Post published:23/09/2020
Post category:Latest Member News
Reading time:4 mins read

Leading Edge are delighted to welcome their newest Integrated LEAP® course of students, LEAP007 who have started their training this week. Every new course is celebrated in the continued growth and expansion of Leading Edge; however, their most recent course, is a course of firsts.

It is their largest LEAP® course to date, will be the first course being taught the 2020 EASA ATPL syllabus and is smashing gender barriers in its makeup. The new course, LEAP-007 is a huge milestone, out of the 13 students, 7 are female. This is their largest LEAP® course so far and the first time since Leading Edge’s inception that a course has had a majority female composition, which Leading Edge are very keen to commemorate.
The British Women Pilots’ Association (BWPA) report that globally only 5-6% of commercial pilots are female, with similar percentages in the General aviation field. Leading Edge have a philosophy of paving the way for women in the world of aviation, they hope to set an example of equality to other companies both inside and outside the world of aviation and are committed to growing that percentage with our current gender balance 15% higher than the global average, at 21% female. 50% of the board of directors are female demonstrating their commitment to equality.
Andy McFarlane, Chief Executive Officer, reflected “At Leading Edge we believe gender should not be a barrier to training, we’re committed to delivering high quality training to students regardless of gender, background and race – With our primary focus on delivering the best training, using infrastructure at the cutting edge of the industry to produce some of the world’s best pilots”.
In addition to this, it will be the first time our students have been taught the EASA 2020 ATPL Syllabus. Leading Edge firmly believe in being at the forefront of new breakthroughs in all of aspects of their training and are one of the first UK ATOs to deliver this syllabus.
Dickie Hughes, our Chief Theoretical Knowledge Instructor commented “The Ground School Instruction team have worked extremely hard to redesign the ATPL teaching programme in line with the EASA 2020 syllabus. I am confident our instructors and students will rise to the challenge and
continue to deliver excellent results.”
The expansion of the flight training offering follows several announcements, including expansion of their academy, launch of an Advanced UPRT syllabus & the continued growth of their state of the art
Diamond Aircraft fleet. Further evidence of their growth and success in all areas of the business. But this is not all, look out for further news over the next couple of months.

For more Information on training with Leading Edge Aviation, please visit leadingedgeaviation.com or call 01865 546 285. Media enquiries should be directed to Sarah Champneys, Head of Marketing at sarah.champneys@leadingedgeaviation.com

-END-

NOTES FOR EDITORS
Media Enquiries
Sarah Champneys, Head of Marketing, Leading Edge Aviation.
01865 546285
07393 048536
sarah.champneys@leadingedgeaviation.com
More about Leading Edge Aviation
Leading Edge Aviation is a rapidly expanding pilot training academy with a fresh approach and an emphasis on holistic training. Offering the highest standards of regulatory technical training,
students also benefit from a comprehensive professional and personal development curriculum to enhance non-technical skills.
Leading Edge delivers modular commercial training and the LEAP® (Leading Edge Airline Preparation) course; a full-time integrated course with BSc degree.
Based at London Oxford Airport, Leading Edge students receive wellbeing support, along with the first advanced learning aids. Virtual and mixed reality tech, and neuro training techniques are used
to embed and refine new knowledge and skills, creating pilots who enter the industry airline ready,
with strong leadership skills

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We are a small family owned and run business that the introduction of new measures by BF would have caused severe financial hardship. I was recommended to ask BBGA for advice which they instantly gave even though we were not members. They attended various meetings by my side, took the situation to a higher level within the Government department and helped me achieve a satisfactory outcome. I wasn’t pressured to become a member but what became apparent was their genuine desire to help resolve aviation issues for the better of the community. This association covers almost every aspect of the industry, has representation on the majority of decision making panels and achieves results by either diluting possible harmful legislation or stopping it altogether. Its members receive updates in real time often leaving other associations to ‘cut and paste’ BBGA releases some time later.

Inflite The Jet Centre Ltd.Penny Stephens, Director

BBGA is the main business and general aviation industry Association in the UK. It represents a wide range of services and operators. It’s contribution to fairly represent our interests with the regulators and government departments as well as other associations is absolutely essential. The various BBGA events throughout the year are a great opportunity for everyone to network and discuss the current industry affairs and issues BBGA’s ability to bring together all sectors of UK general and business aviation gives us enviable networking access. Nobody has the ear of the regulator like BBGA and that’s two-way thing; BBGA is not just able to elicit answers from EASA, the CAA and DfT, its advice and recommendations are sought both nationally and supra-nationally too. That makes membership a vital way to influence upcoming policy.

Luxaviation United Kingdom, London Executive Aviation LtdGeorge Galanopoulos, CEO & Managing Director

The BBGA is the key trade body for UK business aviation, helping us keep up-to-date with developments and in contact with the wider UK bizav community. Everyone with any interest in UK business aviation should be a member

Clyde & CoMark Bisset Partner,

From first contact, to membership, to attending the 2021 Virtual Conference, I received a warm welcome for which I am extremely grateful. The mix of technical and strategic content re-enforced the decision to attend and was the right one at the right time for our business."

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British Business and General Aviation Association

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Paul Cremer

My name is Paul Cremer, and this marks my 42nd year working within the business and general aviation industry. Over this time, I’ve had the privilege of overseeing a diverse array of sector activities, ranging from aircraft charter and management to air ambulance services, ground operations, air traffic control, airport management, technology implementation, and the outsourcing services I currently manage.

In my role focused on delivering advisory, technology, and outsourcing services to aviation customers, I handle a wide spectrum of responsibilities. This includes overseeing International Trip Support, Operations Control Centre Services (OCC), Continuing Airworthiness Management Service (CAMO), Airworthiness Reviews, ARC Services, Aircraft Delivery and Re-delivery Support Services, Maintenance Coordination Services including AOG, Tech Ops (Maintenance Control Centre), and managing myairops software products. As the Head of Aviation Delivery, I lead the customer-facing delivery of Technology & Outsourcing products and services for the market, drawing upon a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and industry connections within Gama Aviation’s Technology and Outsourcing Strategic Business Unit.

My journey into Business and General Aviation began during my teenage years while still in school. I was fortunate enough to be welcomed into the industry, starting at a flying club, and later working at the Air Traffic Services Unit at Blackbushe Airport. There, I maintained the ATC Movement Logs in the Control Tower during weekends, solidifying my passion for aviation. Upon completing my schooling, I seized opportunities at Fairoaks Airport, where I began as Ground Crew while pursuing my Aerodrome Flight Information Service Officer’s license. Advancements in my career led me to the role of Air Traffic Services Manager.

Since joining Gama Aviation in 1996, I’ve held various positions, including Operations Manager (Post Holder), Operations & Commercial Manager, Commercial Manager, Operations Delivery Manager, Head of Business Aviation Delivery, and currently, Head of Aviation Delivery. This role encompasses Gama Aviation Group’s Gama Aviation, myairops, and FlyerTech companies.

In 2023, I was honoured to be invited to serve as the Chair of the Operations Working Group for the British Business & General Aviation Association. This opportunity allows me to contribute to industry initiatives within BBGA’s membership of nearly 200 industry companies, focusing on challenges such as regulatory compliance, Air Services Agreements, technological advancements, workforce development, operational matters, and sustainability.

Marc Bailey

Marc Bailey has spent his entire career in aviation and has worked in most areas of Aviation Services with scheduled airlines, MRO’s, military contract support and latterly with associations, government, and its agencies.

Marc represents your position in Europe (even post Brexit) – as President of ECOGAS (European Council of General Aviation Support) which maintains a voice with EASA. All the major member states are represented on the ECOGAS board. With EASA restructuring its meetings with industry, ECOGAS is now well positioned to represent our position in all areas following industry partnerships with the European Independent Maintenance Group and with ARPAS the new drone and autonomous association.

Marc is chair of the UKASF (United Kingdom Airworthiness Strategic Forum) as part of an initiative to develop Aviation Services across all aviation activities. The UKASF pulls together airlines, MROs, Rotary, Drones, and commercial GA bodies to work with CAA and DfT. The objective is for industry to take the lead to drive strategic issues to benefit all parties. We are well positioned after four years to continue our good work and with the re-established role of Chief Surveyor in the CAA we have a good focal point to do this.

Marc chairs the CAA Finance and Services Forum which allows industry in the UK to discuss in the financial plans for the CAA and the value for money delivered by those funds paid by industry. This is a new and valuable new platform for all parties.

Under recent developments Marc has formed an alliance with, ARPAS, AOPA, BHA and BBGA so that we can strengthen our voice under a joint ‘GA 4 Biz’ banner. This alliance is working to do everything possible to represent the industry’s business interests with UK government and to help realise the Government’s desire to make UK General Aviation a Global Leader in a post Brexit environment. GA4Biz – GA4Biz

The next Generation initiatives with industry and government have continued to develop with the retention platform now evolving into the “Aviation Skills Recruitment Platform”. The platform now not only offers a vehicle for those offering and seeking posts in aviation, it also provides pathways with its TalentView portion seeking to provide pathways for new entrants into our sector. The recruitment platform is being further developed to include training opportunities across a wide range of providers, from government agencies through academic bodies. Getting our next generation activities right in the UK over the next couple of years is our single most important issue which we in aviation must grab with both hands. Marc is playing a central role to help develop many of these channels.

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British Business and General Aviation Association

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British Business and General Aviation Association

Paul Cremer

Jason Hayward

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Marc Bailey

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