As the recipient of a VAI Bill Sanderson Aviation Maintenance Technician Scholarship in 2026, Kristian Carlos (second from right) was awarded full tuition to complete a maintenance course on the Rolls-Royce M250-C47B and M250-C47E4 engines. VAI scholarship helps bridge experience gap for Kristian Carlos Discover how VAI scholarship recipients have turned opportunity into achievement—and how you can do the same—in this exclusive VAI Weekly series. The VAI scholarship program is back for 2027, with scholarships available for students, professional aviation mechanics/engineers, and commercial helicopter pilots. A benefit exclusively for VAI members, the scholarships help vertical aviation pilots, mechanics, engineers, and aspiring professionals cover the costs of their education and training. Not a VAI member? Join the association and enjoy access to the VAI scholarship program as well as a host of additional educational, safety, and other benefits. Applications for a 2027 VAI scholarship award must be received by 11:59 pm eastern time (UTC-5) on Dec. 4, 2026. During this scholarship season, VAI Weekly is highlighting past VAI scholarship winners in an exclusive series of articles. In this installment, we hear from Kristian Carlos, recipient of the Bill Sanderson Aviation Maintenance Technician Scholarship and the Bell 505 B2 Integrated Avionics Maintenance Technician Scholarship. Carlos talks about the inspiration he draws from a family member who serves as an air ambulance pilot and reveals his dream job. VAI Weekly: What inspires you about working in the vertical aviation community? Kristian Carlos: A big part of my inspiration to be part of the vertical aviation community comes from my uncle, Kristoffer Lazo, who flies an S-76 C+ for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles at Helinet. Seeing him fly for something far greater than ourselves gives me great inspiration. To be part of this community where the mission is toward one goal: to save lives. That’s something I want to be part of. How will your VAI scholarship help you meet your educational goals? The VAI scholarships will give me a great foundation, with the Rolls-Royce M250-C47B engine training [via the Bill Sanderson scholarship] and the Bell 505 B2 integrated avionics training providing me with both mechanical and electrical knowledge so that I can better develop myself as an A&P [airframe and powerplant] mechanic. What are your professional goals for the next three to five years? What are your long-term career goals? My professional goal for the next few years is to learn everything possible so that I can be a dependable, reliable mechanic. Eventually, I would like to start rotary-wing flight training, too, and become more involved with the vertical aviation community and, especially, VAI—and, hopefully, serve as a VAI brand ambassador! What would be your dream job in aviation? My dream job is to be part of Rotorcraft Support Inc. (RSI) in Fillmore, California. I would love to work on all the different types of airframes coming from all the different OEMs. Who is your greatest mentor and why? In what ways has this mentor helped you? My greatest mentor was my dad, who was an aerospace inspector for the majority of his career. I credit my father with my passion for and love of aviation. He helped me understand that safety is everything and that, as mechanics, we should always do everything the right way. Thank you, Dad; rest in peace. I also want to give a shout-out to Phil DiFiore, Sean Eason, and Pete Boeller from RSI for all their mentorship and for encouraging me to keep pursuing opportunities! What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the vertical aviation industry? The biggest challenge facing the industry is the shortage of mechanics in the field. New maintainers are coming in without the experience needed to maintain the various airframes needed for different missions. But thanks to VAI, scholarships are now available to aid in bridging that experience gap. I’m so thankful to the association for the privilege of being part of this community and for the opportunity to be more involved in new things to come.
