General Fellowship Eligibility Requirements

What you need to apply

OBAP allocates funds through the PPDP to assist members in completing flight training, or to seek employment with air carriers. Currently this funding constitutes 85% of the PPDP budget and is dedicated primarily to the Fellowship Program. The Fellowship Program has three categories: Type Rating, Simulator Preparation and Recurrency. Due to the limited dollar amount of funds available, fellowships are awarded on a first come, first serve basis.

In its current format Type Rating fellowship funds are distributed equally to each of the regions and administered by the regional officers. The Simulator Preparation and Recurrency fellowships are administered by the PPDP Chairman or his/her designee.

When we provide funding to an applicant, for example, to attain a CFI rating for $3,500 total cost, this is what is typically requested:

	Name of school
	Total cost of aircraft
	Total cost of instruction
	Examination and testing cost
	Books and supplies cost
	Timeline
	Financial statement of applicant
	One or two additional cost estimates from competing schools
	School name and proposed instructor experience

If after reviewing all of the above, the funding request were approved for $1,500 the applicant would receive confirmation advising them accordingly. The applicant would be required to forward to OBAP a check for $2,000 along with some additional validation documents. After receiving the check, OBAP would forward to the school a check for $3,500. If the student is unsuccessful in obtaining the rating or certificate in the planned amount of funding, PPDP will go back and assess what are the extraordinary circumstances contributing to the substandard training and whether the member can be successful in a reasonable amount of time or whether the funding should be terminated. If the student withdraws from the training program prematurely, they burn their $2,000 first and all residuals are returned to the PPDP.

Tragically, we don't have the money to fund everyone's aviation desires. Contributions, whether general or specifically targeted toward a specific program are always welcome.