Bristow Academy Inc., a division of Bristow Group, has announced that Per Emil Karl Albrektsson of Titusville, Fla., is the first annual Bill Chiles scholarship award recipient.
Bristow’s Scholarship Selection Committee chose Albrektsson based on his skill, financial need and ability to operate at the highest level of Target Zero safety. He has been a full-time student at Bristow Academy since May 2014 and received his commercial helicopter pilot rating in May 2015. The company’s Target Zero culture of safety was one of the reasons why he chose to attend Bristow Academy.
The scholarship award covers full tuition at Bristow Academy for a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) CFI helicopter rating to any graduate of Bristow Academy’s Professional Pilot Program, valued at $8,500. The CFI scholarship includes eight weeks of academic instruction and up to 17.5 flight hours.
Originally from Sweden, Albrektsson was inspired to fly after extensive discussions with an airline pilot and encouragement from his former boss. His dream is to fly helicopters offshore for Bristow out of its Stavanger base at Norway.
“I was delivering a 50-foot sailing yacht from Greece to St. Lucia for a client who was a fixed-wing private pilot,” said Albrektsson. “We talked every night during the three-week journey and his stories about aviation inspired me to learn to fly. I hope that when I become an instructor, I’m able to spread my Target Zero-focused thought processes to new students to help them become safe pilots.”
“Bristow Academy is honored to award our first scholarship to Emil, whose professionalism, dedication and work ethic position him well for success as a helicopter pilot,” said Todd Smith, director of Bristow Academy. “Bristow Academy is honored to help realize the dreams of those aspiring to fly to fill the growing need for qualified helicopter pilots worldwide.”
