Australian Air Pilots Mutual Benefit Fund scholarship for RMIT

The Australian Air Pilots Mutual Benefit Fund has partered with RMIT Flight Training for a new $20,000 flying scholarship.

The scholarship, announced yesterday, will see the AAPMBF donate $20,000 to cover a student’s fees for RMIT’s Instructor Rating course, to be undertaken at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology’s Point Cook flying school.

The AAPMBF scholarship will be awarded to a student who demonstrates good flying aptitude and attitude and excellent academic achievement.

“This scholarship will enable a worthy student to be able to further their flight training,” Captain David Harget, Chairman of Board at AAPMBF, said. “The Australian Air Pilots Mutual Benefit Fund has been providing support for Australian commercial pilots who cannot work due to illness or accident for over 50 years. We’re pleased to mark our 50th anniversary with this initiative that supports and encourages pilots at the start of their career.”

“This scholarship represents an important partnership between RMIT Flight School and the Australian Air Pilots Mutual Benefit Fund,” Peter Ryan, Head of School of Engineering (TAFE), added. “RMIT is delighted to be able to offer this scholarship to a deserving student in 2012.”

Established in 1961, the AAPMBF has provided financial support to hundreds of members who have needed assistance due to ill health or accident. RMIT Flight Training is a specialist unit within RMIT, dedicated to training professional pilots for the airline and General Aviation sectors.

RMIT Flight Training says it is the only school in Victoria that offers VET Fee-help to its students as part of the Diploma of Air Transport (Airline Pilot). Many graduates of the Diploma go on to take the Instructor Rating course, which helps students gain employment in the industry, but the course is not covered by VET Fee-help and students must undertake the training at their own expense.