Free Site Compiles More Than $20 Million in Collegiate, Flight Training Funding
AviationStart, a comprehensive aviation scholarship database created by Jamail Larkins in partnership with the FAA, went live for the first time a day ahead of the 51st annual SUN ‘n FUN aerospace expo. The site bundles more than $20 million worth of awards into a gorgeously simple-to-use package.
“The biggest thing that is… stopping most people from getting involved inside the aviation industry is cost. And I’m really happy to announce AviationStart,” stated Jamail Larkins, founder of AviationStart. “It is the largest, most comprehensive resource for any student or aspiring aviation professional to find funding to be able to achieve their wildest dreams inside the aviation industry.”
Larkins’s journey towards AviationStart began by working as the FAA’s first Ambassador for Aviation & Space Education. As part of the DreamLaunch tour, he has traveled to upwards of 1,000 schools and told more than 60,000 students about opportunities within the industry. His effort seems to have paid off, with some schools reporting up to a 70 percent increase in applications after a DreamLaunch visit.
The DreamLaunch tour is reclaiming the stage in 2025 alongside a major upgrade: the AviationStart program. This is a completely free, comprehensive aviation scholarship database that compiles over $20 million in annual grants into one accessible site. The funding applies to several categories, including “everything from free type ratings, to advanced pilot training, to just being able to even get your private pilot license.”
DreamLaunch and AviationStart will visit 20 cities across the US this year, including Atlanta, Dallas, Philadelphia, Seattle, New Orleans, Chicago, San Francisco, Phoenix, Denver, and more. Its first stop is at SUN ‘n FUN in Lakeland, Florida - the same place where the program made its debut. With widespread support from aviation outreach programs, students will also have access to continued guidance from local professionals even after the tour moves forward.
Though Larkins didn’t set up a booth at SUN ‘n FUN, he will be floating around the airshow’s campus throughout the week to get the word out about AviationStart and kick off the DreamLaunch tour.
