The Whirly-Girls Scholarship Fund, Inc. is proud to announce the opening of the 2024 scholarship season.  Deserving female aviators and maintainers can apply for over $500,000 of helicopter training and educational scholarships. These scholarships advance the helicopter industry by strengthening the talent pool and increasing diversity. Applications are available online and are due October 1st, 2023.

This year, scholarship sponsors include Airbus, Anastasia Mosquito Control District of St. Johns County, Bell Helicopter, Bristow Group, CAE, Central Oregon Community College, Edward M. Thurn Trust, Erickson, FlightSafety International, Garmin, Leading Edge Flight Academy, Leonardo, MD Helicopters, Palm Beach Helicopters, PHI Aviation, Randy Mains & Oregon Aero, Robinson Helicopter Company, Southern Utah University, Survival Systems USA, Inc., Volo Mission, and many private donors. Scholarships are available for both experienced and newly-certificated pilots and maintainers, as well as those individuals who are seeking their initial ratings. Courses are offered for a variety of training objectives, including turbine transitions, software use, advanced aircraft certification, commercial flight training, airline transport licenses, and many more.

Past Whirly-Girls President, Alison Martin, stated, “When the original thirteen members of the Whirly-Girls founded this organization, they were the only female helicopter pilots in the world.  They envisioned a place where female pilots could find support and camaraderie and help one another succeed.  Today, our group has grown to over 2000 members but, despite this growth, females still comprise fewer than 6% of pilots. This cripples our industry, and our sponsors provide these career-building scholarships in an effort to advance women and aid the growth of aviation.” Every female pilot and mechanic owes it to herself to apply.

Scholarship applications are available at www.whirlygirls.org/scholarships/  and are due October 1, 2023.  Scholarships will be formally presented at the Whirly Girls Annual Banquet on February 25, 2024 at the HAI HELI-EXPO in Anaheim, CA. For more information on attending the banquet, please visit www.whirlygirls.org.