The Aspen Flight Academy (AFA) in partnership with Atlantic Aviation, the operator of the Aspen FBO, will award a generous total of $100,000 in scholarships to 11 Roaring Fork Valley high school students to learn to fly and obtain their Private Pilot’s Licenses.
Atlantic Aviation has been a supporter of the Aspen Flight Academy since 2014 and announced the new scholarship program in October 2022. The AFA’s goal is to be inclusive, and 40 percent of their students are female.
“Aspen Flight Academy has over 100 high school students in the program and operates three new airplanes. Three top graduates from the Purdue University Professional Flight Program are teaching and training our high school students how to become private pilots,” said Jeff Posey, president of AFA and a pilot for over 30 years. “We are one of the top high school flight academies in the U.S. and hope to continue our growth by partnering with companies like Atlantic Aviation.”
“We’re very proud to partner with Aspen Flight Academy to help grow our future aviators,” noted Atlantic Aviation Aspen FBO Manager, Jonathan Jones.
“It is an amazing time to become a professional pilot,” said Mike Pearce, Chairman of the Board of the Aspen Flight Academy, and an American Airlines 777 Captain. “The industry is projected to need tens of thousands of pilots in the next decade. Aspen Flight Academy is proud to help students become the next generation of aviation professionals.”
Students receiving the scholarships at a presentation on Tuesday, March 21, are the following:
- Zoe Laird – Glenwood Springs High School
- William Haneman – Aspen High School
- Fiona Benvenuto – Aspen High School
- Saffron DeBacker – Aspen High School
- Ariellie Washburn Aspen High School
- Aiden Knight – Aspen High School
- Gabriel Serson – Roaring Fork High School
- Seona (Paz) Miranda – Roaring Fork High School
- Haven Keery – Roaring Fork High School
- Colin Luu – Aspen High School
- Keton Young, Aspen High School
“Thank you to our sponsors who are leading the way in shaping America’s future aviation leaders!” noted Pearce.
