AviationScholarship

Pilot training in Poland costs tens of thousands of złoty. A Private Pilot Licence (PPL) is in the 30,000–50,000 PLN range. A Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) costs many times more. For a talented and motivated young person who dreams of flying but comes from a family with average income, these sums are an insurmountable barrier. Talent and determination are not enough when you cannot afford the first hour of flight.

The Aviation Scholarship exists to lower that barrier. The "Lotnicze Marzenia" Foundation co-funds aviation training for young people aged 18–25 by covering part of the cost of a pilot licence course. We do not fund the full amount — we believe the candidate's own contribution and commitment are an inseparable part of the process. But we do cover the part that turns a dream from an abstraction into a real plan.

How does it work? The Foundation opens a scholarship round. Candidates submit applications describing their motivation, financial situation and any previous aviation experience. The Foundation's committee reviews the applications and selects those who will receive funding. The scholarship covers an agreed share of the cost of training at a flight school of the candidate's choice in Poland. Training runs in the normal way — the Foundation pays, the candidate flies and passes the exams.

Who are we looking for? Young people aged 18–25 who are seriously thinking about a career in aviation. You do not need to have started training already — you can be at the very beginning of the road. You do not need any flying experience — you can be someone who has only just discovered that they want to fly. What counts is motivation, determination and readiness for hard work. Pilot training is demanding — we need people who understand that and are ready for it.

Why are we doing this? Because there is a huge gap in Poland between the potential of young people and access to flight training. The aviation industry is growing fast — airlines are hiring, airports are expanding, new routes appear every season. Demand for pilots is rising. At the same time, pilot training remains one of the most expensive vocational courses in the country, available mostly to those from wealthy families. That means Poland is losing talent — people who could be excellent pilots but never get the chance, because their families cannot afford the first step.

The "Lotnicze Marzenia" Foundation wants to change that. We cannot fund training for everyone who dreams of flying — but we can help selected, most motivated candidates clear the financial barrier to entry. Every pilot who earns a licence thanks to our scholarship is proof that talent and passion can win against the wallet.

The programme runs in cycles — calls for applications are announced on the Foundation's website and on social media. Specific terms, the percentage of co-funding and the number of available scholarships can vary between editions and depend on available resources. Every edition has its own regulations with precise criteria.

Our scholarship holders are not anonymous. With their consent we publish their stories — from the moment of application, through training, to earning the licence. We want to show that the road from dream to cockpit is real, even if you do not have wealthy parents. Those stories are the best inspiration for the next generations of young people who look at the sky and think: "Is this for me?" Our answer: yes, it is.