When our son Alex turned 7 he decided that his fascination with planes would become a great career. He said the fateful words, I want to be a pilot, 11 and a bit years later nothing has changed, he’s worked hard to achieve great grades, sat his A levels and now it’s time for him to go to flight school.
Becoming a pilot is traditionally something that happens to people with wealthy backgrounds, that’s something we’re not.
The cost of the course is £99500, we’ve placed a deposit of £9500 and with university grants the course cost falls to £75100. My wife and I have taken second jobs as well as running our own business full time to be able to fund this journey. We’re doing everything we can to pay our own way but feel a little support May help. We originally had funding in principle agreed through the bank but they withdrew the offer because of covid.
We realise that this is a far cry from your normal fundraiser but Alex has never wavered, he’s worked hard since he was able and has saved some money himself as well, the course will enable Alex to take a career which he has dreamed of forever, his course starts in September and any funds raised will only be used for the course. Simply put we would love it if 5000 people chucked in £5 each. You’d make a young man incredibly happy.
We are also looking at a possible way forward to help youngsters from more diverse backgrounds be able to get into flying, this would involve starting a not for profit business that would offer bursaries and partial funding, ti make sure that piloting is an accessible career for all, not just for the few. Any money raised will initially contribute to Alex’s pursuit but once that target (if that target!) is achieved then we will look to work with Alex’s flight school, based in Oxford, to try to help other people moving forward.
Anything you can contribute is massively appreciated.