Fran Bera Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by San Diego Chapter of the Ninety-Nines

Description

This scholarship honors Fran Bera by supporting a dedicated Ninety-Nines (99s) member in completing her Private Pilot certificate. The award targets student pilots who are actively engaged in the organization and who can demonstrate a clear training plan. Funding is intended to remove financial barriers that would otherwise prevent completion of private pilot training within a reasonable timeframe.

Description: Financial assistance for an active 99s student pilot to complete Private Pilot training.

• Purpose: enable completion of the Private Pilot certificate.
• Target: active, engaged 99s student pilots.
• Focus: applicants with a clear, time-bound training plan.

Eligibility

Applicants must be current student pilot members of the Ninety-Nines and meet specific regulatory and participation requirements. Required documentation includes a valid medical certificate and a student pilot certificate, plus evidence of recent flight training activity. Applicants must demonstrate financial need, have a 99s mentor, and plan to complete training promptly; review the official application instructions before applying.

Eligibility: Membership, medical and student pilot credentials, recent training activity, financial need, and a 99s mentor.

• 99s Student Pilot member for at least three months prior to the submission deadline.
• Current and valid medical certificate.
• Valid student pilot certificate.
• At least five hours of flight training in the six months prior to the application deadline.
• Flight training must be received within the United States.
• Demonstrated financial need.
• Must have a 99s mentor.

Award Value

The scholarship provides up to $12,000 to help the recipient reach the Private Pilot certificate milestone. Funds are intended to cover training-related expenses necessary to complete certification. Recipients are expected to present a clear plan to finish training, typically within a 12-month period, and to use the funds for approved training activities in the United States.

Award Value: Up to $12,000 to support completion of Private Pilot training.

• Maximum award amount: $12,000.
• Intended use: expenses directly related to Private Pilot training.
• Training location requirement: within the United States.
• Recipients should present a time-bound plan to complete training.

History of the Award

The scholarship commemorates Fran Bera, a long-serving member of the San Diego Chapter and of the Ninety-Nines, renowned as an FAA Designated Examiner, test pilot, aircraft salesperson, and record-setting air racer. Fran logged over 20,000 hours in general aviation and maintained a 69-year membership in the Ninety-Nines, one of the longest in the organization’s history. Her lifelong advocacy for women pilots—especially student pilots—inspired the scholarship’s focus on enabling new pilots to achieve the Private Pilot certificate.

History of the Award: Established to honor Fran Bera’s legacy and support the next generation of women pilots.

• Honors Fran Bera’s achievements and long-term commitment to aviation and the 99s.
• Reflects her advocacy for women and student pilots.
• Designed to perpetuate her wish to assist a committed 99s member to earn a Private Pilot certificate.