Hopefully you have had a chance to check out The Training Aviator, our new weekly newsletter and dedicated page on AvBrief.com. If you’re seeking training yourself, whether for the pure desire to fly or to pursue a career, look to us to provide the latest news and knowledge subjects to help you along your path to the sky.
Like most worthwhile pursuits in life, learning to fly takes commitment, both of time and of finances, and not everyone comes from a position to fund their own training. That’s where a few bits of news this week can help you toward that goal.
Financing from the Feds
Previously, the federal government in the U.S. only became involved in the financing of flight training through various bills aimed at assisting those veterans of the armed forces who sought retraining outside the military. Critical “G.I. Bills,” including the Post-9/11 and Montgomery G.I. bills, allowed for education benefits to be used by service members who already had a private pilot certificate and appropriate medical certificate for the licensing they sought. Training typically came through a Part 141 school, and the results saw a significant number of pilots increase their commercial viability through this program.
Now, the U.S. government seeks to expand the support available to broaden it outside the armed forces veteran cadre. Recently introduced legislation, The Workforce Innovation for Next-Gen in Skies Act of 2026, or WINGS Act (H.R. 9896), promises to expand financing through student federal aid programs and make flight training through Part 141 programs eligible for similar reimbursement as current collegiate student loans, specifically “a bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include certain licensure, certification, and aviation training costs in the determination of the cost of attendance of a student, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Education and Workforce,” according to the entry on congress.gov.
The bill was introduced on July 23, and it would allow for the inclusion of aviation lab fees, aircraft and simulator instructional hours, ground instruction, and training materials and equipment, among other elements to qualify.
Ray Foundation and I Hart Flying
However, if you don’t plan to attend an aviation program at a college or university, you still have options for securing funding. A broader initiative through the Ray Foundation works through several nonprofit associations, including the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). For example, awards through EAA’s Ray Aviation Scholarship grant up to $12,000 to young people who apply and qualify through local EAA chapters. A similar program is managed by the International Aerobatic Club, if that’s where your interest lies.
Another path for young women (aside from WAI scholarships open now) comes through the I Hart Flying Foundation. The new “Full Throttle: No Ceiling in Sight” scholarship cycle has kicked off, promising up to $30,000 in funding available to successful applicants. IHFF is dedicated to helping women pursue professional aviation careers and was founded by entrepreneur Rachelle Spector. This scholarship cycle is the second promoted by IHFF within the multi-year “Cleared for Takeoff” campaign, and it’s supported by the Clay Lacy Foundation, Central American Airways Flying Service, Inc., Sheltair Aviation, Dassault Falcon Jet, and Scott and Sarah Ashton.
Applicants can use the funding to support any aviation milestone, including a private pilot certificate, instrument rating, commercial certificate, multi-engine rating, CFI, or airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate.
With so many opportunities to make dreams come true, it’s just up to you to determine what approach fits best for you.
