British Women Pilots' Association

✈️ Congratulations to 2025 BWPA TAGS PPL Ground School Scholarship winner Genevieve Desmond @genevievedesmond on passing her PPL skills test at @staplefordflightcentre 🥳

Genevieve says 'Huge milestone for me! I originally started my journey at Southend with an RAF scholarship of 20 flying hours 25 years ago, but couldn’t complete my training due to a lack of funding. I self-funded my way through University, putting my flying dreams on hold at 18, but it always felt like an unfinished goal.

I decided to start my PPL training in 2022 at Stapleford. As a working mum of 3 studying for additional qualifications, as well as a PPL, it was full on but enjoyable. After another brief pause I restarted in 2025, building solo time and getting my QXC ticked off.

The BWPA scholarship helped hugely at a key time in the journey, offering support to help me cross the finish line with my theory and FRTOL in early 2026.

I’ve enjoyed building and honing my skills - it’s so satisfying when something goes well after working hard at it! I’m already looking forward to the next stage of the journey as I’ve joined a syndicate group for a PA28 based at Southend. This is particularly exciting for me as I will be returning to the club I initially went solo with 25 years ago.

To anyone out there that’s put their dream on hold and thinks too much time has passed to pick it up again… think again. You really can do this!'

#bwpa #BWPAScholarship #womeninaviation #femalepilot #ppl