The Soaring Scholarship goes to Anoushka de Chelard of Grampians Soaring Club.
Every year, at the Annual Australian Women Pilots’ Association (AWPA) conference, the association awards over $120,000 of scholarships and merit awards.
The APWA offers a number of scholarships to learn how to fly and improve flying skills, for female fixed wing power pilots, helicopter pilots and glider pilots of any age and experience level. Please check the website for more details: awpa.org.au/scholarships-awards
Among the scholarships, there is one gliding specific scholarship called the Soaring Scholarship. It is a $1000 scholarship to assist a female glider pilot holding a Silver C badge to improve her cross-country gliding skills. Scholarship funds can be used but are not limited to assisting a female sailplane pilot with towing charges, glider hire and out landing retrieving costs. Applicants must be a permanent resident of Australia; hold a silver C badge and a current GFA membership and up to date medical credentials. The deadline for application is normally after the gliding season late March.
This year, the gliding Scholarship was awarded to up-and-coming Junior, Anouchka de Chelard from the Grampian Soaring Club (Victoria). You might remember Anoushka’s third place at Joey Glide 2024 in January, her first attempt at competing. Congratulations Anoushka. The last two recipients were Daniela Helbig NSW 2023, Sally Crawcour WA 2022.
AWPA also presents a Gliding Award: perpetual trophy and memento Albatros. This award is made for the most meritorious gliding flight carried out by a female glider pilot during the previous year, or for an outstanding contribution to the advancement of gliding in Australia. Membership of AWPA is not a requirement. The last recipient was Jo Davis in 2020.
So, if you are a lady glider pilot, or if you guys have a pilot lady in your life, have a look at all the AWPA scholarships and awards. And, ladies, please apply for the soaring scholarship or another scholarship (there are non gliding-specific scholarships that have a wide scope) or nominate someone for the Gliding Award. We are working hard at the AWPA to raise funds and find sponsors to offer these scholarships and awards and we love to help ladies improve their flying skills and recognise lady pilots’ or aviation related ladies’ achievements.
FB group Yesgirlsglide often puts a reminder post on Facebook when it is time for applications! Check it out!
Dominique Brassier – AWPA – Bathurst Soaring Club
Find and follow AWPA on Social Media to receive all the latest news on events and scholarship application release dates:
Facebook: Australian Women Pilots’ Association
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