2026 VAI scholarships now open! VAI members can choose from eight opportunities for pilots and aviation mechanic/engineers. If you’re a pilot or aviation maintenance technician (AMT) or are enrolled in an approved AMT program, you may be eligible to apply for a VAI scholarship to help continue your education and training. VAI offers eight scholarships in the areas of aviation maintenance, commercial helicopter pilot ratings, and pilot safety exclusively for VAI members. If you’re not already a member, join the association today and take advantage of the chance to apply for a scholarship! The 2026 scholarship program opened Jul. 9, 2025, and runs through Nov. 14, 2025. Descriptions of the scholarships and eligibility criteria appear below. Questions? Contact the VAI Education team at Scholarships@verticalavi.org. Pilot Opportunities Commercial Helicopter Pilot Rating Scholarship This scholarship is for applicants who want to attain their commercial helicopter rating. Applicants must already have their private pilot’s license and be enrolled in a commercial helicopter rating program at an FAA-approved Part 141 school or international equivalent. Scholarship Benefits The scholarship awards US$10,000 toward the cost of obtaining a commercial helicopter rating. 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 winner and guest). Scholarship Prerequisites • Applicants must be a member of VAI; join now! • Applicants must have a private helicopter license. • Applicants must be enrolled in a commercial helicopter pilot rating program at an FAA-approved Part 141 school or international equivalent. • Applicants must hold at least a second-class or international-equivalent medical certificate. Michelle North Scholarship for Safety This scholarship provides full tuition for the recipient to attend a safety management course offered as part of VAI’s Elevations (formerly Professional Education Courses) program, which is held annually at VERTICON. Scholarship Benefits The scholarship awards full tuition for the recipient to attend a VERTICON Elevations safety management course at VERTICON. 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 have a commercial helicopter pilot rating • Applicants must demonstrate an outstanding aptitude for safe flying and aviation best practices. WINCO Commercial Helicopter Pilot Rating Scholarship Presented by WINCO Powerline Services The WINCO Commercial Helicopter Pilot Rating Scholarship is awarded each year to a pilot who has a private helicopter license and is in the process of attaining a commercial helicopter rating. Scholarship Benefits The scholarship awards US$5,000 toward the cost of obtaining a commercial helicopter rating. 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 have a private helicopter license • Applicants must be enrolled in a commercial helicopter pilot rating program at an FAA-approved Part 141 school or international equivalent • Applicants must hold at least a second-class or international-equivalent medical certificate. Mechanic/Engineer Opportunities Robinson Pete Riedl Aviation Maintenance Technician Scholarship Presented by Robinson Helicopter Company This scholarship is in honor of Robinson Helicopter Company’s engineer and longtime leader Pete Riedl (pictured at right). The scholarship awards full tuition to attend an aviation maintenance course from Robinson Helicopter Company. Learn more about Pete’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 past two years) of an airframe and powerplant (A&P) certificate. 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 an 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. WINCO Maintenance Technician Certificate Scholarship Presented by WINCO Powerline Services This scholarship is awarded to students in training to become an aviation maintenance technician. Scholarship Benefits The scholarship awards US$5,000 toward the cost of obtaining an 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. 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 stipend to the following aviation maintenance programs: • Airbus • Bell • Leonardo • Pratt & Whitney • Rolls-Royce • Safran Turbomeca. In addition, the 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 past two years) of an airframe and powerplant (A&P) certificate. Bell 505 B2 Integrated Avionics Maintenance Technician Scholarship Presented by Bell This 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.
