GAPAN JN Somers ATPL/IR Scholarship

[Flying Lawyer]

http://www.gapan.org/images/guild.gif


2009 J N Somers Scholarship

Fully-funded frozen ATPL and IR
incl JOC/MCC module


The J.N. Somers Scholarship (http://www.gapan.org/careers/scholarships/schols08.htm) provides funding for a full time course of Air and Ground studies, leading to the award of a frozen JAA ATPL.
Training will commence in Spring 2009 at a JAA-approved training organisation considered to be the most suitable available world-wide, selected by GAPAN.Criteria include:

Age: Minimum 18 years and maximum 26 years on 13th June 2008 (ie born between 17 June 1981 – 16 June 1990)
Medical: Class 1 JAA Medical Certificate valid on 13 June 2008
Education: Minimum 5 GCSE passes in relevant subjects.(eg English, Maths, Science) and at least 2 A level passes or equivalent level of qualification (as determined by the Qualifications Curriculum Authority www.qca.org.uk (http://www.qca.org.uk/) )
Motivation: Evidence of strong motivation towards a career in aviation – evidence of progression towards a PPL will enhance a candidate’s applicationFull information regarding the criteria required from the candidate is contained within the application form (http://www.gapan.org/careers/scholarships/JNSomers%20Application%20Form.pdf).



High flyer: How to become a pilot (http://www.independent.co.uk/student/career-planning/getting-job/high-flyer-how-to-become-a-pilot-822525.html)
Newspaper article about an airline Captain who won the 2001 JN Somers Scholarship.



Closing date for applications: 13th June 2008

FL

[VirginSkid]

Flying Lawyer

Would love to apply but if only the age limit was not 26!!!!

It feels very unfair but there you go.....

[corsair]

It is a good thing, particularly for the winner but in truth, it's unlikely the winner wouldn't have gone on to a great career anyway. When you read the profile of the past winner featured in the article. You can see why.

got an RAF flying scholarship when I was 17, and that was my first taste of flying. I completed about 20 hours of flying up in Scotland – it was really exciting stuff. From there, I continued down the RAF route. I took an aeronautics and astronautics engineering degree at the University of Southampton, and then I was sponsored by the RAF on a university bursary scholarship to be a pilot. After that, I did three years with the air squadron, also in Southampton. I did about 100 hours on the bulldog aircraft.

That's what you are up against. He had a consistent pattern of high achievement. An excellent choice too. But not all of us reach those heady heights. Hence the negativity about it. Based on my own background I wouldn't even have bothered to apply as I would be weeded out on the first sorting.

Scholarships like that are excellent but in reality only for the rareified few and contribute nothing to helping the great mass of wannabee pilots struggling to find the money to get through their training.

[Nick Boy]

I was good friends with the winner of the 2006 JN Somers scholarship, as we were at University together. Yes she was good, but at the end of the day, she was 'only human'. This is not intended to be a slur against her in ANY way, but don't write yourself off because you aren't superhuman!


Nick

Incidently, she completed her flight training about a month ago.

[IRRenewal]

If this is what a previous winner said, there is hope for everybody:

We get to go to some quite challenging and interesting places. Innsbruck in the Swiss Alps, Gilbraltar [sic] in Spain

[blueskybird]

no i dont know, but im hoping its next week as im a nervous wreck waiting around!!!:confused::confused::confused:

[Miguel Peralta]

I that website, there is not information about:
Age: Minimum 18 years and maximum 26 years on 13th June 2008 (ie born between 17 June 1981 – 16 June 1990)

Anybody has information about age?? :D:D:D

[blueskybird]

as per the application form, it states that you can apply if you are aged 18 to 26 as of the 13th June this year. the applications for this scholarship has now closed, a wk ago today mate.

[jbowden]

I found out that they're planning on reviewing the applications on Tuesday and we should know back by Friday. The website states there is in the region of 100 applicants, I thought there would be a lot more!

[expedite08]

It would be nice to see just a normal everyday sort of person get it to be honest. As has been mentioned the people who do get it are often halfway on to a Military flying career anyway. It sort of defeats the object of it really. The idea is to give 'everyday, normal, jo bloggs types' a chance at something like this.

The trouble is its all RAF based, the selctors are all old school RAF types, and they love it if you have been involved in the scholarshoips etc. If your background is just civvy then you have had it! Even if you had 1000 hours on a twin!!

Its a shame, but the world isnt a fair place!

[EK4457]

Agreed.

A bit like communism. A nice idea on paper, but in reality doesn't really do what it was supposed to.

Your average Joe doesn't get a sniff. I know you don't have to be a 'super hero' but you do need (in reality) a PPL, RAF scholarship and quite a meaty CV. This simply makes it not worth bothering for the vast majority of young people who simply cannot afford this, even if they have the aptitude.

The irony is that the 'winner' would have gone on to fly for a living anyway.

This scheme doesn't give opportunities to those who have the aptitude but not the resources. It simply subsidises the training for somone who could probably have afforded it anyway.

Don't get me wrong. No sour grapes here and I wish all the best of luck. I also don't doubt that the scholarship is awarded with the best of intentions. It's just a shame it doesn't work out like it should.

EK

[Fournier Boy]

Well i've got a fair bit of hope pinned on this. A background in gliding (non ATC) all self funded through multiple jobs, an SEP for glider towing, and hopefully I'll scrape together enough for a night rating later this year. Unfortunately, had pinned my hopes on being able to remortgage to cover the cost of finishing modularly, however I've been turned down by all the mortgage lenders. In the immediate term, its this or bust. i won't give up, but lets put it this way, next year, i'm too old!

Anyone know how many get chosen to go forward to the aptitude tests?

FB

[expedite08]

Very true. Its a shame to be honest. I was going to do the FI one. might have a go next year for it if I get no luck on the job hunt later this year.

[Re-Heat]

The irony is that the 'winner' would have gone on to fly for a living anyway.
Not so. Many of the runners up have not otherwise been able to persue the training due to cost.

[Fournier Boy]

Anyone heard yet, I imagine letters would have either gone out yesterday or today.

FB

[blueskybird]

no not heard anything just yet... :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: keeping everything crossed tho!

[EK4457]

Many of the runners up have not otherwise been able to persue the training due to cost.

Exactly my point. Shouldn't these people be the ones getting through?

Good luck to all!

EK

[Fournier Boy]

Well, got my letter this morning :( I would like to say better luck next year, but due to my ripe old age of 26, next year, I can't apply!

Never mind, something will come up one day I'm sure....

...anyone want to buy my house - its a lovely house!

go on.....

FB

[FlyEGNT]

I was also unsuccessful. It would have been nice to get through to the testing phase, but best of luck to those guys & gals who go through.

[John Alcock]

Suppose a (very very!) lucky person was awarded the JN Somers Scholarship, and was also given a place on the Oxford/NetJets Cadet scheme.

Would GAPAN be generous enough to let you use the scholarship to pay the Oxford fees?

What would people do if forced to choose between the two, given that NetJets may be a more stable future than the airlines?

Thanks, JA

Edited to add, before too many call me "unsuitable" for the JN Somers if I can apply to NetJets, that I can't really afford their scheme either, and am relying on my parents to use their home as security! :eek:

Also, there is no "partial NetJets scholarship" as Fournier Boy refers to. The selected few at Oxford still pay the full fees, just with a guarantee of employment at the end. The financial burden is just as bad as for the self-sponsored types.

The succinct truth is that, like many people, I know that full fATPL training is outside my financial reach, and that it is only through the generosity of my parents (hopefully), acting as security, that I can begin to make progress towards applications. In this respect, I believe myself to be equal to the other applicants of the JN Somers scholarship.

[Fournier Boy]

I'd go for the Netjets as theres a chance of getting a job out of it at the end, then I'd give the GAPAN scholarship to someone needy, who couldn't afford the partial Netjets scholarship...

...someone like me!!!!

FB

[McWho]

Received my letter of rejection this evening. Cheers GAPAN.

[Fournier Boy]

Well they got 100 applicants, thats 3 on here who haven't got it, somebody out there must have......

I really hope the person who gets it is in a similar position to me, and not somebody who was already lined up for being financed through the course by someone else, or indeed could afford it already themselves - that would be a shame.

Anyone fancy a petition to raise the maximum age to 30!

FB

[jpunteney]

Can now add a 4th rejection to the list as well now, I got my letter this morning. Those standard letters are a pleasure to read aren't they! :ugh:

Good luck to those who got through!! :ok:

[blueskybird]

got a no from gapan..........gutted, but hey it was worth a go. good luck to you all :ok:

[AdamLT]

i think i'm the 6th rejection.
is anyone going to call them to ask them why?

[lizplt]

Yeah I was rejected too. Don't spose anyone reads this thread anymore but thought I'd just see where everyone was now?

I just discovered today that a guy I work with has got on the Netjets cadet scheme. He has all of 1 trial lesson experience and yet people with more experience are being overlooked. Seems a little unfair to me.

[Heliport]

If at first you don't succeed ..........


Link to this year's Somers scholarship: http://www.pprune.org/interviews-jobs-sponsorship/368778-gapan-j-n-somers-atpl-scholarship-2010-a.html