Student Will flying high with funded pilot training

Navenby student Will Lees is flying high after becoming one of 60 new Jet2 pilot trainees.

The 18-year-old recently graduated from the Aviation Operations pathway at the Air & Space Institute (ASI) in Newark, part of the Lincoln College Group.

He went through a rigorous selection process securing his place against around 18,000 other applicants to become one of the first ever cohort of 60 commercial pilot trainees as part of the Jet2FlightPath programme.

Set up this year, the 18-month training programme means Will and his fellow hopefuls will have their training fully funded, a package normally worth around £150,000. 

Will said: “I’m so excited to have been selected. I am starting my training in December and it sounds like there’s a lot to learn and experience. I’m really looking forward to meeting my fellow students as well as the training itself.” 

Ambitious and determined, Will’s work experience, self-funded flight training and his job as a Jet2 Customer Helper in his spare time have all been positives that he believes made him a great candidate, he adds: “I think as I already had done work experience with Jet2 in April this year and have worked there part time, I definitely felt at an advantage. I’ve also completed work experience at East Midlands Airport, at British Airways and at London Biggin Hill Airport. 

“I first applied in May and there’s been a lot of tests, interviews and panels before we got the word that I’d got a place.” 

Will’s tutor at ASI and Aviation Operations Lecturer, Steve Buckley, said: “We’re all really pleased to see Will succeed, he’s in for an exciting training process and it really shows what you can achieve when you set your sights on something and work hard.  

“We teach the students here so much, but it’s really down to Will’s resilience, positive attitude and talent that he’s got this amazing opportunity.

“This is an amazing achievement, and we wish Will the very best for the future.” 

Head of Newark Campuses, Penny Taylor MBE, said: “Will is set to return on a regular basis to the ASI to talk with students and update them on his training progress. We have obviously supported Will on his journey so far, but he has shown a determination and attitude that has allowed him to train for his dream job. We want to congratulate him again and we look forward to hearing about his training process!” 

To find out more about aviation pathways, both military and commercial, visit https://asi-newark.co.uk/curriculum

Below Will Lees is pictured with Penny Taylor and Steve Buckley at the the Air & Space Institute.