Due to Demand: Become a Pilot Winter Academy Launches This November
Become a Pilot Academy begins this September and following demand from students and parents who couldn't attend the original Tuesday evening programme, we're opening a second intake sooner than originally planned.
The Become a Pilot Winter Academy will begin on:
Sunday 8 November 2026 at 6pm
Delivered live online on Sunday evenings from 6pm–8pm, the new intake gives another group of aspiring pilots aged 14–19 the opportunity to begin preparing for a future in professional aviation.
Families can secure a place for £250.
Why are we opening another intake?
When we launched Become a Pilot, the idea was simple.
There are thousands of young people who say:
“I want to become an airline pilot.”
But knowing what to do next is much harder. Should you go to university? When should you start flying? What Maths and Physics do you need? What are ATPLs?
What's the difference between integrated and modular training?
How do airline-funded training programmes work?
What happens during pilot aptitude testing?
What do airlines actually assess?
And how can somebody start preparing for all of this while they're still at school or college?
That's what Become a Pilot was created to address.
Following the response to our first intake and particularly the number of families asking whether the Academy would run again or be available on a different evening we've decided to open the Winter 2026 intake.
This isn't a flying club
Become a Pilot is deliberately academic. Students aren't spending 10 weeks simply talking about aeroplanes.
We use aviation to develop and apply Maths, Physics, problem-solving and professional skills, progressively introducing students to concepts they'll encounter again if they eventually enter professional pilot training.
Students will explore subjects including:
Principles of Flight
Aviation Maths and Physics
Meteorology
Navigation
Speed, distance and time
Trigonometry
Aircraft performance
Mass and balance
Fuel planning
Human performance
Air Law and operational knowledge
Pilot aptitude and psychometric testing
Airline selection and interviews
Crew Resource Management
Communication and decision-making
Professional pilot competencies
The programme is pitched using GCSE and A-Level Maths and Physics as an academic foundation, while introducing students to some of the concepts they'll later meet during professional pilot and ATPL theoretical training.
Students don't need previous flying experience.
They do need to be prepared to think, calculate, participate and learn.
Why start preparing before flight training?
Professional pilot training can be demanding. It's academically intensive, fast-paced and expensive. There are also airline-funded training opportunities that can substantially change the financial route into the profession but candidates still have to successfully navigate the relevant recruitment and selection process.
Meeting minimum requirements is only the beginning. Aspiring pilots may eventually encounter numerical and verbal reasoning, aptitude and psychometric assessments, interviews, group exercises and competency-based selection. Then, if they're successful, the actual training begins.
Preparation matters.
The purpose of Become a Pilot isn't to replace professional flight training.
It's to help students arrive at that stage better informed and better prepared.
Bringing school Maths and Physics into aviation
One of the biggest parts of the Academy is connecting what students learn at school with the profession they want to enter.
Why does airspeed affect lift?
How does air density affect aircraft performance?
How do pilots use speed, distance and time?
Why does aircraft mass affect take-off performance?
How can trigonometry help us navigate?
What happens to forces during a turn?
Rather than simply memorising equations for an exam, students begin applying them to aviation problems.Each session is supported by substantial learning materials, worked examples and multiple-choice practice so students can continue working between the live sessions.
For a young person who wants to become a pilot, Maths and Physics suddenly have a very obvious purpose.
More than technical knowledge
Being a professional pilot isn't simply about knowing how an aircraft works.
Throughout the Academy, we also develop the skills and behaviours associated with professional aviation.
Communication.
Teamwork.
Decision-making.
Problem-solving.
Situational awareness.
Workload management.
Leadership and followership.
Resilience.
Students will explore Crew Resource Management and professional pilot competencies, while also learning about aptitude testing, airline applications and selection.
The aim is to start developing the whole aspiring pilot – not simply their aviation knowledge.
An optional practical finale
Students can also choose to complete an optional Simulator Completion Session in the West Midlands. Working alongside a type-rated airline pilot in either an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 simulator, students can use the experience as a practical project to consolidate some of their Academy learning.
The simulator experience is optional and is not required to complete the Academy.
Study from anywhere
The Winter Academy is delivered entirely live online, meaning students can participate from anywhere in the UK or internationally. Sessions are also recorded, with students retaining access to course recordings for six months after the Academy finishes.
At the end of the programme, students receive a Become a Pilot Academy completion certificate.
The new Sunday intake
We've deliberately chosen a Sunday evening for our second intake.
A number of families interested in the September Academy told us that weekday commitments prevented their child from attending the original Tuesday sessions.
The Winter Academy therefore provides an alternative for students who need a weekend option.
Become a Pilot – Winter 2026
Starts: Sunday 8 November 2026
Time: 6pm–8pm UK time
Delivery: Live online
Duration: 10 weeks
Age: Primarily 14–19
Previous aviation experience: Not required
Pay monthly
We've also made it easier for families to spread the cost of the Academy.
Rather than finding the entire programme fee upfront, students can secure their place with:
£250 to join
followed by:
3 further monthly payments of £250
Total programme fee: £1,000
There are no additional compulsory course costs.
Winter applications are now open
We weren't originally planning to open another intake this quickly but the response to Become a Pilot and the number of enquiries asking when the programme would run again made the decision straightforward.
So if you missed September, couldn't attend on Tuesday evenings, or have only recently started researching the pathway towards becoming a commercial pilot, this is your next opportunity to join us.
The Winter cohort starts on Sunday 8 November.
Secure your place for £250 and start preparing for the flight deck.
Find out more and enrol:
Sam Piri
The Aviation Guy
Commercial Pilot | Qualified Science Teacher
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