Frequently Asked Questions 

Students who complete our Integrated LEAP Course are (subject to eligibility) able to access Student Finance funding which can be credited against your course fees, this is accessible as our LEAP course is an accredited degree course with Bucks New university and includes a Batchelor of Sciences Degree in Air Transport Management with Pilot Studies.

Thankfully it doesn’t happen often, but occasionally students become ill and are either prevented or delayed from finishing the course. In extreme circumstances, illness could mean that you lose your Class 1 Medical and can’t complete the flying phase of the course. If this happens, our Training Guarantee will become invalid, so we strongly recommend taking out Loss of Medical Insurance to protect yourself. One of our training advisors can help you find out more about this.

Included with our LEAP course is everything you will need to complete your training, we also include accommodation, transport to and from the academy, and basic living essentials (bedding, kitchen utensils, uniform).

For your personal living costs, throughout your training it’s difficult to say exactly how much you will spend as everyone has a slightly different budget. You will need money for things such as laundry, food, personal items and anything else outside of your training you can think of. As an indicative cost, most people budget between in the region of £250-£500 per month of training.

The best advice we could give would be to make a monthly budget for all the costs that will come up throughout your training (living costs, car insurance, medical, holidays and anything else you can think of!) and work from there.

For a limited period, we offer a Fully Funded LEAP & FI Course.

Click here to read more!

If you pass our skills assessment and sign up to our LEAP course, you will be eligible for our Training Guarantee.  This means that if you need any additional training, all the additional training fees and regulatory charges such as exam fees will be covered within the fixed course price. The only exception to this would be if a student demonstrated a lack of commitment, poor general attitude or failed to attend training.

Our Integrated LEAP Course takes you from zero flight experience all the way to an airline-ready fATPL, this is an ab initio program and is designed to train you in our Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) from your first flight all the way through to your Instrument Rating. The course is full time and takes approximately 18 training months.

Our Modular Training Program is designed to allow you to fly on your terms, to start this program you will have already have a PPL, we will work with you to design a bespoke program that fits your needs.

Take a look at our courses to find out more.

There are 13 classes/ exams in the following subjects:

• Air law
• Aircraft General Knowledge – Airframe/Systems/Powerplant
• Aircraft General Knowledge – instrumentation
• Mass and balance
• Performance
• Flight planning and monitoring
• Human performance
• Meteorology
• General Navigation
• Radio Navigation
• Operational procedures
• Principles of flight
• Communications (visual flight rules, and instrument flight rules)

Our primary base is at London Oxford Airport (ICAO: EGTK). Throughout your training you will operate out of a range of airports and airfields to give you a broad experience of both controlled and uncontrolled environments.

Our primary accommodation site is The Arc in Kidlington and is approximately 5 minutes drive from London Oxford Airport.

We also have accommodation at Slade Park in Headington, just a 10-15 mins drive away.

At Leading Edge we keep our class sizes smaller than a typical flight school may have. We believe that by keeping the courses small, it benefits learning, allows a collaborative environment but at the same time allows the students and instructors to receive individual, focused teaching and overall is of a greater training benefit.

APS-MCC is the final phase of your programme and will be your first taste of flying as an airline pilot. You’ll work as a crew, learning how to fly a modern passenger jet airliner (in our Airbus A320 FTD-1 simulator) using standard operating procedures, while gaining an insight into the airline environment.

With our Integrated LEAP course at the end of training you will be a fully qualified Commercial Pilot, airline ready with a Frozen ATPL and an undergraduate Bachelor of Sciences degree in Air Transport Management with Pilot Studies.

Leading Edge Aviation are approved to provide both UK CAA and EASA Flight Training.

Leading Edge Aviation are approved to deliver UK CAA & EASA Flight Training, offering you the option to hold either a UK CAA license or the ability to maximize employability and hold dual UK CAA & EASA Licenses!

Click here to read more.

Whilst our Integrated LEAP Course takes you from no experience to fATPL, our Modular course requires a PPL to start.

Our neighbours Pilot Flight Training who are also based at London Oxford Airport (ICAO: EGTK) can assist you in achieving your PPL.

Included in your training we will provide you with a Pilot Bag stocked with everything you will need for your training – including charts, flight planning tools, a logbook and even your own Leading Edge iPad.

All Leading Edge Aviation accommodation, as standard, come equipped with, basic cooking utensils, crockery, cutlery and glassware, along with duvet, pillow and the relevant linen and a shared iron & ironing board.

Transport from our accommodation to the academy is also included.

You may wish to bring a few personal belonging such as a laptop or if you have a hobby such as cycling, bring your bike!

Time off is generally not permitted during training however scheduled leave is built into the programme in between phases to offer you a chance to relax and prepare for your next phase.

Mental and Physical Wellbeing for our Students & Staff is something is extremely important to Leading Edge Aviation, throughout your time with us, our Customer Experience team will work closely with you to support your progress and give you any extra support you might need.

For the initial single engine phase of your training you will fly Garmin G1000 Avionics equipped Diamond DA40 aircraft, you will then progress on to our state of the art G1000 Diamond DA42 fleet for the multi-engine phase of your training. In addition to this you will complete Simulator training on our ALSIM DA42 FNPT II Simulator and Upset & Recovery Training will be carried out on our Slingsby Firefly.

Click here to view our fleet! 

Yes – Included in the syllabus of both our Integrated LEAP and Modular Courses is an Advanced UPRT course in our Slingsby T67 Firefly.

In addition to this, the course can be provided standalone for a Fee (including accommodation) of £2,145 including VAT.

This is something we are able to offer, providing you meet the requirements that are laid out by the UK CAA. We suggest contacting the UK CAA directly to find out what you are required to complete and then we can build a training package that meets this. Please note, it is likely you will need to complete two separate skill tests as the UK test examiner is allocated by the UK CAA and we cannot guarantee that his examiner will be dual qualified.

Instrument Ratings can only be revalidated in the DA42 Simulator providing all of the below conditions are met:

• Your Instrument Rating is current.
• Your Multi-Engine Piston Class Rating is current.
• Your last Instrument Rating Initial/Revalidation/Renewal Skills test was completed in an aircraft.

We will provide you with a checklist and QRH for the relevant aircraft/sim, all other training materials must be provided by yourself.

If you are unable to fly due to weather or an operational restriction, we will attempt to reschedule you as soon as possible. We recommend having a few spare days after you are due to finish with us to allow for any rebookings that are required.

In order to train and work at Leading Edge, you will need an airside pass. Part of the criteria for attaining a pass is to have a Criminal Records Check (sometimes know as a DBS) and to complete an online GSAT course. The DBS needs to be less than 12 weeks old at the start of your training, so you shouldn’t apply for this until your place on the course has been confirmed. All of these details will be confirmed with you by our Customer Experience team at the necessary time

No, you don’t, although it would beneficial if you did!

This process is a considerable one and will take you through up to 5 stages, depending upon your success at each stage:

No. The requirements are higher & the process is more detailed

Yes, and we may be able to credit you with some of the elements of the Skills Assessment, if you have already passed them to the necessary level as part of this process. Our Training Advisors will be able to support you through this process

The lucky 6 candidates will be announced at Stage 5 (1 March 2022)

This is a huge investment for Leading Edge and the process is an extremely costly one to run. It is normal practice to charge for Skills Assessments. By paying for the assessment, you are proving to us that you have the desire and commitment to undertake this challenging course

No, unfortunately not. Whilst there are some similar elements to a standard Skills Assessment, as we are looking for future Flight Instructors, this assessment will appraise additional skills and attributes

You may apply, but you will still need to go through the Assessment process. If you haven’t paid your deposit, your place cannot be guaranteed.

You will be asked if you have a preference as part of the Assessment process and all factors will be considered

No. All the ratings that we need you to have as an FI will be funded as part of this process. If you choose to consider further FI ratings and this is supported and therefore funded by the business, you may be bonded further

Where you train will be dependent upon where the business can accommodate that part of the course. At this time, it is expected this will be in Alhama

Whilst we will consider this on a case by case basis, this is a fully integrated course and therefore no previous flying experience would normally be credited

Yes, you will undertake the Graduate Employment services training towards the end of your bonded employment with us. You will then be supported by our team to prepare for airline interviews, if this is the path you choose

No, this is a permanent role in which we expect the role holder to remain in for a minimum of 2 years. You are therefore welcome to stay past this point, and indeed become a career instructor if you choose. After the 2 year period you will however, no longer be bonded

This will be detailed in the Employment Contract, post graduation. This will be the standard Leading Edge salary for a junior FI

It means that you will commit to stay with the business as an FI for a minimum of 2 years after your training. If you leave before the end of this period, you will be liable for the cost of either some or all of your training

Yes. By taking up this fully funded offer, you are committing to working with us for a minimum of 2 years post qualification, as a Flight Instructor

If you secure a different role part way through your 2 year bond, you will be liable for the cost of your training on a sliding scale

Yes

Absolutely. We would love you to come along to meet us. The best way of doing this is by attending an Open Day. Please visit the Open Day section on our website to book your place

Yes you will still be included in the degree, but you will not be required to take student finance