Private Pilot Licence Scholarships

Closing date for applications: 14th February 2023 at 12 noon.

These scholarships cover all aspects of training up to licence issue for a candidate who is prepared to dedicate a considerable part of the summer to gaining their PPL.  Providing up to 45 hours of flying training, the scholarships can take a candidate with little or no experience to completion of their flying licence during the course of the summer; alternatively they can "finish off" someone who is already partially trained.  The scholarships are awarded entirely on merit as evidenced on the completed application form and as assessed by a selection committee appointed by the Company.  Candidates must be 17 or over on 1 June 2023.  The course must be commenced during the summer of 2023 and completed by 28th September 2023.

All candidates should be aware that, if called to interview, they must make their own arrangements to attend interview in person in London on the 3rd or 4th May 2023.  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; no provision is made for transport, accommodation, subsistence etc.

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 Scholarship covers only direct training and examination costs.  The costs of obtaining the Class 2 Medical Certificate and any associated travel, subsistence and accommodation expenses are the responsibility of the Scholarship winner.

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 2023
• your educational achievements, demonstrable knowledge and/or experience in science, mathematics or other aviation related subjects
• you must be able to satisfy the relevant medical standard to enable issue of a Class 2 Medical Certificate issued in the UK in accordance with Part Med
• you must be aged at least 17 on 1 June 2023
• 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

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 your own handwriting, scanned as a three page pdf document (not larger than 3mb) and saved using the format forename.surname and sent by email to ppl@airpilots.org.  All correctly completed applications received are acknowledged by email.  Applications received as single page documents, not saved correctly, including the cover page, as photographs, or in any other form will be disregarded.

Gliding Scholarships

Closing date for applications is 14 March 2023 at 12 noon.

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 2023 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.

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 accomodation; 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 2023
• Height and Weight restriction:  candidates must be under 6’ 4” and under 16st 4lb (103.5kg)

Candidates who are short-listed for consideration for the scholarship are required to attend in person an interview in London on either 26 or 27 April 2023.  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 email.  If you do not receive an acknowledgement by email, you should assume that your application has not been received and should resubmit your application.  You are, of course, welcome to telephone the office to check.  Applications not meeting any of the requirements above will be disregarded.

Flight Instructor Certificate Scholarships

Closing date for applications: 7th March 2023 at 12 noon.

The Flight Instructor Certificate Scholarship award covers all direct training and examination costs for the successful candidate as they achieve their Fixed Wing Flying Instructor Certificate.  Providing up to 30 hours of flying training and 125 hours of ground school training, the scholarship can cover the minimum course requirements plus the direct costs of one Assessment of Competence to allow licence application to be made by the candidate. The selection process has three stages which successful candidates will move through. The scholarships are awarded entirely on merit as evidenced by a completed application form, completion of a short video and on the result of an interview with a selection panel appointed by the Company. Training must be completed during the summer and before the 30th September 2023.

All candidates should be aware that, if called to interview, they must make their own arrangements to attend interview in person in London on the 9th May 2023. Alternative dates cannot be arranged. Training must take place at a UK flying school approved by the Company. Please note that the scholarship only covers the direct costs of flying training and testing; no provision is made for transport, accommodation, subsistence etc.

Terms and Conditions:
The aim of the Scholarship Programme is to assist the successful individual to achieve their Flight Instructor (Aeroplanes) Certificate on a UK licence.  The Scholarship covers only direct training and examination costs. The costs of obtaining the required Medical Certificate, the pre-entry flight test and any associated travel, subsistence and accommodation expenses are the responsibility of the Scholarship winner.

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 2023 and complete prior to 30th September 2023.
• 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.

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

Please note: Your application must be completed in your own handwriting, scanned as a five page document (not larger than 3mb) and saved using the format firstname.surname and sent by email to office@airpilots.org. Any applications not meeting any of these requirements will be disregarded.

The Company will expect training to be carried out at a UK CAA Approved Training Organisation (based in the UK) which is also approved by the Honourable Company.  Arrangements are to be in place by mid-June and training and testing is to be completed by 30 September 2023.

The awards are made by a Selection Committee appointed by The Company.  Candidates who are successful at the first stage (application form) will be asked to submit a one minute video on a subject which will be communicated directly upon successfully reaching this second stage of selection. Candidates who are short listed for the Flight Instructor Certificate Scholarships are required to attend at their own expense for an interview on 9th May 2023 in London, when the candidate must be prepared to give evidence that they fully meet the minimum criteria for the award as stated below:

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.

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, completed at candidate’s own expense before 1 June 2023.

Your application must be completed in handwriting, scanned to a multipage pdf document and sent by email to office@airpilots.org.  All applications received are acknowledged by email.  If you do not receive an acknowledgement by email, you should assume that your application has not been received and should resubmit your application.  You are, of course, welcome to telephone the office to check.  Applications received as single page documents, as photographs, or in any other form will be disregarded.