Job Advert
Fixed Wing Training Captain
National Police Air Service (NPAS)
NPAS East Midlands Airport, with some national travel required
Full-time | Permanent
CLOSING DATE: 10th May 2026
SHAPE THE FUTURE OF POLICE FIXED WING AVIATION TRAINING.
NPAS is the national provider of police air support across England and Wales. We operate a unique and demanding aviation environment where safety, professionalism and operational impact are critical.
We are now seeking an experienced Fixed Wing Training Captain to join our national Training Department in a key leadership and assurance role.
This is a specialist aviation training post, suited to a highly experienced fixed wing pilot with instructor and examiner credentials, who is motivated by developing others and maintaining the highest training standards in a regulated environment.
About the role:
Reporting directly to the Head of Training, the Training Captain (Fixed Wing) is responsible for the delivery of fixed wing pilot training and regulatory flight examination activity in line with CAA requirements, NPAS Operations Manual and Approved Training Organisation (ATO) standards.
Alongside core training duties, the role also includes flying as a rostered NPAS Fixed Wing Line Pilot, with the balance between training and operational flying determined by the Head of Training to meet organisational need. Management and professional oversight for this role sits wholly within the Training Department.
This role will require flexibility to travel across England and Wales.
What you’ll be doing:
Delivering fixed wing pilot training and conducting regulatory flight examination checks
Supporting the development and continuous improvement of NPAS training standards and materials
Ensuring consistency, compliance and safety across NPAS fixed wing training delivery
Representing NPAS Training at internal and external forums as required
Flying as a Line Pilot when rostered, providing operational air support in accordance with NPAS procedures and Flight Time Limitations
Championing professionalism, inclusion and a strong safety culture.
Who we’re looking for:
This role requires specialist fixed wing qualifications and experience. Applicants must meet the essential licensing and experience criteria outlined below – these are not transferable from rotary-wing roles.
Essential requirements include:
A valid UK Part FCL CPL with MEP (Land) class rating, single pilot instrument rating (multi-engine)
A valid FI(A) with IR privileges or a CRI(ME) and IRI(A) to include night instruction capability
A valid CRE(A) licensing certificate with IRR for MEP(land) and OPC privileges
A valid UK Class 1 medical for single pilot operations carrying passengers
Minimum 2,000 total flying hours, including 1,000 hours PIC (overland) with significant multi-engine, night and low flying experience
Recent, demonstrable experience in a training and examination environment
Strong communication skills and the ability to operate confidently in a regulated aviation setting
Previous police or equivalent special mission flying experience is desirable but not essential.
Why NPAS?
This is a rare opportunity to work in a national aviation capability that directly supports policing and public safety. You’ll play a key role in shaping the competence, confidence and professionalism of NPAS fixed wing pilots nationwide.
The post is suitable for job share.
West Yorkshire Police is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce and the National Police Air Service (NPAS) is proud to serve all communities across England and Wales. We are committed to building a service that reflects a wide variety of skills, perspectives and backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Backgrounds, females, and those with disabilities who are currently under-represented within West Yorkshire Police and NPAS. Disability is not necessarily a bar to application or success in this role and all applications are assessed individually. By addressing and improving our representation we can better reflect all the communities we strive to serve. Please contact our Resourcing team if you have any questions relating to this, or you wish to discuss reasonable adjustments in the recruitment process or beyond into role. All applications will be fairly and rigorously assessed by West Yorkshire Police / NPAS.
Applicants should be aware that it is not always possible to carry out adequate vetting checks on persons who have not been resident within the UK for the last five years. Therefore, where this applies, applicants may be refused because it was not possible to vet them to the appropriate standard.