Flying Scholarships are a great way of gaining hands on flying experience and provides a strong boost to your CV.

Firstly it is important to distinguish between a flying scholarship and a pilot sponsorship scheme. Pilot sponsorship schemes aim to prepare students for a professional flying career. This will include flying training up to ATPL level and these schemes are normally funded or supported by the airlines themselves.

Whereas flying scholarships are aimed at offering a student flying experience up to a certain level such as NPPL or PPL, or in some cases a limited number of hours of flying training. These are aimed at young people and are usually funded by flying organisations/individuals (rather than the airlines) such as GUILD, The Air League, RAFA etc.

A flying scholarship is a fantastic way of receiving funded flying training and is a stepping stone to a professional flying career. Flying scholarships will boost your applications to fully fledged pilot sponsorship schemes, the airlines and the RAF.

Flying scholarships are of course very competitive and most are offered at young people in their teens and early twenties, their competitiveness is one reason why they are so valuable!

Applying for a flying scholarship usually consists of an application form followed by a formal interview and can include an aptitude test. All applicants are also required to medically fit up to a class two standard.

Below I have provided my top tips for being successful in obtaining a prestigious flying scholarship.

Top tips for applying for Flying Scholarships

1. Flying Experience, any previous flying experience will boost your application. This does not have to be in fixed wing powered aircraft, but even gliding experience will help you vastly and it's far cheaper. Spend what you can afford as this shows dedication and ambition.

2. Extra Curricular Activities, very important to show these. Try joining the Air Cadets (if aged between 13 and 18) or complete a Duke of Edinburgh Award. Any activities which involve teamwork are best.

3. Education, if you are still at school work hard to achieve good grades at Maths and Science. If you are going on to A-levels or University then Maths and Physics based subjects will booster your application best. subjects.

4. Interview, if you are fortunate enough to obtain a flying scholarship interview then dress formal (suit and tie), be confident but not arrogant, strong firm hand shakes, look interviewers in the eye, prepare answers and ask lots of questions!

5. Failure, if you fail then keep trying. Each time you fail you will have learnt a lot and so your chances for next time will be improved (providing you apply what you learnt !). Apply to different flying scholarships as well as the same one. Coming back for interviews a year later shows real determination.