2025: A Year in Review

As 2025 comes to an end, we can look back and celebrate our members’ numerous accomplishments and milestone moments.

Achievements

Our members developed their flying skills, from first flights and early milestones to advanced continued training.

We shared 12 first solos and 15 Private Pilot Licence successful Skill Test passes, spread across flying schools around the country.

We also celebrated 12 new ratings, a member gaining her frozen Airline Transport Pilot Licence and three gaining their Commercial Pilot Licence.

There were many more milestone moments, so whether you shared yours or not, congratulations to all pilots who worked on new skills throughout the year. Whether it’s towards a career, for a personal goal, or a return to aviation after time away, your fellow BWPA members will always celebrate with you.

Scholarships

With 17 flying scholarships and 18 product scholarships awarded to promising pilots through the BWPA’s annual scholarships programme, supporting them in their aviation development.

 

As well as these scholarships, seven trophies were awarded to BWPA Award winners for contribution to aviation, for being a long term supporter of BWPA, for notable photography and achievements.

Events

Our regional reps and members organised events around the country, including special access, behind the scenes visits to Bombardier, Aerial Collective and Draken.

 

BWPA volunteers met aspiring commercial pilots and visitors at the BWPA stand at Pilot Careers Live in London and Manchester, Reach the Sky Festival in Cornwall, West London Aero Club Members Day, and many more events.

As we celebrated BWPA’s 70th anniversary throughout the year, we participated in a beautiful 1950’s themed picnic at Blackbushe, as well as fly-in and in-person events at Redhill aerodrome, Barton airfield, Stapleford, Turweston and more.

In early December, we cheered to the past, present and future of the association at the annual AGM and Christmas lunch at the Petwood Hotel in Lincolnshire, wrapping up the year together.

In early 2025, Allie Dunnington gave a talk, in collaboration with the Royal Aeronautical Society in Bristol for the South West region members, about her world record breaking hot air balloon adventures. As of the end of 2025, Allie has now flown her hot air balloon over an incredible 123 countries around the world. She only needs four more countries to equal her late husband’s world record of 127, and we look forward to cheering her on!

Whether your year was one of growth, hard work or occasional opportunities to soar around the skies, here’s to 2026, which promises to be another great year for women in aviation.

Compiled and written by your social media team:
Steph, gained her IMC rating in September
Vero, passed her PPL Skill Test in August
Poppy, winner of the BWPA Hilda Hewlett Young Pilot Trophy Award for 2025