Flynqy Pilot Training and Aerobility launch fully funded aviation opportunities for the disabled community at Cornwall Airport Newquay

Flynqy Pilot Training, in partnership with Aerobility – the UK charity dedicated to giving disabled people access to aviation and the wonders of flight – is delighted to announce the official launch of the Cornwall Flying Scholarship, a new initiative providing fully funded aviation opportunities for people living with disabilities in Cornwall and the surrounding area, based at Cornwall Airport Newquay.

The Cornwall Flying Scholarship will offer successful applicants the opportunity to experience the freedom of flight for themselves, while also providing pathways for those who want to develop their aviation knowledge and take their first steps towards learning to fly.

Launching this autumn, the Beginner Scholarship will give successful applicants the opportunity to take to the skies on a 50-minute flight experience from Cornwall Airport Newquay. Designed for people who have never flown in a light aircraft before, the experience offers an opportunity to discover the excitement of general aviation, experience flight from a completely new perspective, and find out whether learning to fly might be for them.

For those who have already experienced flight in a light aircraft, the Intermediate Scholarship provides the opportunity to take the next step in their aviation journey. Successful applicants will receive three hours of fully funded flight training, introducing them to the fundamentals of flying and giving them the opportunity to experience formal pilot training first-hand.

While the Cornwall Flying Scholarship has been established with a particular focus on supporting Cornish applicants with physical disabilities, applications are also welcomed from other eligible members of the local community, including those living with hidden disabilities, disabled ex-Forces personnel and children and adults living with terminal illnesses in Cornwall.

The initiative represents a significant step forward in Flynqy Pilot Training and Aerobility’s commitment to making aviation more inclusive and accessible, ensuring that disability does not have to be a barrier to experiencing the freedom and possibilities of flight.

“We are incredibly proud to be launching these fully funded aviation opportunities in our local community and to be able to accelerate our commitment to making general aviation as inclusive and accessible as possible.

Launching scholarships has always been a long-term ambition for Flynqy Pilot Training, but thanks to the extraordinary generosity of a local aviator, we have been able to turn that ambition into reality much sooner than anticipated.

We couldn’t think of a better time to launch the Cornwall Flying Scholarship than at the end of such an incredible weekend of joint aviation activities with Aerobility and Cornwall Airport Newquay. It has been a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate what can be achieved when organisations come together with a shared belief that aviation should be accessible to everyone.

Whether someone simply wants to feel the excitement of taking to the skies for the first time, or dreams of one day becoming a pilot, we hope the Cornwall Flying Scholarship will give people the opportunity to discover what they are capable of. Sometimes, all it takes is someone to open the door and say, ‘you can do this’ – and we hope this scholarship will be that opportunity for the people of Cornwall.”

Zara Dinnacombe, Accountable Manager, Flynqy Pilot Training

“Aerobility is delighted to partner with Flynqy Pilot Training to offer sponsored flying opportunities for Cornwall based individuals living with a disability. This represents the next step in our journey to further integrate and make aviation accessible for more people with disabilities across the South West.”

Al Rosser, Chief Flying Instructor and Service Delivery Director, Aerobility

“We’re delighted to support the launch of the Cornwall Flying Scholarship and to see this fantastic opportunity being made available to people across our local community. Aviation has the power to inspire, open doors and create new opportunities and initiatives like this demonstrate how important it is to ensure those opportunities are accessible to everyone.

It’s a privilege to be a part of bringing together organisations with a shared passion for aviation and a commitment to making a real difference. We’re pleased that the scholarship will give people in Cornwall the chance to experience the excitement of flying and discover where that first, or next, step in aviation could take them.

We look forward to welcoming the successful scholarship recipients to Cornwall Airport Newquay, seeing them take to the skies and hopefully inspire others to believe that a future in aviation could be within their reach.”

Duncan Healey, Contracts Manager, Cornwall Airport Newquay

The Cornwall Flying Scholarship builds on the collaboration between Flynqy Pilot Training, Aerobility and Cornwall Airport Newquay, bringing together local aviation expertise, incredible facilities and the experience of one of the UK’s leading organisations working to improve access to aviation for disabled people.

How to apply

Applications for the Cornwall Flying Scholarship open today and close on . Applicants must be aged 14 or over and either be living with a disability, be a disabled ex-Forces person, or be living with a terminal illness in Cornwall.

Applications can be made via Aerobility: www.aerobility.com/cornwall-scholarship-application

About Flynqy Pilot Training

Flynqy Pilot Training is Cornwall’s only UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Approved Training Organisation, licensed to conduct flight experiences, private pilot training and training for a range of associated ratings. Operating from Cornwall Airport Newquay, Flynqy benefits from professional airport facilities and an all-weather runway, while offering the opportunity to experience the stunning scenery of Cornwall and Devon from the air.

Find out more at www.flynqy.co.uk

Media contacts

About Aerobility

Aerobility is a UK charity which changes lives by allowing anyone, with any disability, to experience the magic and wonder of flight. The organisation provides access to modified light aircraft and equipment, giving every disabled person the unique chance to spread their wings.

About Cornwall Airport Newquay

  • Cornwall Airport Newquay is Cornwall’s international gateway, connecting the region to key destinations across the UK and Europe. Through seven airline partners, the airport delivers a notable mix of year-round and seasonal routes, including strategic links to hub airports in London, Manchester and Dublin, the latter offering seamless connectivity to the USA. This diversity of choice of airlines represents a significant asset for an airport of its size.
  • The airport provides a friendly, modern, and recently refurbished terminal experience with next-generation security screening, making travel quicker and easier for passengers. Recognised as the second friendliest airport in the world (first in the UK) in a 2025 survey; winners of Airports UK’s Health & Safety Week Award in 2024 and 2025; and winning Gold at the 2025 Cornwall Tourism Awards in the International Tourism category, Cornwall Airport Newquay is committed to delivering safe, welcoming, and efficient operations.
  • With one of the UK’s longest runways (2,744m) and extensive facilities, the airport supports commercial flights, business and general aviation, training, military use, and vital lifeline services including Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust and HM Coastguard. Beyond aviation, the site is a platform for growth – offering significant development land within the Aerohub Business Park and opportunities across aerospace, technology, defence, and clean industries. Cornwall Airport Newquay comes Highly Commended by University of Bath as Local Placement of the Year 2025.
  • Home to Spaceport Cornwall, the UK’s first licensed spaceport, Cornwall Airport Newquay is the nation’s only combined air and space port – positioning Cornwall at the forefront of aviation and space innovation.
  • Our vision is to expand sustainable connectivity and unlock economic opportunity for Cornwall’s communities, visitors, and industries, while investing in facilities, partnerships, and land that enable future growth.

Cornwall Airport Newquay – big capability, local heart, global ambition.

For up-to-date information about Cornwall Airport Newquay’s flight network, see cornwallairportnewquay.com/flights

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