Even if you don’t have any aviation experience, it’s your chance to discuss your skills and explain how the scholarship will help you achieve your future goals.”

Put as much work and time as possible into the scholarship application process – as if you were applying for the first job of your career. That extra effort can often make all the difference, winning you a dream scholarship that launches your exciting and fulfilling business aviation journey.

Review NBAA’s information about scholarship opportunities at nbaa.org/scholarships.