Scholarships & Airline Training Schemes

SWISS-specific ab-initio pathway delivered at Lufthansa Group European Flight Academy (Grenchen CH + Phoenix USA), ~2 years. Eligibility: CH, EFTA or EU citizen; DLR certificate required. Distinct from the generic Lufthansa Group EFA entry because SWISS pre-finances and places graduates at SWISS. Confidence: moderate (overlaps EFA umbrella — worth human check).

Disabled people (wide range of disabilities); applicants explain how they would benefit. Apply by 15 January annually.

EU right to work; demanding AMC/COMPASS selection; EASA Class 1 medical; strong English

Aspiring professional helicopter pilots; must enrol on and complete a PPL(H) with Helicentre by the annual 31 July deadline to be considered for the CPL(H) award.

Partnership announced March 2025: OSM Aviation Academy Airline Ready programme (Arendal, Norway + US campus, ~20-24 months) mentored with Wideroe, Norway regional carrier (Dash 8). Self-funded at training stage; Wideroe provides paid type rating on hire. Source: afm.aero announcement (accessed Aug 2026).

Right to live/work in UK/EU; no prior flying experience needed; EASA/UK CAA Class 1 medical; strong English

EU right to work; pass OSM online admission test; EASA Class 1 medical

Female applicants aged 18+ (may apply at 17 with a high school degree). Must be based in and have unrestricted right to live and work in a Wizz Air base country: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Hungary, Moldova, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania or Serbia. Minimum high school degree; fluent English; good high-school-level Maths and Physics; able to swim 50m unaided; height check applies below 160cm or above 190cm. A surety (financial guarantor) must be nominated. No prior flying experience required.

EU/EEA/Swiss right to work; pass DLR aptitude test (Hamburg, ~EUR400); EASA Class 1 medical

Jet2.com talent programme for self-funded modular/integrated trainees (distinct from the fully-funded Jet2FlightPath cadet scheme already tracked). Trainees become eligible after their first UK CAA ATPL exams; a conditional Jet2 employment offer includes a Jet2-funded type rating. Delivered via Skyborne (also Bristol Groundschool as first modular partner, Jul 2026). Opened Aug 2026. Confidence: high.

Right to live and work in the UK/EU; EASA or UK CAA Class 1 medical; fluent English. Confirm full criteria with easyJet and Skyborne.

Right to live/work in EU/UK; no prior experience needed; EASA Class 1 medical

Based with unrestricted right to live/work in Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Hungary, North Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania or Serbia

Qualified flexwing microlight pilots training towards a flexwing instructor rating.

UK registered charity that trains wounded, injured or sick medically-discharged UK armed-forces veterans as professional pilots free of charge — PPL then CPL, historically routing graduates to airline First Officer roles (previously TUI). Opened a dedicated not-for-profit Veterans' Flying School at Gloucestershire Airport, officially opened 16 Jan 2025 by HRH The Princess Royal. Eligibility: UK medically-discharged veterans only.

Ongoing bursary from the Honourable Company of Air Pilots (HCAP) helping qualified UK flying instructors meet the cost of maintaining or enhancing their instructional qualifications (revalidation / continued professional development). Available on a rolling basis; distinct from the HCAP FI(R) certificate scholarship. Confirmed via Flight Training News, 16 Jul 2026.

Young people interested in a Fleet Air Arm (Royal Navy) flying career.

Young people aged 14-18 interested in an aviation or aerospace career; free to join; entry to the residential Aim High Week is by application and interview.

Young people (generally under 18) or disabled applicants of any age; UK gliding club member.

Aged 14-21, or up to 24 for Advanced Bursaries. UK-based.

UK's first electric-aircraft flying scholarships. Up to 5 awards: 5 hours flying in a Pipistrel Velis Electro with Saxon Air at Norwich Airport over 3-4 days, plus simulator time, ground school and sustainability sessions; hours count toward a PPL (accommodation provided if non-local). Applications 2 Dec 2025 - 22 Mar 2026; interviews late April 2026 in London (online option available). Eligibility: aged 16+ by 1 June 2026, must NOT already hold a LAPL/PPL/NPPL/MPL/CPL/ATPL, active Air League membership required.

UK resident, Aged 16 or older, Air League membership required

UK resident; aged 14+ by 1 June (Pilot Development/SLMG Conversion require current gliding club membership with prior gliding experience); Air League membership required

UK resident, Air League membership, Aspiring professional pilot

Women-focused scholarship awarding a full Private Pilot Licence, created by Aetheris Publishing with support from Marshall and Cambridge Aero Club. Named after ATA aviatrix Molly Rose (inspiration for the book/film Attagirls). Aimed at encouraging young women into aviation careers. Source: Marshall Group news (accessed Aug 2026).

BGA-administered bursaries funded by the Royal Air Squadron to help young glider pilots train towards gliding instructor qualifications. UK gliding-club members. Distinct from the BGA Launchpoint awards already on file. Verified via BGA members portal, Aug 2026.

Structured MPL cadet pathway for applicants with little/no airline experience, run with partner flight academy (e.g. CAPA). Successful candidates commit to a 36-month training bond. Per SAS careers, recruiting toward summer 2027 with first courses planned Fall 2026. Also covered by rotatepilot.com.

Open solely to Greek and Cypriot nationals; excellent Greek and English required. Male candidates must have completed military service (or complete it by 31 Dec 2026) — deferments not accepted. Training at Global Aviation Academy (Athens) and Egnatia Aviation Academy (Kavala).

Woman, Holds at least PPL(A) or PPL(H)

Woman, New or inexperienced pilot

Women who meet the entry requirements of CAE's selected airline cadet programme; competitive video application demonstrating leadership, community involvement and passion for aviation.

Open to WAI members (membership required by the application deadline); women pursuing flight training or aviation careers. Up to three scholarship applications per person, submitted online.

EU citizenship or equivalent right to work; strong English (airline working language); must meet EASA Class 1 medical and aptitude standards. Open to recent graduates, science students and career changers.

Open to all (LGBTQ+ community & allies); applicants must hold a current active Aviation Pride UK (APUK) membership (can join before applying). Funds aviation training incl. flight training & recreational flying, plus exam/test, medical, licensing/registration fees, equipment and travel/accommodation. Awards full or partial; funds paid direct to supplier, to be used within 12 months.

Open to anyone with any disability, including those with no previous flying experience.

Aged 18+ and minimum 163cm tall; good language skills in Finnish and English (Finnish required); upper-secondary school degree or a 3-year (180 ECTS) vocational qualification; meet Finnair medical criteria (EASA Class 1); pass a Finnish police security clearance. No prior aviation experience required.

UK residents aged 18–35 (over 18 on 01 Sep 2026, under 35 on 31 Aug 2027). Trains to PPL standard on vintage de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moths with Cambridge Flying Group at Old Warden. No prior flying experience required but a keen interest in vintage/historic aerospace expected. Applicants must not be undertaking other powered flying training or have previously received a similar bursary (12-hour Air Cadet Scholarship excepted). Not intended to fund commercial licence training.

Aged 18 to 35

Annual career scholarship for anyone pursuing professional development/advancement in corporate/business aviation; suggested uses include flight training, dispatcher/maintenance training and aviation education upgrades. International (US-based non-profit; open to international members, similar to WAI which is already listed). Listed on BWPA external-scholarships page.

Age 17-58 (18 at start of training); six GCSEs grade A-C / 4-9 including Maths, English Language and a Science (or equivalent); valid passport permitting unrestricted worldwide travel. No prior flying experience required.

Right to live/work in the UK; minimum 17 years old at application; passion for aviation.

University degree (final project completed); EU nationality or Spanish work permit; English B2; Spanish C2 for non-native speakers; no prior ATPL exams taken; height 157-191 cm; little or no previous flight experience.

Open to those who face barriers to accessing aviation.

Aged 16–25; residential UK BGA youth centre; travel costs self-funded

UK/EU right to work; no prior flying experience; EASA/UK CAA Class 1 medical

UK-based, aged 17+ at application, able to hold a UK Class 2 Medical, serious ambition for an aviation-related career

Airline pathway rather than fully-funded scheme: Skyborne integrated ATPL trainees are "tagged" to Loganair after ~6 months of ground school, receiving a conditional job offer and a mentor. Separate Loganair Mentored APS MCC course delivered with CRM Aviation Europe leads to a sim assessment/HR interview and priority hold-pool placement. Training self-funded.

Minimum age 18; must have the right to live and work in the EU; no prior aviation experience required. Selection: aptitude assessment, English language evaluation and interview.

Luxembourg flag carrier ~18-month ab-initio cadet programme launched 2019. Training in English at flight schools in Moenchengladbach (Germany) and near Barcelona (Spain). Requirements: 18+, EASA Class 1 medical, secondary diploma, right to work in EU (non-EU also considered), English min B1. Luxair covers all type-rating costs. Source: luxair.lu/en/pilot (accessed Aug 2026).

Graduate-placement partnership: FTEJerez ab-initio integrated EASA ATPL graduates meeting TAP criteria are put forward for First Officer assessment in Lisbon; type rating may be included. Self-funded training at FTEJerez (Spain). Also confirmed by Pilot Career News.

Ab-initio airline cadet pathway run by BAA Training with ACMI operator Avion Express (Lithuania/Malta, A320 family). Listed among BAA Training current airline cadet programs; includes conditional employment offer on completion. Source: baatraining.com cadet-programs page (accessed Aug 2026).

Ab-initio cadet pathway launched Oct 2023 with Norway-based Pilot Flight Academy (also listed by L3Harris Airline Academy); theory in Sandefjord, flying in Texas, ~18 months. Intakes run periodically and may be closed between cohorts - verify current status. Icelandic-language fluency historically a strong advantage. Source: pilotcareernews (accessed Aug 2026).

Flag-carrier-owned ATO (Polska Akademia Lotnicza / LOT Flight Academy, Warsaw) offering an ab-initio 0-ATPL(A) integrated course; site states many graduates have found airline employment, including at LOT Polish Airlines. NOTE for reviewer: this is a training-academy pathway, not a branded guaranteed-placement cadet programme — comparable to the KLM Flight Academy row. English-language intake reportedly reopened April 2026 (per third-party sources; verify on site). Self-funded (see LOT Flight Academy price list). Not previously in DB.

EU right to work; no prior flying experience; EASA Class 1 medical; strong English

National carrier of Serbia relaunched its ab-initio cadet programme in 2024 in partnership with the Aviation Academy in Belgrade; ~10 places per cohort (first cohort 2024/2025), simulator training and mentorship with a path to employment at Air Serbia. Confidence: moderate — confirm a current/open 2026 intake before approving.

German leisure airline ab-initio MPL programme run with TFC Käufer flight school in Essen; ~24 months, ends with A320 type rating and First Officer role. Eligibility: residence + work permit in Germany, unrestricted passport, DLR aptitude testing. Recurring intakes (7th cohort by 2023). Apply via career.aero. Confidence: high.

Turkish-German leisure carrier (Turkish Airlines/Lufthansa JV) integrated MPL programme delivered with AYJET; selection via Mollymawk test + B737NG full-motion sim + panel interview; graduates employed by SunExpress. Nationality quirk: Turkish citizens, university graduates, strong English. Confidence: high.

Brussels Airlines' first-ever cadet intake. 19-month integrated MPL delivered by training partner Skywings Flight Training (Antwerp), leading to Airbus A320 type rating and a guaranteed First Officer role on completion (MPL converts to ATPL after 1500 hrs). Eligibility: passport of an EU member state, fluent English plus French and/or Dutch, EASA Class 1 medical before start, secondary-school diploma, certificate of good conduct. No prior flying experience needed. ~20-30 cadets/year; DA40 single-engine then A320 simulator. Approx. €60k gross starting FO salary.

Right to live and work in the EU; EASA Class 1 medical; fluent English; must pass the airBaltic pilot assessment to access the airline loan portion. Confirm full criteria on the official careers site.

Ab-initio cadet pilot programme (~15-18 months) via Turkish Airlines Flight Academy. Recruitment notice published annually. NATIONALITY QUIRK: requires Turkish citizenship or blue card, plus a bachelor's degree; age/height/BMI and English-test minimums apply. Apply via annual Turkish Airlines cadet recruitment notice (official apply URL varies by intake).

Turkish low-cost carrier MPL cadet scheme; training at partner ATOs (AYJET, AFA), largely simulator-based. Nationality quirk: applicants must be Turkish Republic citizens (born on/after 1 Jan 1995), 4-year degree, Class 1 medical, height 160-195cm. Confidence: high.

Women pursuing an airline pilot career via easyJet's cadet pilot programme; entry is through the standard easyJet cadet selection process.

Confirmed on official EFA page. NOT SURE because: (1) no scheme-specific apply URL — the page says application details are given only after you start training at EFA, so apply_url would be a homepage/null; (2) it is a sponsorship/benefits layer (30 places/yr, ID travel benefits, Eurowings intro interview) on top of standard EFA training, NOT a distinct ab-initio pathway; (3) may be considered a duplicate of the existing "Lufthansa Group — European Flight Academy cadet pilot programme" row. Human to judge whether it is distinct enough to list.

EU/right-to-work; no prior flying experience; EASA Class 1 medical; strong English

Self-funded MPL; EU right-to-work expected. Confirm nationality/language and entry requirements on official ITA/Urbe Aero pages.

Young pilot pursuing a CPL

Existing PPL holders seeking a fixed-wing instructor rating; UK training; complete by end September

Trainee helicopter pilots who have completed (or are undertaking) a PPL(H) with Heli Air.

Applicant to the LEAP integrated programme

EU citizen (EU passport or national ID)

UK flight-training scholarships at Goodwood Flying School (Chichester, West Sussex), run in memory of former school manager Rob Wildeboer. 2026 round offered 3x 10 hours in a Cessna 172 and 2x 5 hours in a Piper Cub, plus PPL/NPPL course training books donated by Pooleys. Annual scheme (running since 2023); applications typically close late February.

Post-PPL pilots.

Aged 18 to 25

Aged 17+ on 1 June of application year; training in UK; high summer commitment required

Under 30; min 5 hrs solo; valid medical + ground exams; already in PPL/NPPL training.

Members of the RAF Air Cadets (RAFAC - Air Training Corps and CCF(RAF)), the Girls Venture Corps Air Cadets, or Air Scouts / Air Explorer Scouts.

Post-solo junior glider pilots who have not yet flown in a competition; apply via BGA Junior Events (opens ~mid-January).

Part-sponsors up to 4 young people (aged 14-16) per year over a 2-year gliding programme; club covers 100% of 1st year soaring fees, trains to solo and towards sailplane licence. Application deadline 14 Feb 2026, interviews first weekend of March, training starts April. No qualifications required. Also listed on Flight Training News 'where to apply' guide. Verified Aug 2026.

Real scheme confirmed on the club's own site: funds junior gliding training to solo level; accepts ~4 scholarship trainees per year; under-18s need parental consent. NOT SURE because there is no scheme-specific online apply URL (application form must be requested by email from a named contact) and no published closing date / current intake dates. Category (scholarship) is clear. Verified 2026-09-28.

Aged 15–17; resident in Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Bristol & Avon or BANES.

NOT SURE: (1) Category ambiguous - this is a subsidised youth taster/outreach day at BGA clubs, not a scholarship/bursary toward a licence, so may be out of scope. (2) No scheme-specific apply_url - applications are by email/phone to youthgliding@airpilots.org only. (3) 2026 dates/availability not confirmed on the official page. Confirmed on provider own page (airpilots.org) that the scheme exists and runs annually. Note: HCAP already has several separate rows in scholarships (PPL, FIC, gliding, ATPL, CPD) - this youth taster is distinct from those.

Current RAF Air Cadets (RAFAC / CCF(RAF)); must be 18+ at the time of the course; selection is via your own cadet squadron / unit.

Experienced UK glider pilots seeking funding for a specific course, coaching or skills development.