The Flying Musicians Association has created a scholarship program to fund flight training for four juniors or seniors in high school through their first solo.
Through the program, high school band members who are recommended by their band or music director will be screened and then partnered with a participating flight school. Once the students solo, the flight school will be reimbursed for up to 15 hours of ground and dual instruction.
The association is coordinating the program for young musicians with an interest in flying, it said in a news release, because it “recognizes that so many skills are held in common between pilots and musicians (such as paying attention to a complex environment, reacting to unusual occurrences, utilizing complex inputs and resources, and managing several tasks simultaneously).”
Students also will receive free and reduced-cost training materials from Flying Musicians Association corporate members and sponsors, including donated Learn to Fly courses from Sporty’s Pilot Shop, the association said. High school band directors may contact the Flying Musicians Association by email for details and application materials.