The NZAWA through donations from past and present members offers a range of scholarships to assist women in reaching their aviation dreams. These annual awards can be applied for by members to help get started in the aviation industry or to assist members who wish to further their aviation careers.
Student Scholarships
Assistance has been given since 1975 to young women starting out in flying. There are three scholarships that are currently awarded annually to young people, the Air Training Corps Association, the Walsh Memorial Flying School annual flying camp and to the annual Youth Soaring Development Camp.
Each scholarship provides funding for the winner to obtain further flight training. The winners also receive a year’s subscription to the Association, a certificate and a copy of the book Silver Wings.
Waypoints Scholarship
To financially support an NZAWA member to further their aviation education in the form of Pilot Books training manuals to the value of $500.
It is open to you if you meet the following criteria:
- Be a financial member of NZAWA for a minimum of two years.
- Complete the application form and submit it to the Secretary of NZAWA by the application closing date listed below.
The successful applicant(s) are announced at the annual King’s Birthday Rally, with applications closing April 15th each year.
Waypoints Scholarship Application
ASPEQ Walsh Scholarship 
To financially support a NZAWA member or Scout member to attend the Walsh Memorial Scout Flying School. This is to help support an ab-initio (first year) student or return student. Please note that ab-initio applications will be prioritized.
It is open to you if you meet the following criteria:
- Be a financial member of NZAWA
- Have been a member of NZAWA for a minimum of 1 year, or Scouts for a minimum of 2 years.
- Complete the application form and submit it to the Secretary of NZAWA by the application closing date listed below.
- Hold a current aviation medical.
- Meet the eligibility requirements to attend the school listed on the Scouts Aotearoa website.
The successful applicant(s) are announced at the annual King’s Birthday Rally, with applications closing April 15th each year.
ASPEQ Walsh Scholarship Application
ASPEQ PPL Exam Scholarships
To financially support an NZAWA member to complete their private pilot’s licence written examinations.
It is open to you if you meet the following criteria:
- Be a financial member of NZAWA for a minimum of one year.
- Complete the application form and submit it to the Secretary of NZAWA by the application closing date listed below.
- Hold a current aviation medical.
- Actively flying with the intention to complete their private pilot’s licence within twelve months.
The successful applicant(s) are announced at the annual King’s Birthday Rally, with applications closing April 15th each year.
ASPEQ PPL Exam Scholarship Application
ASPEQ CPL Exam Scholarships
To financially support an NZAWA member to complete their commercial pilot’s licence written examinations.
It is open to you if you meet the following criteria:
- Be a financial member of NZAWA for a minimum of two years.
- Complete the application form and submit it to the Secretary of NZAWA by the application closing
date listed below. - Hold a current aviation medical.
- Hold a current private pilot’s licence.
- Actively flying with the intention to complete their commercial pilot’s licence within twelve months.
The successful applicant(s) are announced at the annual King’s Birthday Rally, with applications closing April 15th each year.
ASPEQ CPL Exam Scholarship Application
ASPEQ Instructor Upgrade Scholarship
To financially support a NZAWA member to complete an instructor upgrade. I.e. C-Cat to B-Cat or B-Cat to A-Cat.
It is open to you if you meet the following criteria:
- Applicant must have a passion for training.
- Applicant must have a C Category Flight Instructor Rating or above.
- Applicant must hold a current aviation medical.
- Applicant must be actively flying with the intention to complete their instructor upgrade within twelvemonths.
- Applicant must be a financial member of NZAWA for minimum of two years.
- Applicant must be a permanent resident of New Zealand.
The successful applicant(s) are announced at the annual King’s Birthday Rally, with applications closing April 15th each year.
ASPEQ Instructor Upgrade Scholarship
Members Hours Awards
Members may apply for Hours Awards to recognize the achievement of certain milestones in their aviation career. These are available for power flying, gliding or ballooning or for a certain number of parachute jumps.
Each Milestone is denoted by a badge:
- 500hr – Bronze
- 1000hr – Silver
- 5000hr – Gold
- 10000hr – Gold with an inset stone
To apply you must have been a member of NZAWA for at least 2 years, and filled out the application below.
Hours Award Application
Agnes Turnbull Scholarship
The Agnes Turnbull Scholarship was established in 1998 following a generous bequest made by Agnes Turnbull who was a founding member of NZAWA. The purpose of the annual scholarship is to assist a member in the achievement of practical and /or theoretical flight training.
It is open to you if you meet the following criteria:
- You have been a financial member of NZAWA for two years
- You are a permanent resident of New Zealand
- You have achieved a minimum of 50 hours flight time
The successful applicant(s) are announced at the annual King’s Birthday Rally, with applications closing April 15th each year.
Agnes Turnbull Scholarship Application
Neeson Scholarship
The Neeson Scholarship was established in 2010 following a generous bequest made by the Neeson Family in memory of Jessica Neeson who was a qualified B-Category Flight Instructor who sadly died in an air accident.
The purpose of the annual scholarship is to assist a member, who is already a qualified instructor, to undertake training or study, not necessarily aviation related, that will improve the instructors teaching skills to help student pilots learn to fly.
Applicants must have a C-Category Flight Instructor Rating or similar and met the following criteria:
. Been a financial member of NZAWA for minimum of two years; and
. Have completed the direct supervision requirements of their Flight Instructor Rating;
. Have a passion for training; and
. Be a permanent resident of New Zealand
The successful applicant(s) are announced at the King’s Birthday Annual Rally, with applications closing April 15th each year.
Neeson Scholarship Application
Ann Barbarich Award
Sponsored by Air New Zealand
The Award was established in 2015 in memory of Ann, a pilot, parachutist and aviation enthusiast who sadly died while on a tour of duty flying the B787 for Air New Zealand. Ann had well over 16,000 hours and in recent years had flown the B787, B747 and B737 with Air New Zealand. She had gained hours very early in her career as a parachute drop pilot and coordinated her 500th flying hour by handing over control of the aircraft and making her 500th parachute jump!
Air New Zealand generously sponsors this award in memory of Ann. The purpose of this annual award is to encourage and motivate an aspiring pilot with the experience of a day in the life of an Airline Pilot with Air New Zealand and a leadership workshop. Ann was very enthusiastic about giving her time and advice to ambitious pilots, especially those she could help with their path to the airlines.
Applicants shall show leadership potential and the passion to pursue a career in the airlines or similar, and meet the following criteria:
- Be a financial member of NZAWA includes first year members; and
- Have a passion for a career in the airlines; and
- Be a permanent resident of New Zealand
The successful applicant(s) are announced at the end of the King’s Birthday Annual Rally, with applicants putting their names forward at the beginning of the weekend.
Fill out the form below and tell us a little about yourself. You will then be interviewed at the rally by an NZAWA member who works at Air New Zealand.
Ann Barbarich Introductory Form
Looking for more scholarship opportunities?
Pauwels Flying Scholarship
Each Scholarship is worth $10,000 in flight hours, and $3000 in PPL theory plus a uniform jacket from the Air New Zealand Preferred FTO of your choice. Up to four scholarships granted each year – one of which is specifically for women.
Applicants must come from a challenging background (e.g. financial, family health) and/or an
underrepresented part of our community (e.g. rural, ethnicity).
Application form is downloadable from the website here.
NMIT Scholarships
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology and the NZ Aviation Federation, with the help of NZAWA, have joined together to support Female Engineers going into their training.
For more information on scholarships available, please look at their website here.
Flying New Zealand Scholarships
Flying New Zealand has scholarships available for people that are involved with Young Eagles.
For more information on scholarships available, please look at their website here.
