It has been a year of remarkable success and groundbreaking initiatives here at Leading Edge Aviation. Two new airline partnerships, nearly 250 new students, and four homegrown flight instructors ready to train the next cohorts heading to Spain. Join us as we look back at some of our top moments from 2025.
Airline Partnerships: A Grand Total of Seven… and counting!
Two new airline partnerships saw both current students and prospective students presented with some incredible recruitment and training opportunities. Both Jet2.com and Aurigny, in collaboration with Norse Atlantic joined our widespread network of UK industry partnerships.
Jet2.com
In May of this year, Jet2.com announced the launch of Jet2FlightPath, their fully funded route to the Jet2 flight deck. We were delighted to be the launch ATO for this incredible programme, welcoming the first two cohorts of Jet2’s fully funded students, in September and October.
Aurigny x Norse Atlantic UK
In August, we proudly announced an exclusive partnership with Aurigny and Norse Atlantic UK, launching a new, fully integrated pilot pathway to the commercial flight deck. This ongoing collaboration provides Leading Edge students with a clearly defined career path from initial training through to becoming a long-haul pilot. So far, six Leading Edge students have been tagged and will be set to join Aurigny once they have finished their training, progressing onto long haul operations with Norse Atlantic UK on their B787 Dreamliner after just two years.
We look forward to continuing to work closely alongside both airlines as well as our established airline partners, British Airways, easyJet, Wizz Air, Tui and Titan Airways.
Reimagining Area 100 KSA: Working with Boeing to create a Comprehensive CBTA Learning Library
This year we were proud to support the development and launch of Boeing’s new Competency Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) Learning Library, as one of just four Approved Training Organisations selected worldwide and the only UK ATO involved. Working closely with Boeing, we helped shape the programme to meet UK Civil Aviation Authority and European Union Aviation Safety Agency requirements.
Now embedded into our theoretical knowledge syllabus, the library strengthens scenario-based learning and the early development of key non-technical pilot competencies.
Homegrown Flight Instructors: Investing in the Next Generation
This year, our first four Funded Flight Instructors completed their pilot training and Instructor ratings with us. Emma, Nick, Chikwa and Sebastian are set to join our growing team of Flight Instructors at our Fair-weather base in Alhama, southern Spain in the new year, after a short break over the festive period. This milestone reflects their dedication, resilience and hard work, while also marking an important step in developing future homegrown instructors and supporting the next generation of safe, skilled pilots.
With a further 14 Funded Flight Instructors currently following in their footsteps, we’re proud to continue building a strong pipeline of homegrown Flight Instructors and to lead the way through this industry-leading programme.
Charity Partnerships: Collaborating with APUK and Wings for Warriors
This year, we were proud to deepen our support for two respected aviation charities, Aviation Pride UK (APUK) and Wings for Warriors, through meaningful partnerships.
Aviation Pride UK
Our partnership with Aviation Pride UK is rooted in our belief that aviation should be an inclusive space where everyone feels welcome and supported. By working with the charity, we aim to help improve visibility, understanding and representation across the industry, while creating an environment where our students and staff feel confident being themselves.
Wings for Warriors
Our collaboration with Wings for Warriors supports wounded, injured and sick veterans as they work towards careers as professional pilots. In 2025, we began working closely with the charity as a training partner, helping guide its ab-initio programme and supporting students through key stages of training. This includes delivering multi-engine training and donating six APS MCC courses each year, helping veterans reach airline readiness and build sustainable futures in aviation.
Graduate success: Celebrating at our Annual Graduation Ceremony
It has been another year of remarkable graduate success, with 99% of our graduates securing airline employment within three months of graduating. In May, we celebrated their achievements at our Class of 2025 graduation ceremony, held beneath the wings of the iconic Concorde at Aerospace Bristol. The evening brought together 74 graduates, their families, instructors and airline partners to mark this important milestone and recognise the dedication shown throughout training.
Looking ahead to 2026, we’re entering the year with momentum, clarity and purpose. Our priority remains delivering training that meets the evolving needs of both our students and the wider aviation industry.
