The Guild Flying Scholarship Programme

The Guild flying scholarships and bursaries provide a unique opportunity for people who would like to become pilots or to further their qualifications as pilots.  In 2011 we made some quite substantial changes to the administration of these scholarships in order to avoid school/university examination times and also to provide candidates with an additional month of potential good weather to complete their training.

The future timetable for the scholarship programme will be as follows:  Application forms will be available from this page from late Decembers through to March for PPL (A), FIR(A),and the Gliding Scholarships (all subject to availability in a given year), interviews (where applicable) will be during the early days of May and will be held in the Guild offices in London. Training in each instance MUST be completed by the first week of October in the year of award; candidates should be aware that this demands a very high level of commitment during the summer months and if offered a scholarship, the Guild will expect the receipient to meet this commitment.

In addition to flying scholarships funded directly by the Guild or one of its Charitable Trusts, each year the Guild is fortunate to receive generous sponsorship from several sources to fund flying scholarships which are administered by the Guild.  In 2012, the following have generously offered to provide funding for scholarships:

Past Master Mike Grayburn - funding for one PPL scholarship

The Cadogan Charitable Trust - funding for one PPL scholarship

The family and friends of George Dobson who have generously contributed to the "George Dobson Memorial Scholarship"

Sir Adrian Swire - funding for one FIR (A) scholarship

CATS (Luton) - provision of on ATPL Ground School Course

EPST (Netherlands) - provision of two JOC scholarships

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PPL Scholarship (Fixed Wing) 2012

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, these 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 Guild.  The closing date for receipt of applications was 21 March 2012, the interviews held in London on 1 May 2012.  Candidates must be 17 or over on 1 June 2012. The course must be completed during summer 2012 and certainly by 5 October 2012.

All candidates should be aware that the scholarships only cover the cost of flying training and licence issue, no provision is made for transport, accommodation, subsistence etc.

Approximately 400 applications have been received, many of an extremely high standard.  All candidates have now been informed of the outcome of their application (by email) and 8 invitations to interview have been issued.

Gliding Scholarship 2012

Please note:  the original dates for the course (13 - 18 August) have been changed because of Olympic Air Space restrictions.  The new dates are 20 to 24 August

The Guild Young Members (GYM) group (click on the link to find out more) will again be able to sponsor two Gliding Scholarships, to be flown during summer 2012 (weather permitting) at Lasham Gliding Society.  The 5 day course is residential (5 nights). Applications closed 21 March 2012 and interviews will be in London on 2 May 2012. 

Although only 25 applications were received, the standard of applicants was extremely high and choosing 6 candidates for interview was difficult.  All applicants have now been made aware of the outcome of their application.

Flying Instructor (Fixed Wing) Rating 2012

The Scholarship award covers all direct training and examination costs for the successful candidate as they achieve their Fixed Wing Instructor Rating. Please refer to page one of the application form for eligibility criteria and terms and conditions of the scholarship.  The closing date for receipt of applications was 21 March 2012 and interviews in London on 3 May 2012. Training must be completed during the summer of 2012 and certainly before 5 October 2012. 50 applications were received.

All candidates have now been informed of the outcome of their application (by email) and 8 candidates have been invited to interview.

ATPL Ground School Scholarship 2012

Click on the red letters above to download the applicaton form.

CATS (Luton) have very generously offered to provide access to their online study package for one person committed to gaining their ATPL through the Modular Route.  Download the (attached above) application form for full details.  Closing date for receipt of applications is 31 May 2012.  Details of CATS Aviation can be found at www.catsaviation.com/atpl  The Scholarship Winner must register to commence training by 1 August 2012 and candidates should be aware that training must be completed within 18 months of commencement.

The Jet Orientation Course Scholarship 2012

Click on the red letters above to download the application form

In association with European Pilot Selection & Training (EPST), the Netherlands based developer of pilot selection tools and ab-initio pilot selector, the Guild is pleased to offer two Jet Orientation Course scholarships.  This course is specifically designed to prepare newly qualified professional pilots for employment with an airline.  The course is not type specific.  Pilots who have completed the EPST Airline Jet Foundation course (AJFC) have proved to be well regarded by potential employers. Closing date for receipt of applications - end of August. 

If you are thinking about applying but not sure what you will gain from the course you might well find it helpful to read the attached reports from previous winners EPST JOC Scholarship Report is written by Bobby Kennedy one of the two winners from 2011.

 Claudine Miles and  Louise Courtney report on their training at EPST following the awards of 2010 and an end of course Report from EPST on the 2010 winners.

The J N Somers Scholarship 2011

The tenth J N Somers Scholarship was awarded to Hal Newberry from Devon.  Hal commenced his flying training at Flight Training Europe, Jerez in February 2011.  Sadly we have to report that this is the last of the 10 fATPL scholarships generously funded by Mrs P Somers in memory of her husband, Nat.  The Guild is extremely grateful to Mrs Somers for her amazing generosity over the years.   

Scholarship Winners 2011

On Thursday 17 November 2011, 16 scholarship and bursary winners assembled with their families and friends at Cutlers' Hall in the City of London for the scholarship award ceremony; a chance for the newest members of the Guild to meet with the Court of the Guild and share their experiences during the summer.

Pictured here, from left to right:

Mark Mosley (IR Instructor Bursary), Jeremy McKinney (J N Somers Scholarship 2010), Tom Baldock (GYM Gliding Scholarship), Sam Woodward (Grayburn PPL Scholarship), Bobby Kennedy (JOC Scholarship at EPST), Colette Carroll (Norman Motley FI(R) Scholarship), Thomas Farrant (JOC Scholarship at EPST), Immediate Past Master Dr Michael Fopp, Matthew Cash (Swire FI(R) Scholarship), Sally Longstaff (Grand Master's PPL Scholarship), Matthew Giles (Cadogan PPL Scholarship), Lewis Lang (GYM Gliding Scholarship), Nigel Best (Diamond Jubilee Air Safety Trust FI(R) Scholarship), Cameron Alexander (Benevolent Fund PPL Scholarship), Tom Keable (Sir Sefton Branker PPL Scholarship), Jaspreet Singh (Benevolent Fund FI(R) Scholarship), James Hammett (Weetabix FI(R)(H) Scholarship.

Unable to be with us on the evening: Antony Ellams (IR Instructor Bursary) and Timothy Hiett (MEI Instructor Bursary)

Tom Keable also won the Landymore Trophy for best PPL Scholar and was presented with an Airbox Aware by Tom Hedges of Airbox Aerospace Ltd