Regional Cargo Carriers Announce Scholarship Applications Open

Applications are now open for the Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association (RACCA) scholarship applications, which is designed to help aspiring pilots, aircraft maintenance technicians (AMT) and airline managers to pursue their careers. Each year RACCA awards $20,000 in scholarships. The deadline for applications is 15 October 2023 and the selection will be made by 30 November and distributed on 15 December to an accredited school.

The RACCA Aviation Scholarships were established to promote and assist in pursuing aviation as a career choice and to make students aware of the opportunities in the air cargo industry. RACCA, representing 50 air cargo carriers, many of which feed the FedEx, DHL and UPS networks, provides scholarships to assist in the payment of tuition, flight training, or to obtain new or additional licenses. The organization makes four awards each year in November with an additional four UPS Scholarships.

“Affording an aviation education is increasingly difficult and our members and associate members are dedicated to ensuring there is funding available,” said President Stan Bernstein. “In recent years, we have helped students pursue AMT, airline management and pilot careers. Providing scholarships to deserving young people interested in a career in aviation is one of the most important efforts RACCA undertakes each year.

Bernstein noted flying for a RACCA carrier is a valuable way to build flying time because it gives pilots experience in flying to a schedule, inclement weather, dealing with inflight and procedural issues surrounding cargo as well as night flying, operating in busy airspace, cockpit resource management issues and required recordkeeping, all of which are part of airline operations. One of the most important things an aspiring pilot can do to build time is to maintain the professionalism and discipline they had as a student.

To qualify for the scholarships, applicants must be a college student currently enrolled in an accredited aviation program; a resident of the United States; and currently carry a Grade Point Average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Scholarship # 1 will carry the additional requirement of obtaining a letter of introduction from an existing RACCA member or RACCA associate member since the goal is for candidates to learn about the air cargo industry. If there is a RACCA member or associate member in a candidate’s immediate area, candidates should arrange to visit their operation and become familiar with all the opportunities in the growing air cargo industry. If there is no member close, candidates should call a member and tell them who they are and ask questions about the air cargo industry.

The RACCA Aviation Scholarship application is available on the RACCA website.