Thanks Oli777.
The OU offers direct entry as you say but only into undergraduate (bachelor) programs. Pretty much every university offers the same to mature students and these days almost all are offering online study options. The issue is that (perhaps aiming high) I was exploring ways of getting into an MBA which is a postgraduate course.
spoke to two universities and they both said they needed some evidence of formal study - I suppose they want to minimise dropouts. Leveraging flying experience and quals into a graduate certificate program seems to be a pathway into other (non aviation) degrees - including an MBA. I spoke to two universities and they both said they needed some evidence of formal study first.