Private Pilot Licence Scholarships

The closing date for applications was 7 January 2025 at 12 noon. 

The selection process is now underway.  All eligible applications received acknowledgement by email.  Your application should have been completed in handwriting, scanned as a four page pdf document and saved using the format forename.surname and sent by email to ppl@airpilots.org.  

All candidates should be aware that, if called to interview, you must make your own arrangements to attend interview in person in London on the 2nd or 3rd April 2025.  Alternative dates cannot be arranged.  Training must be take place at a UK flying school approved by the Company.  Please note that the scholarship only covers the cost of flying training and licence issue.  The costs of obtaining the Class 2 Medical Certificate and any associated travel, subsistence and accommodation expenses are the responsibility of the Scholarship winner.  Successful candidates will be made a conditional offer which will be subject to confirmation once all pre-requisite and contractual details have been acknowledged as satisfied.

Terms and Conditions:
The aim of the Scholarship Programme is to assist the successful individual, who might otherwise not have the necessary resources, to achieve their Licence.

The criteria for successful applications includes:

• your ability to demonstrate a serious ambition and ability to pursue an aviation related career
• your availability to undertake and complete the Scholarship during summer 2025
• your educational achievements, demonstrable knowledge and/or experience in science, mathematics or other aviation related subjects
• you must be aged at least 17 on 1 June 2025

Overseas applicants must be able to show they have the appropriate passport, visa or travel documents to reside in the UK during the training period in order for their application to be considered.

Gliding Scholarships

The closing date for applications was on 25 February 2025 at 12 noon.

The selection process is now underway.  All eligible applications received re acknowledged by email.  Your application should have been completed in handwriting, scanned to a two page pdf document no bigger than 3mb and sent by email to gliding@airpilots.org.

Candidates who are short-listed for consideration for the scholarship are required to attend in person an interview in London on either 22nd, 23rd or 24th April 2025.  We have a limited number of online interviews available on the 30th April and the 1st May.  These are offered at the discretion of the Company.  Travel expenses are the responsibility of the candidate and alternative interview dates cannot be arranged.

Successful candidates will be made a conditional offer which will be subject to confirmation once all pre-requisite and contractual details have been acknowledged as satisfied.

Terms and Conditions:
The aim of the Scholarship is to assist the successful individual, who might otherwise not have the necessary resources to have the chance to experience gliding, either on a week-long residential course, or at a local gliding club on a lesson by lesson basis.  The Scholarship will cover direct training costs and residential accommodation; travel expenses to and from the training centre will be the responsibility of the Scholarship winner.

• You must be able to satisfy the NPPL medical requirement (click here for information)
• You must be aged at least 16 on 1 July 2024
• Height and Weight restriction:  candidates must be under 6’ 4” and under 16st 4lb (103.5kg)

Scholarships are residential and are offered to people over the age of 16.  Successful candidates have the opportunity to fly on a one week course at a youth approved British Gliding Association centre.  This course could take a candidate to first solo.  Candidates called for interview will be informed of the available dates and asked to confirm their preference at that time.  Courses will take place during the 2025 School Summer Holidays (July and/or Aug).  Candidates called for interview will be able to discuss their availability, however, successful candidates may have to accept and commit to a course which is not their preferred option.

Flight Instructor Certificate Scholarships

The closing date for applications was 26 February at 12 noon.

The selection process is now underway.  All eligible applications received are acknowledged by email.

All candidates should be aware that, if called to interview, they must make their own arrangements to attend an interview in London on 7th May 2025.  Alternative dates cannot be arranged. 

Successful candidates will be made a conditional offer subject to proof of passing a specific pre-entry flight test with an FI qualified for this purpose, based upon the proficiency check as previously set out in Part FCL Appendix 9.   This test must be completed at candidate’s own expense before 1 June 2025.  Training must be completed during the summer and before 30 September 2025.

The criteria for successful applications include:

• your ability to demonstrate a serious ambition to become a Flying Instructor.
• ability to provide evidence of the appropriate hours and licence requirements for the completion of the course and licence issue as designated by the UK CAA.
• your availability to undertake and complete the training award during summer 2025 and complete prior to 30th September 2025.
• you must be able to satisfy the relevant UK CAA medical standard to enable the issue of the appropriate licence and any Company pre course entry requirements.

Pre-entry Requirements

Candidates must meet the following pre-entry requirements on the date of interview:

(a)      Hold either a valid UK issued CPL(A) or ATPL(A) licence including a valid SEP class rating OR hold a valid UK issued PPL(A) including a valid SEP class rating and have completed at least 200 hours of flight time on aeroplanes of which 150 hours shall be as pilot-in-command (PIC).

(b)      Have completed a VFR cross-country flight as PIC of at least 540km (300nm) in the course of which full stop landings at two different aerodromes have been made.

(c)      Have met the requirements for CPL theoretical knowledge. If holding a PPL(A) without CPL theoretical knowledge, the candidate must show a need for LAPL(A)-only instructors in their chosen geographical area. In these cases, CPL theoretical knowledge will be still required at interview.

(d)      Have completed at least 30 hours on single-engine piston powered aeroplanes of which at least five hours shall have been completed during the six months preceding the pre-entry flight test (see note below).

(e)      Have received at least 10 hours instrument flight instruction in the appropriate aircraft category, of which not more than five hours may be instrument ground time in a FSTD.

(f)       Have completed at least 20 hours of VFR cross-country flight in SEP class aircraft category as PIC.