Gliding Scholarships

Closing date for applications is 3rd February 2026 at 12 noon.

Interviews:  21st, 22nd, 23rd April 2026.  

Zoom interviews may be offered at the discretion of the Company on the 29th & 30th April.

Scholarships are residential and are offered to people aged between 16 and 25.  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 2026 School Summer Holidays (July and/or Aug). Candidates invited to 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.

Terms and Conditions:
The aim of the Scholarship is to assist the successful individual, who might otherwise not have the necessary resources, to experience gliding on a week-long residential course.  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 2026
• Height and Weight restriction: candidates must not be above 6’1 and  weigh under 15st (95.25kg)
• If you are invited to attend an interview, do you require any assistance or adjustments?
• Please contact the Air Pilots office if you require any reasonable adjustments as part of your application process
   

Candidates who are short-listed for consideration for the scholarship are required to attend an interview on the 21st, 22nd or 23rd of April 2026. Zoom interviews may be available at the discretion of the the Company on the 29th or 30th April 2026. 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.

please note:  Your application must be completed in handwriting, scanned to a two page pdf document no bigger than 3mb and sent by email to gliding@airpilots.org.  All applications received are acknowledged by an instant automated email with instructions on the selection process.  If you do not receive an acknowledgement by email, then please do check your junk folder.  You are, of course, welcome to telephone the office to check.  Applications not meeting any of the requirements above will be disregarded.

ATPL Scholarships x 2

Closing date for applications: 26th February 2026 at 12 noon.

Interviews in London: Date expected to be May 2026 but to be confirmed.

The aim of the Air Pilots majority funded ATPL groundschool Scholarship is to assist the successful individuals, who might otherwise not have all of the necessary resources at present to achieve a commercial Licence. These scholarships require the successful candidates to pay just 25% (£712.00) of the retail cost of the package as a pledge of commitment to complete the course. This payment will be made directly to BGS within three months of the award.

The two scholarships will be awarded entirely on merit as evidenced on the completed application forms and as assessed by a selection committee appointed by the Company.

All candidates should be aware that, if called to interview, they must make their own arrangements to attend interview in person in London 2026. 

Terms and Conditions for these scholarships are included in the application form as are the application instructions which must be followed correctly.

All applications received are acknowledged by an email reply.

Please note:  Your application must be completed in your own handwriting, scanned as a five page pdf document (no larger than 3MB) and saved using the format forename.surname and sent by email to office@airpilots.org.  All applications received are acknowledge.   If you do not receive an acknowledgment you are welcome to call the office to check we have received your application form. 

Applications which are: received as single page documents; not saved correctly; include the cover pages; submitted as photographs; or in any other form, will be disregarded and NOT reviewed. 

Private Pilot Licence Scholarships

The closing date for applications was 8 January 2026 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 three 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 15th & 16th  April 2026.  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 2026
• 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 2026

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.