Air Pilots Trust
Could Air Pilots Trust fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.
- Typical grants
- £8,000 – £10,000
- Applications
- Accepted
- How to apply
- Email application
Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.
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airpilots.orgAbout Air Pilots Trust
The Air Pilots Trust is a charitable trust linked to the Honourable Company of Air Pilots. Its mission is to remove financial barriers to aviation training and foster a skilled, diverse workforce. The Trust provides scholarships and grants to individuals, focusing on practical flying experiences such as gliding courses, Private Pilot's Licence training, and Airline Transport Pilots Licence ground school. It champions accessibility for young entrants and those facing disadvantage, with a clear emphasis on hands-on aviation education.
What Air Pilots Trust funds
The Trust funds aviation education and skills training for individuals across the UK. Supported activities include gliding course scholarships, Private Pilot's Licence training, and Airline Transport Pilots Licence distance learning ground school. These programmes cover the cost of training itself, but exclude transport and equipment. The training takes place at approved centres, such as BGA Junior Gliding Centres, and is designed to give recipients practical, career-relevant experience.
Who can apply
Applications are open to individuals only, based in the UK. The Trust prioritises young people: gliding scholarships require applicants to be aged at least 16 and under 26, while PPL training requires applicants to be at least 17. Candidates must have little or no flying experience for gliding scholarships and must meet the relevant medical standards. There are no income thresholds, and unsolicited applications are accepted.
What Air Pilots Trust doesn't fund
The Trust does not fund transport costs, equipment, or non-aviation education. It also excludes living expenses, debt repayment, capital projects, and core organisational funding. Grants are directed solely towards training costs for the specific aviation programmes offered.
How they like to fund
The Air Pilots Trust awards one-off scholarships for specific training courses. Some scholarships require a co-payment from the recipient as a pledge of commitment. The Trust accepts unsolicited applications and funds training directly, with no multi-year commitments.
How much does Air Pilots Trust give?
Air Pilots Trust runs 3 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.
Last verified 8 August 2026 · 40 sourced facts
- Single-year grants
- Match funding required
- Online application form
- Single-year grants
- Online application form
- Single-year grants
Those are the published figures. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you'd clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is what the free fit check answers.
What Air Pilots Trust funds — and what they won't
The full exclusions list (2)
- Applicants must have little or no flying experience; must be aged at least 16 on 1 July 2026 and aged 25 or under; must be able to satisfy the NPPL medical declaration requirements.
- Must be able to satisfy the relevant medical standard to enable issue of a Class 2 Medical Certificate; must be aged at least 17 on 1 June 2026; must be available to undertake and complete the Scholarship during summer 2026.
Good to know
How to apply to Air Pilots Trust
Air Pilots Trust takes applications via email application.
- Published programme route: online application form.
- Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.
What Air Pilots Trust's application asks
We hold the 8 questions from Air Pilots Trust's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.
“Tell us why you think you would enjoy gliding:”
Max 100 words
“Tell us what you will personally gain from a gliding scholarship:”
Max 100 words
6 more questions from their form, plus answers drafted from your charity's real data if you decide to apply.
How it works
- 1Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
- 2See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
- 3Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.
See if Air Pilots Trust could be a fit. Draft if yes.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does Air Pilots Trust provide?
Air Pilots Trust typically provides grants of £8,000 - £10,000.
Where does Air Pilots Trust fund charities?
Air Pilots Trust funds charities operating in UK.
Does Air Pilots Trust accept unsolicited applications?
Air Pilots Trust accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.
What does Air Pilots Trust not fund?
Their published exclusions include: Applicants must have little or no flying experience; must be aged at least 16 on 1 July 2026 and aged 25 or under; must be able to satisfy the NPPL medical declaration requirements.; Must be able to satisfy the relevant medical standard to enable issue of a Class 2 Medical Certificate; must be aged at least 17 on 1 June 2026; must be available to undertake and complete the Scholarship during summer 2026.. The full exclusions list is further up this page.
How do I apply for funding from Air Pilots Trust?
Air Pilots Trust takes applications via email application. Published programme route: online application form.
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Check free. Draft if yes, or shortlist better matches.