Home / Vertical Aviation Career Pathways / VAI Scholarships VAI Scholarships 2026 Scholarship Program Is now closed. VAI offers scholarships in aviation maintenance, commercial helicopter pilot ratings, and pilot safety to help vertical aviation pilots and mechanics/engineers continue their education and training. VAI’s annual scholarship program is a VAI benefit exclusively for VAI members. The 2026 scholarship program season is now closed. Winners will be announced January 2026. If you have any questions, please contact us at Scholarships@verticalavi.org. Mechanic/Engineer Opportunities ROBINSON Pete Riedl AMT Scholarship Presented by Robinson Helicopter Company This scholarship is in honor of Robinson Helicopter Company’s engineer and longtime leader Pete Riedl. The scholarship awards full tuition to attend an aviation maintenance course from Robinson Helicopter Company. Learn more about Pete Riedl’s contribution to the vertical flight community. Scholarship Benefits The scholarship awards one recipient full tuition plus a stipend to attend an aviation maintenance course at Robinson Helicopter Company’s training facility. In addition, the scholarship recipient receives: A complimentary full registration to VERTICON (formerly HAI HELI-EXPO) for the recipient and a guest (hotel and travel expenses are the responsibility of the scholarship winner and guest). Scholarship Prerequisites Applicants must be a member of VAI. Join now. Applicants must be about to graduate from an FAA-approved Part 147 aviation maintenance technician school or international equivalent. Or be a recent recipient (within the last two years) of an airframe and powerplant (A&P) certificate. Required documents Resume or Curriculum Vitae Technician Certificates (if applicable) – Provide legible copies, front and back, of all FAA or international-equivalent certificates. Proof of Enrollment – Provide a letter from your FAA-Approved Part 147 School or International Equivalent’s aviation school acknowledging your enrollment. Letter must include: Representative’s name Title and Organization Mailing Address, Telephone, and Email Verification of school’s status as an FAA-certified Part 147 facility or international-equivalent AMT training program 2 Letters of Recommendation One from your AMT school Program Director, Administrator, or Instructor with: Recommender’s name, title, organization, mailing address, telephone, and email Length of time recommender has known applicant Recommender’s comments on applicant’s attitude, integrity, and motivation One from your employer, instructor, or other individual who can attest to your aviation background, training, and experience with: Recommender’s name, title, organization, mailing address, telephone, and email Length of time recommender has known applicant Recommender’s comments on applicant’s attitude, integrity, and motivation. WINCO Maintenance Technician Certificate Scholarship Presented by WINCO Powerline Services The WINCO Maintenance Technician Certificate Scholarship is awarded to students in training to become aviation maintenance technicians. Scholarship Benefits The scholarship awards US$5,000 toward the cost of obtaining your aviation maintenance certificate. In addition, the scholarship recipient receives: A complimentary full registration to VERTICON (formerly HAI HELI-EXPO) for the recipient and a guest (hotel and travel expenses are the responsibility of the scholarship winner and guest). Scholarship Prerequisites Applicants must be a member of VAI. Join now. Applicants must be enrolled in a maintenance technician certificate program at an FAA-approved Part 147 school or international equivalent. Required documents Resume or Curriculum Vitae Technician Certificates (if applicable) – Provide legible copies, front and back, of all FAA or international-equivalent certificates. Proof of Enrollment – Provide a letter from your FAA-Approved Part 147 School or International Equivalent’s aviation school acknowledging your enrollment. Letter must include: Representative’s name Title and Organization Mailing Address, Telephone, and Email Verification of school’s status as an FAA-certified Part 147 facility or international-equivalent AMT training program 2 Letters of Recommendation One from your AMT school Program Director, Administrator, or Instructor with: Recommender’s name, title, organization, mailing address, telephone, and email Length of time recommender has known applicant Recommender’s comments on applicant’s attitude, integrity, and motivation One from your employer, instructor, or other individual who can attest to your aviation background, training, and experience with: Recommender’s name, title, organization, mailing address, telephone, and email Length of time recommender has known applicant Recommender’s comments on applicant’s attitude, integrity, and motivation. Maintenance Technician Certificate Scholarship This scholarship is for applicants pursuing training to become aviation maintenance technicians. Scholarship Benefits The scholarship awards US$5,000 toward the cost of obtaining your aviation maintenance certificate. In addition, the scholarship recipient receives: A complimentary full registration to VERTICON (formerly HAI HELI-EXPO) for the recipient and a guest (hotel and travel expenses are the responsibility of the scholarship winner and guest). Scholarship Prerequisites Applicants must be a member of VAI. Join now. Applicants must be enrolled in a maintenance technician certificate program at an FAA-approved Part 147 school or international equivalent. Required documents Resume or Curriculum Vitae Technician Certificates (if applicable) – Provide legible copies, front and back, of all FAA or international-equivalent certificates. Proof of Enrollment – Provide a letter from your FAA-Approved Part 147 School or International Equivalent’s aviation school acknowledging your enrollment. Letter must include: Representative’s name Title and Organization Mailing Address, Telephone, and Email Verification of school’s status as an FAA-certified Part 147 facility or international-equivalent AMT training program 2 Letters of Recommendation One from your AMT school Program Director, Administrator, or Instructor with: Recommender’s name, title, organization, mailing address, telephone, and email Length of time recommender has known applicant Recommender’s comments on applicant’s attitude, integrity, and motivation One from your employer, instructor, or other individual who can attest to your aviation background, training, and experience with: Recommender’s name, title, organization, mailing address, telephone, and email Length of time recommender has known applicant Recommender’s comments on applicant’s attitude, integrity, and motivation. Bill Sanderson Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) Scholarship This scholarship awards full tuition to attend a maintenance course from airframe and powerplant manufacturers. Scholarship Benefits The scholarship awards recipients full tuition plus a monetary stipend to the following aviation maintenance programs: Airbus Bell Leonardo Pratt & Whitney Rolls-Royce Safran Turbomeca In addition, the recipient also receives: A complimentary full registration to VERTICON (formerly HAI HELI-EXPO) for the recipient and a guest (hotel and travel expenses are the responsibility of the scholarship winner and guest). Scholarship Prerequisites Applicants must be a member of VAI. Join Now. About to graduate from an FAA-approved Part 147 aviation maintenance technician school or international equivalent. Or be a recent recipient (within the last two years) of an airframe and powerplant (A&P) certificate Required documents Resume or Curriculum Vitae Proof of Enrollment – Provide a letter from your FAA-Approved Part 147 School or International Equivalent’s aviation school acknowledging your enrollment. Letter must include: Representative’s name Title and Organization Mailing Address, Telephone, and Email Verification of school’s status as an FAA-certified Part 147 facility or international-equivalent AMT training program 2 Letters of Recommendation One from your AMT school Program Director, Administrator, or Instructor with: Recommender’s name, title, organization, mailing address, telephone, and email Length of time recommender has known applicant Recommender’s comments on applicant’s attitude, integrity, and motivation One from your employer, instructor, or other individual who can attest to your aviation background, training, and experience with: Recommender’s name, title, organization, mailing address, telephone, and email Length of time recommender has known applicant Recommender’s comments on applicant’s attitude, integrity, and motivation BELL 505 B2 Integrated Avionics Maintenance Technician Scholarship Presented by Bell The Bell 505 B2 Integrated Avionics Maintenance Technician Scholarship is awarded to an individual who has held an A&P license for any length of time or to an individual who has finished avionics technician training within the past two years. Scholarship Benefits Full tuition to attend Bell’s 505 B2 Integrated Avionics Maintenance Course A stipend of US$1,600 toward the cost of travel and lodging A complimentary full registration to VERTICON (formerly HAI HELI-EXPO) for the recipient and a guest (hotel and travel expenses are the responsibility of the scholarship winner and guest). Scholarship Prerequisites Applicants must be a member of VAI. Join now. Applicants must already have an A&P license or be an established aviation avionics technician. Required Documents Resume or curriculum vitae Technician certificates (please provide legible copies, front and back, of all FAA or international-equivalent certificates) Two letters of recommendation from your employer, instructor, and/or other individual who can attest to your aviation technician background, training, and experience. The letters should include: The submitter’s name, title, organization, mailing address, telephone number, and email address The length of time the submitter has known the applicant The submitter’s comments about the applicant’s attitude, integrity, and motivational drive. APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP 2026 Scholarship Winners Commercial Helicopter Pilot Rating Scholarship Daniel Kyser WINCO Commercial Helicopter Pilot Rating Scholarship Lara Holland Maintenance Technician Certificate Scholarship Logan Smith Michelle North Scholarship for Safety Keelan McNulty Bill Sanderson Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) Scholarship Terrin GarciaEliza DeBryKyra VogtJoshua McGillSteven SeierKristian Carlos BELL 505 B2 Integrated Avionics Maintenance Technician Scholarship Kristian Carlos ROBINSON Pete Riedl AMT Scholarship Sunday Sanusi “If I hadn’t won the scholarship, it would’ve been very hard for me to move to a different state and begin flight training somewhere new.” Sarah Grace Blanton 2020 Commercial Helicopter Pilot Rating Scholarship recipient “The scholarship means a lot to me because the aviation industry is not cheap. I am now a part of a group that will help me along my career for the rest of my life.” Blake Olson 2022 Maintenance Technician Scholarship recipient “The HAI scholarship is giving me an opportunity to focus on my flight training and achieve my target. Winning the scholarship boosts my confidence and inspires me to wake up every day and work on my goal of obtaining a CHPL.” Komal Rahane 2022 HAI Commercial Helicopter Pilot Rating Scholarship recipient “I’m very honored to win the WAI scholarship because I know there are few women in aviation. Realizing there’s this kind of support for female mechanics and female pilots is just amazing.” Diana Stearns 2020 HAI Foundation–sponsored Women in Aviation International (WAI) Maintenance Technician Certificate Scholarship recipient Get to Know the Future Faces of the Profession Meet some of our previous scholarship winners and future faces of the profession through VAI’s Future Faces feature.
