Frequently Asked Questions

Any U.S. citizen seventeen years old or older with a physical disability that significantly impairs function can apply. Able Flight has awarded scholarships to people who use wheelchairs due to spinal cord injury, wounded veterans, people with a variety of congenital birth defects, and people who have lost limbs.

First, please read all of the questions and answers on this page. Then visit the Scholarships page on this website and you’ll find information on the application process.

A valid and current state driver’s license is required for training under the Sport Pilot certification rule. You must be following any restrictions that your state has placed on your driver’s license. If you have previously taken an FAA medical exam and been denied, a driver’s license may not be used until after the first successful FAA medical exam.

No. In fact, our application form very clearly states that you must not supply medical records, only a simple statement from your physician as to the nature of your disability.

Able Flight reviews applications on a rolling basis after the application deadline for full flight training scholarships, and throughout the year for other scholarships. You will be notified via email that we have received your application and if everything is in order. Your application will receive an initial review and then you’ll be contacted if you are selected for an interview. Those not initially selected for an interview will be notified and may be asked if they’d like to have their application considered again in the next round of reviews. After interviews, a scholarship review committee will consider the finalists’ applications and make awards as appropriate. Scholarship awards are announced in January of each year.

Flight training scholarships are for training that can lead to a Sport Pilot Certificate (see more below).

Scholarships cover flight and ground training, testing fees, study materials, and lodging. A travel stipend and a meal stipend are also provided.  Recipients of scholarships receive a complete ground school self-study package shortly after their selection.

Scholarships do not include local transportation to and from the airport or career training site.

Flight training is conducted by Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. Training takes place from mid-May until early to mid-July of each year. Students are required to remain on-site during the entire training period – no exceptions are allowed.

Yes, students are housed in accessible rooms according to their needs.

On average, applicants should not weigh more than 200 pounds.  Here’s why: The Light Sport Aircraft used to train for the Sport Pilot Certificate have a useful load (weight carrying capacity for people, fuel, etc.) of between 400 and 500 pounds. Depending on the plane, when you deduct 80-100 pounds for fuel, that leaves between 300-400 pounds for instructor and student combined.

It varies according to the student. While the FAA has set a minimum number of hours required to obtain a Sport Pilot Certificate, Able Flight has found that to train to a higher standard, additional hours are required. For scholarship recipients who train for a Sport Pilot Certificate  the average time is 7 to 8 weeks.

Scholarship recipients complete a computer-based, online ground school course provided by Sportys Pilot Shop, a generous sponsor of Able Flight,  and take the online FAA Knowledge Exam prior to arriving for flight training. During their flight training they receive refresher training so help prepare them for the extensive oral exam portion of the check ride (known as the Practical exam).

Before an applicant is selected, Able Flight determines if the adapted aircraft being used for training will be suitable for an individual student’s needs.

Learning to fly is demanding, but certainly within reach of those who are up to the challenge. There are long hours of ground school study and many hours in the air learning to control the airplane. This is not a program for people who are seeking a “weekend adventure” experience, but a program for people who are willing to work hard and remain committed to earning the privilege of becoming a pilot. Our program is for people who will dedicate themselves to becoming a pilot. It is not a part-time program. It’s not easy, in fact, it is demanding and challenging, and that’s by design. We want our pilots to be good, safe and very competent, so we ask our training partners to go well beyond the minimum standards required by the FAA.

That’s a tough question to answer because a “bucket list” can mean different things to different people. So before you apply, ask yourself what your future aviation plans are. If you simply want to tick off a one-time accomplishment, how will your application be compared to that of someone whose dreams and plans for the future include aviation?

Applications for all types of scholarships are accepted year round, but October 31st is the deadline for a full flight training scholarship for training that begins each May. All applications MUST BE MAILED, and full flight training scholarship applications must be postmarked by October 31 of each year. Those postmarked after October 31st for a full flight training scholarship will be considered for the following year.