Upwind Helicopter Scholarship

Scholarship Name:

Upwind Helicopter Scholarship

Purpose:

Provide ground and flight training to the successful candidate to become a Private Pilot during the summer between their junior and senior year.

1. Promote piloting and general aviation.
2. Cultivate interest in aviation as a career

Eligibility:

• Scholarship Candidates must:
  • Be a US citizen or legal resident
  • Be a high school student, at least 17 years of age at the time of the checkride (late August)
  • Have no criminal record prior to or during the program
  • Maintain good grades and academic standing throughout the period
  • Attend ground school classes
  • Obtain a third class medical examination prior to completing ground school
  • Participate in Upwind activities
  • Author short stories detailing progress throughout the program
  • Participate in the selection and mentoring of the next year’s candidate

Value: 

A Dollar amount is not listed; however, it does list expenses covered as including ground school, books, charts, flight planning tools, and flight instruction.

Application Submission Process and Completion Date:

To download the application, please visit the Applications section of this website and follow the submission instructions.

History/Background:

The idea for Upwind came from Canada by way of Michael Vowles. Michael, a Canadian, often traveled between the San Francisco Bay Area and British Columbia. He did his flight training at San Carlos, CA and Vancouver, BC, with instructors at each airport who worked together to complete his private pilot training. In late 2012, he brought the idea of a summer scholarship for young people to Dan Dyer, owner of San Carlos Flight Center.

San Carlos Flight Center had opened its doors earlier that year and had begun bringing together pilots, instructors, and aviation enthusiasts from all over the San Francisco Bay Area. The staff and pilots at the Flight Center had an energy and an enthusiasm that had been lacking in general aviation. They tried new things, created new types of pilot events, set high standards for equipment and instruction, and actively sought out ways to share flying with the people of the Peninsula.

It was in that creative environment that Michael and Dan implemented the idea. They quickly brought in pilots Herb Patten and Terry Fiala who formed the core team overseeing the creation of the first Upwind Summer Scholarships in 2013. Under the training of Nariman Farsaie, the first two Upwind Scholarship winners earned their private pilot certificate in August, 2013. In later years, the Upwind management team expanded to include Chris Moropoulos in 2014, and John Zasio and Gretchen Kelly in 2015. Summer aviation scholarships to high school students have been awarded every summer since 2013.

Website:

Upwind Scholarship