About This Role
Leading Edge Aviation (LEAL) is recruiting a Deputy Chief Flight Instructor (Deputy CFI) for its flight training academy, based mainly at the Oxford campus (London Oxford Airport) with regular visits to the Alhama campus in southern Spain. The Deputy CFI supports the Chief Flight Instructor in the delivery, oversight and continuous improvement of flight training operations, maintaining instructional standards, supervising Flight Instructors and ensuring efficient training delivery across both campuses. The post-holder deputises for the CFI in their absence and contributes to strategic training development in alignment with the Head of Training. It is a permanent, full-time, onsite role of 40 hours per week spanning operational support, instructor supervision, student progress oversight, safety and quality assurance, leadership and administrative duties.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Operational support: assist the CFI in managing day-to-day flight training operations, including scheduling and resource optimisation of aircraft, simulators and instructors, and monitor training progress to intervene early where performance or scheduling issues arise.
- Instructor oversight: supervise, mentor and support Flight Instructors in maintaining instructional quality and adherence to SOPs, conduct lesson observations and provide feedback, and support the CFI with line-management duties including annual reviews and performance management.
- Student training: review student progress, liaise with instructors to ensure timely completion of training phases, and conduct or supervise flight assessments, progress checks and remedial training sessions.
- Safety and standards: promote and reinforce LEAL's Safety Management System (SMS) and Threat & Error Management (TEM) principles, and support incident/accident investigations and dissemination of safety learnings.
- Quality assurance: collaborate with the Head of Standards to ensure compliance with NAA regulations and LEAL documentation, and assist in developing, reviewing and revising SOPs, training syllabi and instructional materials.
- Leadership and development: lead by example, uphold the company's core values, and represent the CFI in meetings, briefings and when liaising with national aviation authorities and external stakeholders.
- Transition support: liaise with the Chief TKI and ground school team to prepare students for flight training.
- Administrative duties: support reporting, records maintenance and regulatory documentation, and assist with course planning, instructor rostering and evaluation of training outcomes.
What We Offer
Competitive salary up to £65,000 plus a bonus schemecommitment to personal and professional development25 days' holiday entitlement (increasing with service) plus public holidaysan additional 'Airspace' wellbeing dayenhanced sick pay and leavea pension scheme with enhanced employer contributionslife assurance of 2x annual salarycritical illness coveraccess to an Individual Assistance Programme and lifestyle discountsa cycle-to-work schemefree on-site parkingand an employee referral scheme.
Requirements
- Applicants must hold an EASA or UK CAA Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) with valid Flight Instructor ratings relevant to LEAL's training courses, and be eligible to hold or obtain EASA/UK FCL.900(c) approval.
- A minimum of 1,000 hours PIC is required, including at least 500 hours of instructional time (of which up to 200 hours may be instrument ground time).
- Candidates need proven experience in a professional flight training environment with demonstrable instructional and supervisory capability, strong interpersonal, organisational and decision-making skills, a commitment to safety, continuous improvement and student success, proven ability to mentor and support individuals and teams, excellent written and verbal communication, and demonstrable alignment with the company's core values.
- Beneficial (not required) qualifications include experience working across multiple training locations or international campuses, familiarity with LEAL's operational systems and learning environment, a previous leadership or deputy role within an ATO, a dual CAA and EASA licence, and Flight Examiner and FIC/FIE qualifications.
About Leading Edge Aviation
Leading Edge Aviation is a firmly established pilot training academy based at London Oxford Airport and Alhama, Southern Spain, offering comprehensive integrated and modular training programmes with an emphasis on holistic pilot development through 'The Whole Pilot®' Approach.