Fully Funded LEAP & FI Course
At Leading Edge Aviation, we are passionate about all things aviation. We are excited to offer an innovative opportunity to individuals who have the aptitude and attitude to become excellent pilots, but who simply may not have the opportunity to do so due to the cost of pilot training. This programme will deliver exceptional Pilots and outstanding future Flight Instructors. The concept of employing the very highest calibre graduates as Flight Instructors is a well-recognised strategy amongst air forces and commercial airlines worldwide. For each of the 6 successful candidates this is worth in excess of £115,000 in training fees plus the guarantee of employment. An opportunity not to be missed.
Our combined LEAP & FI course is fully funded. All you pay for is your initial skills assessment and if successful, day-to-day living costs. All your course fees and accommodation are covered by us during your training, and you are supported all the way by our comprehensive training guarantee.
You will join the Leading Edge family and your training will be split across our campuses in Oxford, UK and Alhama, southern Spain. You’ll experience the wonderful 300+ days a year of sunny skies in Alhama, and the more complex conditions that the UK weather and airspace provide – continually supported by our outstanding team of Instructors and academy staff.
Once qualified, your role within the family will change as you become a fully qualified Flight Instructor at our Alhama campus with a guaranteed minimum 2 year bonded contract.
We are offering 6 places on our Fully Funded LEAP & FI course in 2023! It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to achieve your ATPL & Flight Instructor training for free!
Your journey begins with your application to this exciting programme, where you will be invited to undertake a series of skills assessments to appraise the attributes required to excel in this challenging role. This process will culminate in 6 successful candidates being selected and offered this amazing opportunity. These individuals will then commence their flight training on one of our LEAP courses in Spring/Summer 2023. Once your training has been completed, you’ll leap into your Flight Instructor training where you’ll learn how to teach your newly acquired skills to the next generation of future pilots.
Your Training Comprises of:
- Theoretical Knowledge Training
- Foundation Flight Training
- Advanced Flight Training
- Advanced Upset Prevention Recovery Training
- APS-MCC
- BSc Degree
- Flight Instructor Training
- Dual Campus Experience including Fair-weather Base in Alhama, Spain
- Dual Licences: UK CAA & EASA
- Graduate Services
This Package also includes:
- Training Guarantee
- Accommodation during training
- Uniform & iPad
- Padpilot ATPL eBooks
- Question Bank Access
- Training Materials & Flight Bag
- ATPL (A) Qualifying Exam Fees
- Flight Test Fees
- Wellbeing Support
Entry requirements
Required at time of application:
- 5 GCSEs* grade 6+ (including English Language, Maths & Science)
- Hold a UK passport or have settled status (indefinite leave to remain)
Required by course start date:
- Relevant Class 1 UK CAA & EASA medical
- Valid DBS criminal records check & GSAT
- Aged 18 or over at the start of training (no upper age limit!)
*or equivalent. A full Physics GCSE is recommended, double/triple awards are accepted where they include Physics.
Assessment
Successful candidates will be offered a position on our Fully Funded LEAP & FI Course, and for those not successful, our training advisors will talk you through the other options available to you.
| Stage | Task | Fee | Location |
| 1 | Online application & CV submission | Free | Home |
| 2 | Computer based assessment | £50 | Home |
| 3 | Group exercise, skills interview & maths test | £150 |
Oxford |
| 4 | Essay & online psychometric tests | £100 | Home |
| 5 | Final interview | Free | Oxford |
If you are not selected for our Fully Funded LEAP & FI Course, but choose to follow our LEAP pathway, your skills assessment fees incurred during the course of this process, will be credited against your deposit.
Courses
Our Fully Funded LEAP & FI Course has limited places and applicants will be offered places on our April or July courses:
- April 2023 – 2 places
- July 2023 – 4 places
LEAP
Your first phase of training will be to complete our LEAP course. This begins with Ground School and progresses through all phases of flight training culminating with APS-MCC. The LEAP course is conducted across both our Oxford and Alhama campuses, so you’ll experience every part of our outstanding academy!
| Ground School | Oxford Campus |
| Foundation Flight Training | Alhama Campus |
| BSc Degree | Dual Campus |
| Advanced Flight Training | Oxford Campus |
| APS-MCC | Oxford Campus |
FI Training
8 training weeks
Leading Edge, Oxford / Alhama Campus
Once you have completed your integrated LEAP course, you will begin your Flight Instructor training with our experienced dual UK CAA & EASA Flight Instructor training team. Here you will learn the softer skills required to deliver your outstanding technical knowledge, and how to deliver the very best training experience to your students!
Your course includes:
- 125 hours ground school (interspersed throughout the course)
- 30 hours flight training
- Flight test including briefing & debriefing with a dual licensed examiner
FI Induction
Leading Edge, Oxford
Congratulations on completing your training! We are delighted to welcome you to the team as a foundation flight training Flight Instructor.
The next phase of your journey will begin with a full Flight Instructor induction, where you will be supported with the transition from a student to employee. During your induction, you will build new relationships with key personnel around the business that you may not have come across during your training; you’ll gather critical information and learn new skills – all of which will be integral to your future success. We’ll then move you into day-to-day operations and into the cockpit to start inspiring your first students across our Oxford & Alhama Campuses*.
*Your location will be dependent on student training schedule and demand, but is likely to be focussed at our Alhama Campus.
Applications to our Fully Funded LEAP & FI Course are now closed.
We’d like to wish all who entered good luck!
If you have any questions about training with us, please contact us today.