Honourable Company of Air Pilots announce 2018 scholarships

The Honourable Company of Air Pilots (HCAP) has announced its 2018 flying scholarship program, with specific awards for private pilot, gliding and instructor qualifications.

Private Pilot Licence 2018

These scholarships cover all aspects of training up to the issue of a Private Pilot Licence (PPL) for candidates who are prepared to dedicate a considerable part of summer 2018 to gaining their PPL. Providing up to 45 hours of flying training, these scholarships can take a candidate with little or no flying experience to completion of their licence during the course of the summer; alternatively they can be used to complete a course for someone who is already partially trained. The scholarships are awarded entirely on merit and are assessed by a selection committee appointed by HCAP. Candidates must be 17 or over on 1 June 2018 and the course must be completed by the beginning of October 2018.

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.

Applications are welcome from candidates world-wide, although HCAP point-out that international candidates should be aware that, if called to interview, they must make their own arrangements to attend interview in person in London, and all training must be take place at a UK flying school. The scholarships only cover the cost of flying training and licence issue; no provision is made for transport, accommodation, subsistence etc.

The criteria for successful applications include:

  • The ability to demonstrate a serious ambition and ability to pursue an aviation related career;
  • availability to undertake and complete the Scholarship during summer 2018;
  • educational achievements, demonstrable knowledge and/or experience in science, mathematics or other aviation related subjects;
  • being 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;
  • being aged at least 17 on 1 June 2018.

HCAP will expect training to be carried out at a flying school approved by HCAP; to be commenced during June 2018 and to be completed by 2 October 2018.

Candidates who are short-listed for the PPL Scholarships are required to attend an interview in London on either the 1st or 2nd May 2018 (alternative interview dates cannot be arranged). The interview process includes short tests to help ascertain aptitude and ability. 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. The scholarship funding does not cover the cost of travelling to London for interview or travel costs during training.

The closing date for applications for a PPL scholarship is 14th March 2018.

Gliding Application 2018

Gliding scholarships are provided directly by the Honourable Company and also through funding from the Air Pilots’ Flying Club and the Air Pilots Benevolent Fund and various private and commercial sponsors. As these scholarships will be residential, they are offered to people over the age of 16 and give the successful candidates the opportunity to fly on a one week residential course at a youth-approved British Gliding Association (BGA) 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.

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; travel expenses to and from the training centre will be the responsibility of the Scholarship winner.

A Selection Committee appointed by HCAP makes the awards. Candidates who are short-listed for consideration for the scholarship are required to attend an interview in London on 8th or 9th May 2018. The scholarship funding does not cover the cost of travelling to London for interview or travel costs during training. Alternative interview dates cannot be arranged.

The training will be carried out at an approved BGA Junior Gliding Centre, either as part of a one-week residential course or, in some cases, at a centre local to the successful candidate. Courses will take place during the 2018 School Summer Holidays (July and/or August). All the exact dates and locations are yet to be confirmed. 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.

The criteria for successful applications include:

  • Being able to satisfy the NPPL medical requirement (DVLA Group 1 with GP endorsement);
  • Must be aged at least 16 on 1 July 2018;
  • Height and Weight restriction:  candidates must be under 6’ 4” and under 16st 4lb (103.5kg).

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.

The closing date for applications for gliding scholarship is 28th March 2018.

Flight Instructor Certificate 2018

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. Training must be completed during the summer before the first week of October 2018.

The aim of the Scholarship Programme is to assist the successful individual, who might otherwise not have the necessary resources, to achieve their FI Certificate. The Scholarship covers only direct training and examination costs – the costs of obtaining the required Medical Certificate, and any associated travel, subsistence, and accommodation expenses are the responsibility of the Scholarship winner.

The criteria for successful applications include:

  • The ability to demonstrate a serious ambition to become a Flying Instructor;
  • availability to undertake and complete the training award during summer 2018;
  • must be able to satisfy the relevant EASA medical standard to enable the issue of the appropriate licence and any relevant EASA and Company pre course entry requirements.

HCAP will expect training to be carried out at an EASA 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 2 October 2018.

Candidates who are short listed for the Flight Instructor Certificate Scholarships are required to attend at their own expense for an interview on 16 May 2018 in London, when the candidate must be prepared to give evidence that they fully meet the minimum criteria for the award. Candidates must meet the following pre-entry requirements on the date of interview:

(a)          Hold a valid EASA PPL(A), CPL(A) or ATPL(A) licence including a valid SEP class rating.

(b)          Have completed at least 200 hours of flight time of which not less than 100 hours shall be pilot-in-command (PIC) if holding an ATPL(A) or CPL(A) **, or 150 hours PIC if holding a PPL(A).

(c)           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.

(d)          Have met the requirements for CPL theoretical knowledge.

(e)          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.

(f)           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.

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

** This requirement is additional to the EASA basic prerequisites

Successful candidates will be made a conditional offer subject to proof of passing a specific pre-entry flight test with an FI qualified in accordance with FCL.930.FI for this purpose, based upon the proficiency check as set out in EASA Part FCL Appendix 9. This test must be completed at candidate’s own expense before 1 June 2018.

The closing date for applications for the Flight Instructor Certificate is 22nd March 2018.

HCAP say that all applications must be completed in handwriting, scanned to a multipage pdf document and sent by email. All applications received are acknowledged by email. If an applicant does not receive an acknowledgement by email, the applicant should assume that the application has not been received and should resubmit it. Applicants are welcome to telephone the HCAP office to check. Applications received as single page documents, such as photographs, or in any other form, will be disregarded.

Full details of the scholarships, and applications forms for download, can be found on the HCAP website:  www.airpilots.org/career-matters/scholarships/flying-scholarships-2018/

British Women Pilots’ Association (BWPA) launch ground school scholarships

BWPA logo

The BWPA will be able to award up to two ‘Easy PPL Ground School’ Scholarships to female pilots for study in 2018, and donated by easypplgroundschool.com’. All applicants must be members (associate or family members) of the BWPA at the time of application and on the closing date for applications (31st January 2018). In addition, the applicant must also have registered and activated an account (free of charge) at https://easypplgroundschool.com prior to submission of the scholarship application form. BWPA membership is not restricted to UK citizens or residents. Full details of membership are available from the BWPA website (http://bwpa.co.uk).

These scholarships are available to new and inexperienced pilots (who must have less than 10 hours total logged flying time at application), towards gaining their PPL (A) ground school qualifications. The applicant must not have attempted any of the CAA Theoretical Knowledge exams prior to application, and must be at least 16 years of age at the time of application (there is no upper age limit).

The scholarship provides a full on-line subscription to all nine PPL (A) Theoretical Knowledge courses, access to ground school instructor support, on-line in-course tests and on-line CAA format mock examinations for a full eighteen month period. In the event of failing to complete the required theoretical examinations within the eighteen month period, the candidate may purchase further subscription periods for any subject(s) from Easy PPL Ground School via the normal method on a personal basis at the rate advertised on the site.

The two BWPA Easy PPL Ground School Scholarships will be available for to up to two female applicants who, in the opinion of the selection panel, show the most promise for their future flying. (The panel also reserves the right to make no award if no suitable candidate is identified). The selection panel of three for the award will comprise representatives from BWPA, and Easy PPL.

Full details and application forms are available via the BWPA website: http://bwpa.co.uk/scholarships-2018-2/

 

2018 RAF Association flying scholarship scheme

The RAF Association runs the Flying Scholarship programme for the Air Cadet Organisation (ACO), the Girls Venture Corps Air Cadets (GVCA) and members of the Air Scouts/ Air Explorer Scouts.

In 2018 two winning candidates are awarded with a course of 35 hours flight training in a light aircraft, and the course covers all or part of the tuition needed to obtain a National Private Pilot Licence (NPPL). Six runners-up receive 12 hours training each.

Candidate must have been a member of the RAFAC, GVCAC or Explorer Air Scouts for at least 12 months on the 1 January 2018 and, at the time of application, hold GCSE awards at grade C or higher in English Language, Mathematics and three other subjects, only one of which may be non-core subject (eg art, music), or the equivalent of such passes. Predicted grades will be accepted.

A candidate must be at least 16 years of age on 1 June 2018 and under 20 on 1 January 2018, and must be medically fit and able to obtain a UK LAPL medical declaration of health from her/his doctor. Candidates must be prepared to undergo full RAF pilot aptitude testing and be available on 21 and 22 March 2018 to attend the Officers and Aircrew Selection Centre at RAF Cranwell if selected and the winning candidate must be able to attend a course of flying training for a continuous period of up to 45 days. It is assumed that the training will normally take place before the end of October.

Winning candidates will be expected to attend the RAF Association’s Annual Conference at Yarnfield Park on Saturday 12 May 2018, to be presented with their scholarships by the Chief of the Air Staff, or his representative.

Applications must be received before 31st January, full details and application form can be found at: www.rafa.org.uk/flying-scholarships/

Author: Adrian Mahovics

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