Gliding Scholarships
Our Gliding Scholarships are designed to introduce individuals to the exciting sport of gliding while providing a gateway to the wider worlds of aviation, aerospace, and space. Through our tiered scholarship programme, those with little or no previous aviation experience can develop practical flying skills, build confidence, and gain a deeper understanding of the opportunities available across these dynamic sectors.
Gliding develops many of the core skills valued throughout the aviation industry, including decision-making, situational awareness, communication, resilience, and leadership. For many, it provides a first step towards careers as airline pilots, military aircrew, flight instructors, aerospace engineers, air traffic controllers, and professionals working throughout the aerospace and space sectors.
If you have the determination and enthusiasm to challenge yourself, our Gliding Scholarships offer a supported pathway to begin that journey. Alongside flight training, scholars benefit from The Air League’s unrivalled network of industry partners, alumni, and mentors, helping them gain valuable insight, make professional connections, and explore where a future career in aviation, aerospace, or space could take them.
what we offer
Gliding to solo scholarship
SLMG
conversion scholarship
Pilot development scholarship
hear from our scholars
Gliding to solo scholarship
SLMG
conversion scholarship
Pilot development scholarship
frequently asked questions
Applications open on Tuesday, 1st of December 2026. Applications close at 5:00pm on Tuesday, 23rd of March 2027.
To be eligible for a Pilot Development or SLMG Conversion Scholarship, you must be at least 14 years old by the 1st of June 2026, and a current member of a gliding club with prior gliding experience. To be eligible for a Gliding to Solo Scholarship, you must be at least 16 years old by the 1st of June 2026, with little to no gliding experience. For all scholarships you must be a UK resident. Please find the full application criteria here.
For those with disabilities please see the FAQ below.
Gliding to Solo scholarships will be undertaken at London Gliding Club on a residential basis over a two week period.
SLMG and Pilot Development Scholarships will be undertaken at your chosen club.
The Gliding to Solo course will take place in August 2027 at London Gliding Club.
SLMG and Pilot Development Scholarships are completed at your own pace.
Gliding to Solo Scholarships include full board accommodation for the 2 week course.
SLMG and Pilot Development Scholarships are flown at your own pace and do not include accommodation.
You will also be invited to our Scholarships Awards Ceremony.
The Scholarship Selection Committee award scholarships based several factors, including your determination, career development, communication skills and industry knowledge and your medium to long term career aspirations.
For Gliding to Solo Scholarships, no previous flying experience is required.
SLMG and Pilot Development Scholarships require some previous experience and you must already be a member of a gliding club.
Our scholarships are open to all that meet the legal requirements listed above.
Our vision is to change lives through aviation and believe there should be no educational, financial, or social barriers for those who want to succeed.
We want to make aviation accessible to all. Regardless of your background we will support you if you have the determination, drive and passion to succeed.
The application process is split into two stages.
The first stage is an assessment of your application by two independent members of the scholarship selection committee.
Gliding to Solo applicants who progress through the Stage 1 sift will be interviewed. Interviews will be held online in early May 2027. There is no interview for Pilot Development and SLMG Conversion applicants.
Regardless of any disability you can apply for a gliding scholarship. The purpose of our scholarships is to create a foundation for a young person’s career pathway into aviation and aerospace.
You will be asked to provide additional details so that reasonable adjustments or further assistance can be provided as part of the selection process and the delivery of a scholarship.
We will endeavour to deliver scholarships to those with any disability, however if CAA regulations indicate flight training may not be delivered, we will attempt to provide an alternative scholarship through our other programmes and opportunities.
Unfortunately, The Air League is unable to help with travel costs.
Yes. A valid Air League membership is required to apply for scholarships and bursaries.
Yes. Please annotate on your application which programme you have participated in.
No. The gliding scholarships are intended for those yet to achieve a PPL.
Successful candidates will be notified in early June 2027.
Although this will be disappointing, we do not want you to give up. Scholarships applications far outnumber the opportunities available.
Regardless of the outcome we encourage you to get involved, volunteer, and attend the Air League’s annual programme of events that aim to help you develop as a professional within aviation and aerospace.
Feedback is unable to be provided for gliding scholarship applications.
application form
career pathway options
We’ve teamed up with TalentView Aviation to ensure all our scholarship applicants continue on their career pathways within aviation and aerospace
TalentView is the place for talented individuals to find first jobs, graduate roles and other exciting opportunities and be seen by employers across the UK aviation industry