Learn to fly in 2027

Three OAA scholarships now open

||| FROM ALLAN TONE for ORCAS AVIATION ASSOCIATION |||

Have you ever watched a small plane lift off Runway 34 at Orcas Island Airport and thought, “That could be me”? This year, it really could — and the island needs you up there.

The Orcas Aviation Association (OAA) is now accepting applications for our 2027 Adult Private Pilot Scholarships, and we’ve expanded the program: three scholarships will be awarded this cycle, up from two in past years. Each is a 50/50 matching scholarship — OAA
matches every dollar the student invests in their flight training — and comes with free ground school, taught right here on Orcas through our partners at the Airhawks Flying Club.

Why does OAA do this? Because these scholarships aren’t just about helping islanders earn their wings — they’re about keeping Mercy Flights flying.

For those new to the island: OAA is the all-volunteer 501(c)(3) that operates the Mercy Flight Program. Our volunteer pilots fly Orcas patients — at no charge — to mainland airports for radiation, chemo, MRIs, and other critical appointments, and transport family
members when a loved one has been medevaced. When the ferries falter, Mercy Flights doesn’t. Our pilots now fly more than 500 of these flights a year, and that number keeps growing. Sustaining that service requires a steady pipeline of new local pilots — which is
exactly what this scholarship program was built to create.

It’s working. Past recipients Mindy Nuñez, Indy Zoeller, and Kellen Comrie all earned their Private Pilot certificates and are active pilots on the island today, with Indy and Kellen and Mindy already flying Mercy Flights for their neighbors.

Scholarships are awarded to full-time Orcas Island residents based on three criteria: a genuine passion for flying and commitment to complete the program; a willingness to give back to the community — including a commitment to fly Mercy Flights once certificated and
experienced; and financial need. Applicants should be able to pass an FAA flight physical and have enough schedule flexibility to train consistently.

Applications are due October 31, with interviews and scholarship awards in early November. Ground school begins in January, with flying to start as soon as the weather breaks in May or June. The application is quick and straightforward — find it at airhawks.org, or pick one up at the Port of Orcas terminal.

If you — or someone you know — has always dreamed of flying, this is the year. Questions? Reach me at allan@orcasaviationassn.org or 360.776.9505.

OAA is entirely supported by community donations, directly or through the Orcas Island Community Foundation (OAA, PO Box 712, Eastsound, WA 98245).