The
Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators is pleased to announce the names of the recipients of the 2013 Flying Scholarships.
Following an exacting selection process over recent months, a total of three Instructor Scholarships, four Private Pilot Licence scholarships, and five Gliding Scholarships have been awarded.
The scholarships cover all direct training and examination costs.
Young pilots are to the fore in the awards, with an average age of PPL and Gliding Scholarship recipients of under 19 years.
Flight Instructor Certificate (Fixed Wing) Scholarships There were 50 applications for the three Scholarships.
The Swire Scholarship (generously sponsored by one of the Swire charities) has been awarded to
David Marshall who will train for his Flight Instructor Rating at Tayside Aviation, where he has already passed his PPL and CPL certificates. David has been pursuing his ambition to become a flying instructor for over six years and feels it is an occupation in which he can not only fly but also impart his skills and knowledge to other like-minded people. The scholarship will help him make the final leap after many years of dedication and financial restraint to finally achieve his aspiration.
The Diamond Jubilee Scholarship was first awarded in 2004 when the Guild celebrated its 75th Anniversary. It is sponsored by the Air Safety Trust, the second charitable arm of the Guild with a remit to invest in Air Safety and as part of that, underwrites instructional training along with supporting projects pertaining to flight safety. The 2013 Scholarship has been awarded this year to
Paul Thomason who teaches physics at a school on Shetland. For as long as he can remember he has held a desire to combine the fields of piloting and education, and pass on his passion for flying to others. Paul will train at Tayside Aviation in Perthshire.
The Norman Motley Scholarship is the oldest Guild Scholarship. It was first awarded in 1981 and funded by the Guild Benevolent Fund. The 2013 Scholarship has been awarded to
Clare Tector, who in 2010 as an impeccunious Shuttleworth Trust volunteer, benefited from a de Havilland Moth Club flying bursary to convert onto vintage types and gain air display flying experience. She is now one of the team of volunteer pilots regularly flying the Shuttleworth Collection’s vintage types. This scholarship will allow Clare to become a flying instructor, allowing her to share her obvious passion for flying with others and encourage aspiring pilots to achieve their goals. Clare will train at Central Flight Training, Tatenhill Airfield in Staffordshire.
Private Pilot Licence Scholarships There were nearly 400 applicants for the four places.
The Cadogan Scholarship (sponsored by the Cadogan Charitable Trust) has been awarded to
Lewis Alderson, who lives in the north west of England and is training at Westair, based at Blackpool Airport. Aged 18, Lewis is studying for an HNC in Aeronautical Engineering at Blackpool & the Fylde College. He is a Flight Staff Cadet at 642 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, RAF Linton on Ouse and a B2 qualified Gliding Instructor; the youngest person to achieve this level.
Roger Cottee is the recipient of the Grayburn Scholarship (generously sponsored by Past Master of the Guild, Mike Grayburn). Roger, who is 21, has recently taken his finals at Exeter University where he has been studying Physics. He started gliding at 14 which enhanced his desire to become a commercial pilot. He is training at Clacton Aero Club and hopes that the scholarship will enable him in the future to fly the tug aircraft at Rattlesden Gliding Club and to find a full time flying position.
The Guild PPL Scholarship is funded by the Guild of Air Pilots Trust, which works to fund all manner of support for education within aviation. This year’s Scholarship has been awarded to
James Johnston, who hopes the completion of his PPL certificate will help fulfill his dream of becoming a commercial pilot, which began over a decade ago. Aged 19, James is training at Cotswold Aero Club at Gloucestershire Airport.
The Air Safety Trust Scholarship has been awarded to
James Mulvaney, 20, who is currently studying at the University of Southampton for a degree in Acoustic Engineering. He is a member of the Southampton University Air Squadron where he is responsible for core military training and is a member of the Executive Committee. His ambition is to become a Type Rating Examiner and to use his experience to encourage others into aviation. James will train with Synergy Aviation at Fairoaks in Surrey
Gliding Scholarships There were more than 60 applicants for the five Gliding Scholarships awarded by the Guild Young Members (GYM) group, which is made up of members under the age of 35. The Gliding Scholarship for this year is no longer a residential course, but was open to anyone over the age of 14 to fly at a school of their choice (subject of Guild approval) to first solo standard.
Peter Amoo is the youngest Guild scholarship winner this year. A member of the Air Training Corps, 16 year-old Peter lives in South London and has just finished his GCSEs and next term he will be starting at Christ’s Hospital School. His ambition is to become a professional pilot and he hopes that the skills learned in his gliding scholarship will be beneficial when he starts powered flying trainingin the future. He will be training at Booker Gliding Club at High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire.
Helen Cooney, 18, who is an air cadet in Congleton, has just finished her A Levels. She hopes that her scholarship will enable her to learn more about aviation and gain a better understanding of the principles of flight, which she can then carry forward towards a potential career in the RAF after university. She will be taking her course at London Gliding Club at Dunstable, Bedfordshire.
Calum Galloway, 17, has just finished his A Levels. He is fully committed to a career as a pilot and will use the gliding scholarship as a stepping stone to this goal. A keen golfer, he has gained his Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award and volunteers at his local scout group. Calum is undertaking his training at Lasham Gliding Club in Hampshire.
Jordan Goodwin, Cadet of the Year 2013 at the 230 (Congleton) Squadron Air Cadets, is currently studying for his A Levels and has taken his Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh awards. The 17 year-old’s goal is to join the RAF as a pilot and he hopes the gliding course at London Gliding Club at Dunstable will help him with his ambitions.
John Groves has recently completed a degree in Archaeology at University College London. He is a volunteer at RAF Hendon where he cleans aircraft and helps guide the public, and is a member of the UCL Gliding Club. Aged 20, his ultimate aim is to become a commercial pilot. He hopes his course at Midland Gliding Club at Long Mynd in Shropshire will enable him to make his first solo.
Congratulations to the successful candidates.
Tudor Owen