HAI Scholarships

The Bill Sanderson AMT Scholarship

The HAI Bill Sanderson AMT Scholarship provides full tuition to complete a maintenance course from a selection of courses offered by various airframe and power plant manufacturers. The award includes a monetary stipend up to $1,600 US to assist with travel, lodging, and food. Up to seven scholarships may be awarded annually.

The scholarship was founded in memory of Bill Sanderson, a longtime industry director and advocate for aviation maintenance technician programs.

SCHOLARSHIP AWARD MANUFACTURERS AND BENEFITS

The Bill Sanderson scholarship awards full tuition to complete an AMT course offered by the following manufacturers:

• Airbus
• Bell
• Leonardo
• MD Helicopters
• Pratt & Whitney
• Rolls-Royce
• Safran Helicopter Engines

In addition, scholarship recipients receive:

• A complimentary full registration to HAI HELI-EXPO 2024 in Anaheim, California, for the scholarship recipient and a guest (hotel and travel expenses are the responsibility of the scholarship winner and guest)

SCHOLARSHIP PREREQUISITES

• The candidate must be a member of HAI. Join now.
• The candidate must be about to graduate from an FAA-approved Part 147 aviation maintenance technician school (applicants must have their A&P certificate by March 2024)
• Or be a recent recipient (within the last two years) of an airframe and powerplant (A&P) certificate
• If a non-US citizen, the candidate must their respective country’s FAA-equivalent tests completed and provide proof of international citizenship.

Required documents

We ask all applicants to provide the following documents:

• 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
  • FAA Part 147 Certificate Number
    • If International, please provide your country’s FAA-equivalent information

If A&P certificate is obtained, please provide legible copies, front and back of your license.

• RESUME or Curriculum Vitae
• 2 Letters of Recommendation
  • One from your Part-147 AMT School or international equivalent’s Program Director, Administrator, or Instructor with their name, title, organization, mailing address, phone, and email
  • One from your Employer, Instructor, or other who can attest to your maintenance background, training, and experience

Only completed applications that are accompanied with all required documentation will be considered.

Questions? Contact scholarships@rotor.org.

Commercial Helicopter Pilot Rating Scholarship

The HAI Commercial Helicopter Pilot Rating Scholarship is awarded each year to pilots who have their private licenses and are in the process of attaining a commercial helicopter rating. Up to two scholarships may be awarded annually.

SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS

The scholarship awards $5,000 US toward the cost of obtaining a commercial helicopter rating. In addition, scholarship recipients receive:

• A complimentary full registration to HAI HELI-EXPO 2024 in Anaheim, California, for the scholarship 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 HAI. Join now.
• Applicants must be enrolled in a flight training program at an FAA-approved Part 141 school or international equivalent
• Applicants must also hold at least a second-class or international-equivalent medical certificate
• Scholarship winners have one year from the date of their award to complete their training and receive their commercial helicopter rating. Scholarship awards that haven’t been claimed in that time will be considered void.
• Payment of the scholarship award is conditional on receipt of supporting documentation from the student’s school stating that the student has successfully completed the required coursework and has received an FAA or international-equivalent rating. If the school hasn’t been compensated by the student, HAI will make a payment to the institution on behalf of the student. Scholarship payments are for tuition and training only
• Applicants who expect to receive their commercial ratings before Jan. 1, 2024, are not eligible to apply for this award

Required documents

We ask all applicants to provide the following documents:

• Proof of Enrollment – Provide a letter from your FAA-Approved Part 141 School or International Equivalent’s aviation school acknowledging your enrollment. Letter must include:
  • Representative’s name
  • Title and Organization
  • Mailing Address, telephone, and email
  • FAA Part 141 Certificate Number
    • If International, please provide your country’s FAA-equivalent information
• RESUME or Curriculum Vitae
• 2 Letters of Recommendation
  • One from your Part-141 AMT School or international equivalent’s Program Director, Administrator, or Instructor with their name, title, organization, mailing address, phone, and email
  • One from your Employer, Instructor, or other who can attest to your aviation background, training, and experience

Only completed applications that are accompanied with all required documentation will be considered.

Questions? Contact scholarships@rotor.org.

Maintenance Technician Certificate Scholarship

The HAI Maintenance Technician Certificate Scholarship is awarded each year to up to two students studying to become aviation maintenance technicians.

SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS

The scholarship awards $2,500 US toward the cost of obtaining your aviation maintenance certificate. In addition, scholarship recipients receive:

• A complimentary full registration to HAI HELI-EXPO 2024 in Anaheim, California, for the scholarship 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 HAI. Join now.
• Applicants must be enrolled in a maintenance technician certificate program at an FAA-approved Part 147 school or international equivalent
• Scholarship winners have one year from the date of their award to complete their training and receive their maintenance technician certificate. Scholarship awards that haven’t been claimed in that time will be considered void
• Payment of the scholarship award is conditional on receipt of supporting documentation from the student’s school stating that the student has successfully completed the required coursework and has received an FAA or international-equivalent certificate. If the school hasn’t been compensated by the student, HAI will make payment to the institution on behalf of the student. Scholarship payments are for tuition and training only
• Applicants who expect to receive their maintenance technician certificates before Jan. 1, 2024, are not eligible to apply for this award

Required documents

We ask all applicants to provide the following documents:

• 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
  • FAA Part 147 Certificate Number
    • If International, please provide your country’s FAA-equivalent information
• RESUME or Curriculum Vitae
• 2 Letters of Recommendation
  • One from your Part-147 AMT School or international equivalent’s Program Director, Administrator, or Instructor with their name, title, organization, mailing address, phone, and email
  • One from your Employer, Instructor, or other who can attest to your maintenance background, training, and experience

Only completed applications that are accompanied with all required documentation will be considered.

Questions? Contact scholarships@rotor.org.

Michelle North Scholarship for Safety

The HAI Michelle North Scholarship for Safety is awarded to a pilot who has already attained a commercial rating and who demonstrates an outstanding aptitude for safe flying and aviation best practices.

The scholarship was founded in memory of Michelle North, a longtime industry advocate of safety, to encourage a stronger focus on safety education and training in helicopter operations. One scholarship may be awarded annually.

SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS

The scholarship pays the registration fee for the recipient to attend a safety management system (SMS) course, which will be part of the HAI Professional Education Program at HAI HELI-EXPO 2024, in Anaheim, California, Feb. 26–29, 2024.

In addition, scholarship recipients receive:

• A complimentary full registration to HAI HELI-EXPO 2024 in Anaheim, California, for the scholarship recipient and a guest (hotel and travel expenses are the responsibility of the scholarship winner and guest)

SCHOLARSHIP PREREQUISITES

• The applicant must be a member of HAI. Join now.
• The applicant must be a pilot who holds an FAA commercial helicopter rating or an international-equivalent rating
• Applicants must already be working in the helicopter industry, either in the safety or safety management field, or be preparing to enter the safety or safety management field
  

Required documents

We ask all applicants to provide the following documents:

• Pilot Information
  • Legible copy, front and back of your FAA or international equivalent pilot’s license
  • Class and date of your medical certificate (minimum 2nd class or international equivalent)
• RESUME or Curriculum Vitae
• 2 Letters of Recommendation
  • From your Employer, previous Instructor, or other who can attest to your aviation and safety background, training, and experience

Only completed applications that are accompanied with all required documentation will be considered.

Questions? Contact scholarships@rotor.org.