HELP US “STEM” the Pilot Shortage!
Building the Next Generation of Aviators!
Supported by a grant from the Ray Foundation and gifts from many generous donors, these scholarships provide funding for awardees to apply toward obtaining their Private Pilot’s License. We are also planning to begin offering scholarships for Airframe and Powerplant certification in the near future*. You can help! Aviation training can be expensive, and our scholarships help deserving young people reach for their dreams. Donate today!
LEARN TO FLY
FAA requirements to gain a Private Pilot’s License can be reviewed on the FAA website.
The program overview and application can be downloaded below under Scholarship Forms.
General Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the scholarship:
- Age – The scholarship is open to applicants ages 16-20
- Location – Reno / Sparks / Carson City / Fallon area
- Citizenship – Must be a legal US citizen
- Health – Must be able to pass a Class III Medical Exam
- Education
- Must proficiently read, write, speak, and understand the English language
- Must be enrolled in or have completed a qualified high school curriculum with a 3.0 or higher GPA
- Flight Experience – applicant must complete a successful discovery flight of at least 30 minutes in a small general aviation aircraft with a certified flight instructor prior to being considered for the scholarship
- FAA Written Exam – COMPLETION of 70% OR BETTER IS REQUIRED PRIOR TO APPLICATION. Written exam cost may be reimbursed from scholarships funds to a successful applicant.
Application Window
***PLEASE NOTE: The APPLICATION WINDOW FOR 2024 HAS CLOSED***
Applications were accepted for 2024 year beginning February 1st through April 1st. Please download the overview and application documents below. Thoroughness and detail are important criteria in the application process, so please be sure to include all requested information.
Selection Process
Qualified applicants who meet all criteria and complete the application process will be scheduled for interviews. Interviews will be conducted from the opening of the application window through the end of March.
Awarded Scholarships*
Successful candidates who are awarded scholarships will be notified via email by May 15th.
For additional information, please see the FAQ below, or send an email to scholarships@airrace.org.
*RARA will award funds to apply toward a student’s PPL training or other scholarships. RARA does not directly conduct the training or select the candidate’s training facility, nor can it control the actual cost of training due to many factors. While every effort will be made to help reduce the overall cost, RARA does not guarantee that the full cost of training will be covered by the scholarship. Students should consult with their families and secure other sources to assist with additional funding should it become necessary. RARA reserves the right to modify the terms and availability of this program as needed according to available resources. IMPORTANT: Continued funding under the scholarship program is contingent upon the awardee’s performance to the agreed upon standards. Scholarships may be suspended or revoked for failure to complete the required elements in the time allowed.
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Scholarship Forms
The forms below contain important information regarding the scholarship process. Please download and read them thoroughly. Applications must be submitted ONLY to [email protected]. Applications received by any other means will be rejected. Please check for current revisions before applying as changes are made regularly to these documents to address current conditions.
FAQs
Please review the items below as they contain answers to the most common questions regarding the scholarship program. A complete PDF overview of the scholarship process can be downloaded above.
There are many resources, but the official requirements are listed on the Official FAA website at https://www.faa.gov/pilots/become/
The number of scholarships awarded each year will depend on available funding and qualified applicants.
We anticipate offering flight training scholarships annually. The application window will open in January each year and close March 31st. Scholarship awards will take place by May 15th. Available scholarships will depend on the funding we receive each year, so please consider donating to the scholarship fund at www.airrace.org/donate.
The scholarship is available in the Reno / Sparks / Fallon / Carson City areas of Nevada and the Lake Tahoe region of California.
We are making plans to offer scholarships for other aerospace career support training, so please keep any eye on our website and social media as we will post there when new programs become available.
The Reno Air Racing Association is providing scholarships for initial flight training to obtain a Private Pilot Certificate. Additional scholarship opportunities are being considered and may be offered in the future.
Any legal US Citizen in the Reno / Sparks / Fallon / Carson City area of Nevada and the Lake Tahoe region of California between the ages of 16 and 20 who is enrolled in or graduated from an approved high school curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher. Must also be able to fluently read, write, speak, and understand the English language and pass a Class III FAA Medical Exam.
While every effort will be made to reduce costs for our scholarship recipients, RARA cannot guarantee that the total cost of obtaining a Private Pilot’s License will be covered with a scholarship due to many factors. Applicants should research means of supplemental funding prior to applying for and accepting the scholarship.