Sling Pilot Academy, located in Torrance, CA, has announced\nits recent achievement in being awarded one of the 2022 Federal Aviation\nAdministration (FAA) Workforce Development Grants amounting to almost $500,000.\nWith this significant Grant, the Academy is set to uplift the Torrance and\nlocal area communities by providing invaluable opportunities for our very own\nresidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The FAA grant comes as a recognition of Sling Pilot\nAcademy’s commitment to excellence in flight training and its dedication to\ncultivating a skilled and diverse aviation workforce. The cornerstone of Sling\nPilot Academy’s community uplift initiative is the provision of 25 Private\nPilot scholarships valued at an impressive $16,669 each. These scholarships\nhave all been awarded to Torrance and local-area High School students and\nindividuals, providing them the chance to pursue their dreams of becoming\nlicensed Private Pilots, and paving the way for a promising career in aviation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mark Arranaga, School to Career Coordinate of the Torrance\nUnified School District, whose students received a portion of the scholarships\ngranted, had this to say: “For the most part, young people’s dreams of\nbecoming a pilot just remain a dream. They don\u2019t know where to start or don\u2019t\nhave the means to obtain the proper education and training. That\u2019s why the\nSling scholarships are life-changing for our students. We currently have two\neager students who were selected for the [Private Pilot] scholarship. Both\nstudents said this scholarship would help them fulfill their dream of becoming\na pilot. Because of these scholarships, these two students will have their\nPrivate Pilot certificate before high school graduation and be on their way to\nobtaining their Commercial Pilot license. Thank you, Sling!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to the Private Pilot scholarships, Sling Pilot\nAcademy is in the process of awarding a total of 160 Commercial Drone Pilot\n(Part 107 Remote Pilot) scholarships, aimed at further supporting the\ndevelopment of unmanned aviation professionals in the South Bay. The ever-expanding\ndrone industry holds tremendous potential, and through these scholarships Sling\nPilot Academy aims to equip individuals with the necessary skills to excel in\nthis cutting-edge field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We are honored to have been selected for this FAA\nWorkforce Development Grant,” said Matt Liknaitzky, Torrance Resident and\nCo-CEO of Sling Pilot Academy. “At Sling Pilot Academy, we believe in the\ntransformative power of aviation and its ability to change lives. With these\nscholarships, we aim to create a more inclusive and diverse aviation community\nwhile fostering a passion for flight within our local area.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sling Pilot Academy has a long-standing reputation for its\ncomprehensive flight training programs, modern aircraft, and experienced team\nof flight instructors. With the FAA Grant, the Academy is excited about the\npositive effects this will have on the Torrance and local area communities\nenabling aspiring pilots from all walks of life to pursue their dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sling Pilot Academy has a good tradition of giving back to\nthe local community. During the \u201c200 Free Flights\u201d event earlier in 2023, Sling\nPilot Academy gave away 200 free flights mostly to local area high school\nstudents who were interested in a career in aviation. Sling Pilot Academy\nregularly donates airplanes to women\u2019s aviation groups, and other\nunderrepresented parts of aviation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Academy also donates free simulator time to the Civil\nAir Patrol (CAP) on a weekly basis. And, this summer saw the launch of the High\nSchool Aviation Summer Camp, where 22 Students participated in the inaugural\ncamp and got all the tools and aviation experience necessary to become\nprofessional Drone Pilots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Said Wayne Toddun, Torrance Resident and Co-CEO of Sling\nPilot Academy: \u201cSling Pilot Academy loves giving back to our local community.\nWe spent over $40,000 giving away our 200 Free Flights. We believe in giving\nwings to dreams and flights back to our community. There’s never been a better\ntime to be a pilot, with no college degree required, starting pay at\n$100,000\/yr, and maxing out at $590,000\/yr.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n