Pilots helping others - GAPAN Scholarship winners announced
 

If you know anyone who would like to become a professional pilot or to add to existing pilot qualifications, and needs financial assistance, you might want to tell them about the GAPAN Scholarships and bursaries.

The Scholarships range from fully-funded PPL courses up to the J N Somers Scholarship mentioned below.

The closing date for most Scholarships is Wednesday 9th April 2008.

More information and downloadable application forms can be obtained by clicking on the GAPAN crest :






_______________

• Closing date for receipt of applications is the 13th June 2008.
• The selection process will be carried out this year, and the lucky winner will begin training in Spring 2009.

Further information including a summary of the selection criteria, and a downloadable application form with full details of eligibility, can be found at the link above.

The Scholarship was instigated in 1999. Since then, all 'Somers Scholars' have secured successful flying jobs with airlines soon after completing their training.


More information about the work of the Guild here
and a PPRuNe thread about the social side here


Tudor Owen

Is this relevant to British citizens only? Sounds VERY interesting...


Holger

All very laudible I am sure, but we are 18 months after 1st October 2006. Why is there still a maximum age limit of 26 blatantly published in the criteria, Tudor - or are we above or around all that?

S & T,

Wtf???

Problem with my question, Agaricus? Or are you so in the dark that no-one told you that we are now all equal / ageism is outlawed?

"Ageism is outlawed" ? If only it were that simple. Read the act, it isn't summed up in those three words.

Section 4 (exemptions from sections 2 & 3) para 29. states that :

So we are saying wealth is directly linked to age, now? Whatever next ?

I think a reasonable person of charity might apply a means test, but using age as a proxy for means is not reasonable and propounds the wrong message about whether we as a society are serious about outlawing age discrimination.

I fully understand the sentiments behind the laudible acts which GAPAN is trying to promote, but that's no excuse for not redefining schemes like this to fit with the law. It sends all sorts of confusing messages about what our society really stands for in 2008.

Why not say in the criteria something like:

"Because of the minimum age for CPL applicants of 21 and the need to make the training from PPL to frozen ATPL/IR continous, we can each year only consider applications from those aged 18 or over who will generally be at least 19 when they commence the training.

In addition, the scheme was launched to assist someone each year of otherwise limited means on to the path of achieving their dream of becoming a commercial pilot. The application process will therefore also be means tested in a similar way to applications for local authority funding for university education."

No mention then of a maximum age, and no harm done. The law is about encouraging alternatives to, frankly, lazy outdated stereotyping based on age.

Well that's how I see it, anyway :ok:

PS That "reasonably appears to the person doing the act" phrase is bloody awful English to appear in a law of the land, I grant you :rolleyes: ... does that mean that an unreasonable person merely has to demonstrate that it was reasonable to assume that in his unreasonable state of mind he might be expected to reach the conclusion he did and is therefore not guilty, M'lud??

No, we're saying that Mrs Phylis Somers, who generously instigated the Scolarship in 1999 in memory of her late husband, wishes to finance one youngster each year who might not otherwise be able to fullfil his or her ambition to become a professional pilot.
The Scholarship is administered by the Guild of Air Pilots, of which her late husband was a member from 1946 until his death.

In recent times, Parliament has brought in more and more laws restricting our freedoms and controlling the way we live, some might say far too many. It would be a great pity IMHO if political ideology led to making it illegal for charitable people to give youngsters (specifically) a start in life.

I'm just happy that some talented youngster benefits each year.
So far, each Somers winner has found employment with an airline very quickly after successfully completing his or her course.

NB:
Whilst the Somers is undoubtedly the top prize, the Guild's other Scholarships, ranging from fully-funded PPL courses upwards, have no maximum age restriction.
eg I know of two winners aged respectively 40 and 47. I think, not sure, one or both of them won a Flight Instructor scholarship.
(Nor do the various bursaries have maximum age restrictions.)

.

I would respect Mrs Somers views, and I did expect the reasoning might be something like this, Tudor.

Sometimes decisions are difficult, and I would not enjoy having to be the one to suggest to the good lady sponsor that we might need to 'redraft the arrangements'. Surely there are alternatives during this unofficial 'transition' period to overt non-compliance, supported by sentimental reasoning, however much it might tug at the heart?

PS I am as sentimental as they come!

Yet I cannot agree with your suggestion that this is a law too far. The whole of Europe can't be that far wrong, and it's not just Europe either, is it?

I see no reason to suggest to the sponsor that the terms should be redrafted. I can see why some charitable people wish to help youngsters get started in life, and see nothing wrong with that.
Hmmm! :oh:
If we expand the discussion to include views on laws emanating from Europe, this thread would inevitably end up being moved to Jetblast.

Let's keep it here where it has exposure to professional pilots and others in the aviation industry who, even if they've already achieved their ambitions, may know someone who could benefit from the Guild scholarships.

Come on Heli! Didn't you listen to Sarkozy? Together we shall once again shape Europe, but let's be modern about it :p

The old school just need to put their thinking caps on to maintain the real values per ardua ...

a question
 

F.L.,

Does it have to be a UK citizen to apply? Whilst i am from Asia.

Slip and turn, I'm pretty glad you missed the date, because the way you behave in this thread, I'm rather happy that you didn't pass a pilot training.

I hope these honourful guild also verifies the characters of those candidats who apply...

Dani

Totally and wholeheartedly agree.

Speedbird715 & dannyw17


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

• 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.

If anyone still has a query after following the link and carefully reading the information published, contact: [email protected]

If anybody has enough money to sponsor a person for professional training (for any career) then surely it is up to them to specify terms and conditions.

We are not talking of employment (thus involving the ageism issue) just somebody being given the opportunity to be able train and be interviewed as qualified professional. Clearly the requirements for the position applied for, will, determine a candiates suitability.

IMHO the Somers scholarship offers the opportunity for somebody to complete sponsored professional training and begin a career in an industry they may never have been able to consider for financial reasons.

I think Mrs Somers and the scholarship program are to be congratulated. :D

does anyone know when we can expect to hear back about the PPL scholarship?
my letter last year was dated the 26th apr i think, so i'm eagerly waiting on the postman each day :ok:

Within the next day or so.

Think its 1st May

thanks, hopefully its better news than last year than last years:(