Free PPL courses. UPDATE Now also a fully-funded ATPL/IR!!!
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Highlighting the academic achievements of the 2007 winners does indeed make it appear that GAPAN seems to place too much reliance on academic achievement. However, doing so tells only part of the story – and overlooks the winners’ other achievements.
In view of some of the comments in this thread, I’ve made some inquiries about the GAPAN selection process and, in view of the comparison made with Air League awards, also about their selection process.
NB:
Academic achievements
I'll deal with this first only because the issue has been raised, not because it's the key or over-riding consideration.
Academic performance is a factor, but it’s only one factor.
Within the ‘academic’ section, achievement at various levels counts equally. ie A youngster who has an impressive collection of GCSEs is not at a disadvantage against an older applicant who may by then have a degree.
NB: Under the ‘scoring’ system used by the Scholarships Committee, a candidate’s academic performance cannot count for more than 25% (maximum) - regardless of how impressive the academic achievements may be.
Motivation and application
The Committee reviews a candidate's motivation and application in several areas, including:
Cadets/UAS
Sporting achievements
Community service
Duke of Edinburgh Award involvement
Motivation (as shown in the two short essays candidates are asked to write)
Part-time occupations, if any. (eg In aviation? ‘Hangar rat’?)
Flying experience, if any.
Pilot aptitude-testing experience, if any.
etc.
NB: These are just examples. It is not meant to be an exhaustive list.
Career aspirations
Whilst the Guild is always interested in the long-term career aspirations of candidates, awards are by no means restricted to those who profess a burning ambition be a professional pilot.
Of equal interest are those candidates who work/intend to work in fields in some way related to aviation, and those who work/intend to work in entirely unconnected occupations but (for example) would like the opportunity to become a flying instructor.
Motivation for this first step in flying is what the Scholarships Committee looks for when considering applications. IMHO, that is entirely reasonable.
__________
Comparison with Air League awards
I discovered that comparison with the Air League Education Trust (ALET) is not particularly helpful because, although the two schemes run in parallel, they have quite different objectives.
ALET:
The objective is to get a large number of youngsters into the air, and in most cases up to solo.
GAPAN:
The objective is that scholarship winners will successfully complete a full training course and obtain a qualification at the end of it. Accordingly, they must select the candidates considered most likely to do so.
ALET: Only 12-15 hours flying.
GAPAN: Fully-funded complete PPL courses.
ALET: 100-120 applications.
GAPAN: Several hundred applications.
ALET: About 50 awards on average.
GAPAN: About 10 awards on average (all scholarhips).
ALET: Almost 50% of applicants receive an award.
GAPAN: About 4% of applicants receive an award (all scholarships).
Bearing in mind the Guild's objective (explained above) its success rate over the years is almost 100% - which suggests the selection process used, even if not perfect, isn’t too far out.
FL
In view of some of the comments in this thread, I’ve made some inquiries about the GAPAN selection process and, in view of the comparison made with Air League awards, also about their selection process.
NB:
What follows is my understanding of the selection process. It should not be taken as ‘official’ from either organisation.
My comments about the GAPAN selection process apply mainly to the PPL scholarships. (Different factors/considerations may apply to Guild scholarships which help people obtain further aviation qualifications in addition to those they already hold.)
My comments about the GAPAN selection process apply mainly to the PPL scholarships. (Different factors/considerations may apply to Guild scholarships which help people obtain further aviation qualifications in addition to those they already hold.)
Academic achievements
I'll deal with this first only because the issue has been raised, not because it's the key or over-riding consideration.
Academic performance is a factor, but it’s only one factor.
Within the ‘academic’ section, achievement at various levels counts equally. ie A youngster who has an impressive collection of GCSEs is not at a disadvantage against an older applicant who may by then have a degree.
NB: Under the ‘scoring’ system used by the Scholarships Committee, a candidate’s academic performance cannot count for more than 25% (maximum) - regardless of how impressive the academic achievements may be.
Motivation and application
The Committee reviews a candidate's motivation and application in several areas, including:
Cadets/UAS
Sporting achievements
Community service
Duke of Edinburgh Award involvement
Motivation (as shown in the two short essays candidates are asked to write)
Part-time occupations, if any. (eg In aviation? ‘Hangar rat’?)
Flying experience, if any.
Pilot aptitude-testing experience, if any.
etc.
NB: These are just examples. It is not meant to be an exhaustive list.
Career aspirations
Whilst the Guild is always interested in the long-term career aspirations of candidates, awards are by no means restricted to those who profess a burning ambition be a professional pilot.
Of equal interest are those candidates who work/intend to work in fields in some way related to aviation, and those who work/intend to work in entirely unconnected occupations but (for example) would like the opportunity to become a flying instructor.
Motivation for this first step in flying is what the Scholarships Committee looks for when considering applications. IMHO, that is entirely reasonable.
__________
Comparison with Air League awards
I discovered that comparison with the Air League Education Trust (ALET) is not particularly helpful because, although the two schemes run in parallel, they have quite different objectives.
ALET:
The objective is to get a large number of youngsters into the air, and in most cases up to solo.
GAPAN:
The objective is that scholarship winners will successfully complete a full training course and obtain a qualification at the end of it. Accordingly, they must select the candidates considered most likely to do so.
ALET: Only 12-15 hours flying.
GAPAN: Fully-funded complete PPL courses.
ALET: 100-120 applications.
GAPAN: Several hundred applications.
ALET: About 50 awards on average.
GAPAN: About 10 awards on average (all scholarhips).
ALET: Almost 50% of applicants receive an award.
GAPAN: About 4% of applicants receive an award (all scholarships).
Bearing in mind the Guild's objective (explained above) its success rate over the years is almost 100% - which suggests the selection process used, even if not perfect, isn’t too far out.
FL
Last edited by Flying Lawyer; 15th Mar 2008 at 20:46.
Thanks for that explanation FL, I think it was me who first raised the point! Seems there would appear to be more to it than simply being a house prefect or captain of the rugby 11's!
I only ever tried the Air League Scholarship years ago and although I was never even selected for an interview I was lucky enough to win a bursary instead.
Good luck to the winners of both.
I only ever tried the Air League Scholarship years ago and although I was never even selected for an interview I was lucky enough to win a bursary instead.
Good luck to the winners of both.
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ELIGIBILITY
- Applicants do not have to be British citizens.
- Although the Guild is a Livery Company of the City of London, it is an international organisation with members all over the world.
- There are active branches in Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong.
- Applicants do not have to be UK residents.
- However, applicants must be available for interview in London on the date specified in the application form for a particular scholarship.
- Applicants for the J N Somers ATPL/IR Scholarship must be available for psychometric tests in London, and pilot aptitude tests and interview held at RAF Cranwell, on the dates specified in the application form.
- Training must be at a JAA approved organisation.
- That may be in the UK or elsewhere.
- Except for the J N Somers ATPL/IR Scholarship, applicants submit their preference.
- ATPL/IR training is at the most suitable organisation available world-wide, selected by GAPAN.
- To date, winners have trained in the UK, America and Spain.
I'm a member of the Guild but I'm not involved in the Scholarships scheme - I simply posted details for information.
Full details of all scholarships, and the applicable eligibility requirements, are downloadable from the links I posted above.
If anyone still has a query after following the links and carefully reading the information published, contact: [email protected]Full details of all scholarships, and the applicable eligibility requirements, are downloadable from the links I posted above.
FL
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ZA
With the exception of the Somers ATPL/IR, the scholarships are open to all regardless of age.
To my knowledge, one winner was 47.
Put1992
Or something.
FL
With the exception of the Somers ATPL/IR, the scholarships are open to all regardless of age.
To my knowledge, one winner was 47.
Put1992
Or something.
FL
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Originally Posted by Put1992
Sorry, ignorance is bliss, but do you represent GAPAN or something?
OC619
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I know that on the PPL application form it says we'll be notified of the results by 15th June but does anyone know when they send letters inviting you to interview (provided you do get selected for interview 
)?
)?
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Now only two days: better get a move on 
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Daughter #2 got her rejection letter on Saturday 
- but she's only a babe (17 in ten days) so loads of time to go try again, and she's got a gliding scholarship with the Royal Navy lined up for the summer anyway 
The letter was posted first class on the 2nd, btw.
- but she's only a babe (17 in ten days) so loads of time to go try again, and she's got a gliding scholarship with the Royal Navy lined up for the summer anyway The letter was posted first class on the 2nd, btw.
airborne artist - I hope she enjoys her gliding, it will provide her with an appreciation of working within a team as well as instilling high quality stick-and-rudder skills.
Please advise her to keep trying - and better luck next year!
I recommend people to study the comments made by my old chum Flying Lawyer!
Please advise her to keep trying - and better luck next year!
I recommend people to study the comments made by my old chum Flying Lawyer!
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BEagle - thanks for the +ve comments. She's not too miffed, and looking at the list of those awarded last year, she's much younger, so some gliding,her Duke of Edinburgh Gold completed, and she may get an interview next year.
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Received my rejection letter over the weekend which was a shame. But as a younger applicant I wasn't all that optimistic as I wasn't the traditional 'cadet & duke of Edinburgh candidate'. But wish everyone the best of look if they bagged themselves an interview
Think I'll go do some overtime now
Think I'll go do some overtime now