Scholarship Winners 2026

THE HONOURABLE COMPANY OF AIR PILOTS ANNOUNCES 2026 FLYING SCHOLARSHIPS

The Honourable Company of Air Pilots is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 Flying Scholarships, made possible by the generous support of sponsors, benefactors, and charitable trusts. 

This year, 12 Private Pilot Licence (PPL) Scholarships, 5 Flight Instructor (FI) Scholarships, and 48 Gliding Scholarships have been awarded to aspiring aviators across the UK. 

Private Pilot Licence Scholarships 2026

• (BALPA Benevolent Fund) The Mark Young Scholarship: Max Dodd - Shoreham Aviation 
• (BALPA Benevolent Fund) Lane Burselem Scholarship: Olivia Lardner - SEMET Aviation
• (BALPA Benevolent Fund) Wigley Scholarship: Antoni Bagrowski - Gamston Flying School
• Air Pilots Benevolent Fund Scholarship: Henry Bretz - Cotswold Aero Club
• Air Pilots Trust Scholarship: Ruby Wood - Andrewsfield Aviation 
• Captain Gavin Shaw Scholarship: Sophie Wonnacott - ACS Perth
• Donaldson Scholarship: Sigourney Ansah - Northweald Flying School
• Grayburn Scholarship: James Deeke - Enstone Flying Club
• Sir Sefton Brancker Scholarship (Air Pilots Trust): Ava Udwadia - Cotswold Aero Club
• SkyDemon Scholarship: Dominik Motlib - Leicseter Aero Club
• Stelios Philanthropic Foundation Scholarship: Rayan Akhtar – Flight Training London
• Stelios Philanthropic Foundation Scholarship:  Thomas Sutton - Tatenhill Aviation

Flight Instructor Scholarships 2026

• Stelios Philanthropic Foundation FI Scholarship: Manisha Potiwal – The Pilot Centre, Denham
• Norman Motley FI Scholarship: Thomas Hennessy-Jones - Aviation South West
• BALPA Benevolent Fund FI Scholarship;  Lucy Reeves - Aviation South West
• BALPA Benevolent Fund FI Scholarship: Chris Evans - On-Track Aviation
• Tap Tappin Scholarship - Antoni Kryzsos - West London Aero Club

Gliding Scholarships 2026

A total of 48 Gliding Scholarships were awarded, enabling students to participate in week-long residential courses at top gliding clubs:

• Derby & Lancs Gliding Club: 12 students
• Midland Gliding Club: 16 students
• Portsmouth Naval Gliding Club: 8 students
• Cotswold Gliding Club: 4 students
• London Gliding Club: 8 students

Gliding Scholarship Recipients by Sponsor:

• AFG: Thomas Yorke Dunne and William Simons
• Air Pilots Flying Club: Ayan Tauseef, Dominic Davies, Daniel Nesbeth, Muhammad Hassan, Yakov Tsymbal, Holly Dolan and Viya Shah
• Air Pilots Benevolent Fund: Rachel Burton
• Air Safety Trust: Jakub Sikora and Ruhma Binhoy
• James Winspear: Thomas Davies
• Dr Kelvin Roberts: Marika Wremel
• Per Caelum: Benjamin Borshchevsky
• Past Master Dorothy Saul Pooley – David Hockings Scholarship: Oliver Russell
• Past Master Dorothy Saul Pooley – Ken Lyndon-Dykes Scholarship: Jansi Patel
• Past Master Robin Keegan: Sarah Lochrie
• Red Arrows Trust: Isla Eloise Kotecha, Stephen Sesay, Lucas Keron, Sophie Smallwood, Ameya Bhattacharya and Miles Heppel
• RAF Charitable Trust (RAFCT): Deborah Ora, Micah Nortey, Amber Brittlebank, Tom Linzell, Hiba Brahime, Habiba Kenawi, Izaak Bellingham, Elena Kalashnik, Adam Woodburn, Oliver Isherwood, Joseph Collins, Daniel Jones, Sasha Chevis, Chloe Romani, Katie Corcoran, Riya Joseph, Jasmin Lee, Callan Dos Santos and George Martin.
• Sanjay Kahsyap:  Rebekah Nelson
• The Flyer Watch Company: Max Ord
• Virgin Atlantic: Yasmina Shulepko and Aran Shinji

Inspiring the Next Generation of Aviators

These scholarships reflect the Honourable Company of Air Pilots' ongoing commitment to fostering aviation excellence and opportunity. By supporting aspiring pilots from diverse backgrounds, the organisation plays a vital role in ensuring the next generation of aviators receive the training and mentorship necessary for success.

 
For media enquiries, please contact:

Air Pilots Office
Phone: +44 (0)20 7404 4032
Email: office@airpilots.org

Notes to Editors

1. About the Honourable Company of Air Pilots
Founded in 1929 as the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators, the Air Pilots is a Livery Company of the City of London. With members worldwide, it is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards in aviation through training, education, scholarships, and advocacy.

2. Charitable Mission
Through its scholarships, educational outreach, and technical expertise, the Air Pilots supports the safe and competent piloting of aircraft, offering opportunities to individuals who may not otherwise be able to access flight training.

3. Media Expertise
The Honourable Company of Air Pilots provides independent, expert insight to the media, regulators, and government bodies on aviation safety, training, and regulatory issues. For expert commentary, contact the team above.