The 5th edition of the Carlos Salas Scholarships, promoted by the Spanish Airline Pilots Union (Sepla), the Official College of Commercial Aviation Pilots (COPAC) and Global Training Aviation (GTA), already has its five winners—all young pilots who stood out for their academic records and flight skills.
A total of 67 candidates applied for this 5th edition, a higher figure than in previous years, proving the growth and strong interest this initiative generates among young pilots.
The applicants went through several stages in the selection process, leading up to the final simulator test, where 15 finalists competed. This test included different operational scenarios and evaluated aspects such as piloting technique, procedural application, workload management, communication skills, crew resource management (CRM), spatial orientation, and situational awareness.
A jury made up of a representative from Sepla, another from COPAC, and another from GTA—all pilots with extensive experience—assessed the candidates across the different phases to select the five winners, who will soon begin their type rating course.
The Carlos Salas Scholarships were created in 2022 to help facilitate professional access and development for future generations of pilots, as well as to promote excellence in training. These scholarships aim to provide financial support to those who have chosen a career that requires a high financial investment and lacks any public funding, which represents a barrier for many young people and a loss of talent for the sector.
The winners of the 5th edition of the Carlos Salas Scholarships are:
Ismael Javier Gómez Pérez (Huelva, 2006). He completed his commercial pilot training (ATPL) at FTE Jerez, including a year of university studies at South East Technological University (SETU) in Carlow, Ireland. In January 2026, he obtained his Airline Transport Pilot License.
Javier Sánchez Alcaide (Madrid, 1997). A Business Administration graduate from ICADE, he gained professional experience in various sectors before fulfilling his goal of becoming a pilot, balancing work with commercial pilot training at Aerotec, which he completed in 2025.
Salma Lamrani Belhadj (Barcelona, 2003). She earned her Degree in Commercial Pilot and Air Operations from Rovira i Virgili University-Cesda in 2025 with excellent marks. She completed her Final Degree Project on cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the ACARS system.
Antonio Gambín López (Murcia, 1991). After working as a Civil Guard until 2020 and later as a Police Officer, he started his commercial pilot studies (ATPL) at European Flyers until earning his License in 2026.
Javier Toribio Del Pozo (Zaragoza, 1996). He completed a double degree in Business Administration and Management and Law at the Complutense University of Madrid. He worked in several countries before starting his commercial pilot training (ATPL) at Aerotec and obtaining his License in 2025.
The winners highlighted the value of these scholarships in relieving the financial pressure caused by the lack of public grants for pilot training. Likewise, they highly praised the entire process and believe that its similarity to airline screening tests will be of great help for their professional future. Furthermore, they consider that the prestige of the Carlos Salas Scholarships can provide a significant boost for entering the profession. Each of them will receive a 12,000-euro scholarship to fund the type rating course of their chosen aircraft. The winners will have one year to complete this exam from the moment the scholarship is awarded.
Discover who they are and what the selection process was like in this video:
