Can someone help?
 

I am 16 years old and a member of the ATC. I am trying to find any flying scholarships and opportunities to get to fly. I am really stuck on this. Could you give me some advice on how to get to have some flying hours?

Start by learning to glide through the ATC.
Take it from there.

The Honourable Company of Air Pilots

The Air League

The Royal Aero Club Trust

If you read the thread in Military Aviation 'Air Cadets Grounded' you will see gliding is not an option at the moment.
Altin, you must ask your squadron commander about Flying Scholarships; the notice regarding courses for the summer usually comes out about now.
You might also like to wander down to your local airfield if you have one and 'volunteer' to help at the flying club who might 'reward' you by taking you flying.

Flight Training News often has a list of sponsorships available. You should be able to blag a free copy from your local club.

There is a list of organisations to contact here:

Sponsorships and Scholarships

XO

Your ATC Wing and Regional Flying/Gliding officers should have all that information available. They would be my first port of call. When I was a wing flying officer, we regularly had meetings to discuss scholarships and an annual meeting to select candidates for scholarships. They will also be able to tell you about the criteria that needs to be met to be awarded such a scholarship and advice on what to do, to meet the criteria.

Thank you for your replies,
I had a talk with a flying instructor and he said it would be a better idea to a PPL course rather than doing a scholarship even though it might more expensive ....Would that be a good idea ??

No as an Air Cadet Flying Scholarship gives you 30 hours instruction towards the PPL free!

I think that scheme is dead, certainly a quick google implies so....

I seem to recall the MoD Flying Scholarship got cut from 30 down to 20 hours when I was instructing it in the late90's.

Other qualification ?
 

Again thank you for your prompt replies!!!

I was researching and came across a list of all pilot qualifications such as NLPL/CPL/ATPL etc. I also heard for a sport pilot license ... is that available in UK and what would be an average cost of the course?

If you're really looking for a 'short' course in the UK, a Restricted Microlight License would be the way to go. I think it's a minimum of 18 hours but you can only fly a microlight solo within a certain distance of your home airfield.

There was a question asked in Parliament this week about AIR CADETS

Apparently there are active steps to reinstate the gliding. No doubt the SQNs will have the latest news.....

Thank you chevvron and parkfell ..

So, is there not a sports category in the UK , what license would be suitable for cross-country and would this course be available for my age-group (16 years old)? What other qualifications are available in the UK (except from PPL)?

Sorry but one example of the old or just plain wrong advice in this thread. There have been loads of changes (aka cuts) and the ATC gliding has been discussed to death elsewhere. The Air Cadet Pilot Scheme is now only 12 hrs too. I would not give up though but you need to take ownership of your fate. Sqn staff and wing staff are great volunteers but there performance in this sphere can be variable. On our unit for example a list of the scholarships is printed out with closing dates and staff actively help cadets in applying. Wing controls the Air Cadet scheme but you can apply direct for all the others. And you should definitely go for every single scholarship out there. What better way to demonstrate your commitment than saying you've applied for 16 scholarships on your application form. Your timing unfortunately is wrong. You need to be on this from November onwards. The Air Pilots ones (full PPL scholarahip amongst others) is interviewing now. The Cotswold Airport one has gone, the RAFA one has gone, the Air Cadet ones have been allocated for the summer (but you can apply all year round) and the BWPA went ages ago.

But don't be disheartened. Get your sqn staff to give you the list and get them to help you with the forms. And please please put contact details on the form that you actually can be reached at. I have already seen one very disappointed kid this year who didn't check his email or chase up his application. The ball is always in your court.

And we have one cadet who got a scholarship this year and is interviewing for another so I have been through this a little bit! Good luck

The sport pilot certificate is a US licence, which doesn't have an exact equivalent in the UK.

Other than the PPL, you can have an EASA LAPL, or a NPPL, which are both shorter minimum hours and can be undertaken at 16. The NPPL can come with an SSEA class rating (similar to the SEP class rating of a full PPL). Alternatively, you could train on microlights or motor gliders and get one of those class ratings on a NPPL.

Upward Bound Trust
 

Thank you very much gipsymagpie...!!!

I actually found the Upward bound trust which provides a 30 hour gliding to an 'A' certificate for solo gliding. That should be a good start, isn't it?What would be the best thing to do after an 'A' solo gliding certificate?

Thank you mrmum ... what would be the cost of that though??:)

Anything in the air is good.

The NPPL with SSEA rating is a minimum 32 hours training plus tests, the LAPL 30 hours. Not sure about the other NPPL ratings, you'd have to ask a microlight/motor glider school?
For a very rough cost estimate, take the number of hours and multiply by £200. The flying won't cost that much, but gives a decent allowance for other costs, such as landings, equipment, medical, test fees, CAA fees, etc.