Wings Alliance is delighted to announce the winner of the 2022 British Woman Pilots’ Association (BWPA) Scholarship.

The winner of this year’s scholarship is Olivia Brookes, who will receive a free Wings Alliance Airline Pilot Assessment (normally £295).

Olivia said “I have wanted to be a commercial pilot for as long as I can remember. My mum was cabin crew for over 30 years and my dad used to be a dispatcher so I spent a lot of time in and around the aviation industry as a child. I also spent a lot of time at the Viewing Park at Manchester Airport and attending air shows with my dad.

“I had my first air experience flight with the air cadets when I was 13 and this confirmed to me that being a pilot was a career I wanted to pursue. I was also gifted a flying lesson for my 21st birthday and loved every second of it. I then went on to start my PPL training a few years later.

“I worked as cabin crew for Thomas Cook for three years and absolutely loved working in the industry and speaking to the flight crew about the role and their experiences.

“Aviation has always been a passion of mine and I look forward to obtaining my licence and entering the commercial world.”

The Wings Alliance Airline Pilot Assessment puts candidates through a series of tests, focussing on the core skills needed to become a commercial pilot and includes problem-solving tasks with a competency-based interview.

Olivia said “I applied for the Wing Alliance scholarship as they offer assessments that mirror airline assessments and are conducted by specialists and experienced staff. I think that at this stage of my training it would be really useful to get an insight into these assessment days and the skills and qualities that airline recruiters are looking for. I would like to challenge myself, see how I perform in the various tasks and get some feedback on areas where I can improve. Hopefully, after attending I will be airline ready.”

When asked about her advice for other women looking to become pilots, Olivia said “I would advise any women who are considering a career in aviation to go for it! Go to your local airfield and have a trial lesson and see if you enjoy it. I would also recommend joining the British Women Pilots’ Association. This is a great organisation that inspires and supports women in all areas of aviation.”