2019 has been a huge year for Leading Edge Aviation – not only for our academy but for the talented individuals who trusted us with their pilot training.
We celebrated our first birthday in October, currently have 60 students training with us, with several graduates taking up their first airline roles. During 2019 they have completed 3750 hours of simulator training, 69 Instrument Ratings and 5 Commercial Pilot Licences. One of the first students to join us back in January has just completed his A320 type rating and will be flying passengers for British Airways in the new year.
The Leading Edge aircraft fleet has grown to 6 Diamonds, with more aircraft arriving in 2020, and earlier this year we purchased a new Alsim AL42 simulator and gained certification to use it for training.
LEAP®, our comprehensive, integrated pilot training course with BSc degree, is now underway with two classes running, and several new intakes planned for early next year. We will soon be making the exciting announcement of the award winners from our first Bursary Programme, which everyone who joins LEAP® is eligible for.
The Leading Edge family continues to grow. We now have 22 permanent members of staff and several contractors supporting us. Every member of the team is absolutely committed to providing the highest standards of training, and the best possible experience and outcome. And we’ve had plenty of fun along the way, too.
Student wellbeing has been, and will always be, a high priority for us. Our partners, Wellspace, will continue to deliver support and personal development training throughout next year. But our focus on wellbeing goes beyond our own doors. This year, students and staff have instigated several charity events, and we’re very proud to have been able to support Macmillan, Movember and the Oxford Community Emergency Foodbank recently.
There is so much more we could say, but these have been some of our highlights. What a year 2019 has been. Thank you for making this year so amazing and for being part of the Leading Edge community.
