Flight Operations Training Inspector

Civil Aviation Authority; Gatwick; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is recruiting a Flight Operations (Training) Inspector in the Gatwick area. The role focuses on regulatory oversight of UK Approved/Declared Training Organisations and pilot training providers, ensuring training complies with UK aviation standards and safety requirements.

You will interact with senior aviation professionals, assess training programmes, and contribute to improving safety through regulatory oversight and governance.

Qualifications

• Hold or have held UK CPL/IR or ATPL (aeroplane/heli)
• Significant experience as flight instructor and/or examiner
• Experience in a management position within an Approved Training Organisation or similar aviation environment
• Strong understanding of UK pilot training, testing and licensing requirements
• Experience with safety management systems, compliance monitoring or governance
• Strong written communication and analytical skills
• Ability to make balanced regulatory decisions based on evidence and requirements

Responsibilities

• Conduct oversight activities for UK flight training organisations and language testing bodies.
• Assess effectiveness of safety and compliance management systems.
• Evaluate training programmes, manuals, procedures and regulatory submissions.
• Assess proposed key personnel such as Accountable Managers and Heads of Training.
• Conduct onsite inspections, audits and training observations.
• Support investigations into significant regulatory non-compliance.
• Influence training organisations to improve safety and compliance.
• Contribute to application of Performance Based Oversight within the UK aviation system.

Skills

Regulatory oversight

Aviation safety

Regulatory decision making

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

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Flight Operations Training Inspector

Date: 29 Oct 2026

Location: Gatwick, GB

Flight Operations Training Inspector (5683)

Salary: Upto £61,000 dependent upon experience

Contract Type: Full Time Permanent

Security Level: CTC

Location: Gatwick / Hybrid with regular travel across the UK and occasional overseas travel.

Visa Restrictions: This position does not currently offer visa sponsorship

Your application cover letter must state: your current or previous pilot licence held (if applicable), flight instructor and/or examiner qualifications, and your experience within a flight training organisation.

We are the UK's aviation and aerospace regulator and recognised as a world leader in its field. Our activities are diverse, enabling the aviation industry to meet the highest safety standards, and we pride ourselves on our ability to adapt to the constantly evolving aviation environment.

The Role

Help shape the future of UK flight training

The UK Civil Aviation Authority is seeking an experienced aviation professional to join its Flight Operations ATO & FCL Team as a Flight Operations (Training) Inspector.

This is a specialist regulatory role responsible for the oversight of UK Approved Training Organisations (ATOs), Declared Training Organisations (DTOs) and other pilot training and testing providers. You will work with senior leaders across the flight training industry to ensure that pilot training is delivered safely, compliantly and to the very high standards required by UK aviation legislation.

The role provides a unique opportunity to influence standards across the UK pilot training system and contribute directly to aviation safety. However, this not an airport security, aviation security, passenger screening, customer service or general compliance position.

You will join a team responsible for overseeing the maintenance and improvement of s tandards within the UK's pilot training system. The role offers varied and challenging work, significant professional autonomy and the opportunity to contribute directly to aviation safety at a national level.

• Conduct certification, approval, acknowledgement, audit, inspection, and other oversight activities for UK flight training organisations and language testing bodies.
• Assess the effectiveness of organisations' safety and compliance management systems.
• Evaluate training programmes, manuals, procedures and regulatory submissions.
• Assess proposed key personnel including Accountable Managers, Heads of Training, Chief Flying Instructors and other nominated key position holders.
• Conduct onsite inspections, audits and training observations.
• Support investigations into significant regulatory non-compliance where required.
• Influence training organisations to improve safety performance and regulatory compliance.
• Contribute to the application of Performance Based Oversight within the UK aviation system.
• Provide regulatory expertise on pilot training and flight crew licensing matters.

About You:

As a Flight Operations (Training) Inspector, your influence extends far beyond a single organisation. Your decisions and oversight activities help ensure that future commercial, private and professional pilots receive training that meets demanding UK standards.

You will engage directly with accountable managers, compliance managers, safety managers, heads of training, chief flying instructors, examiners and senior aviation professionals across the sector. The role combines technical aviation expertise, regulatory application, clear judgement and strategic influence.

You will normally have substantial experience in professional pilot training, flight instruction, flight examining, training management or aviation regulatory oversight. You will be able to demonstrate most of the following:

• Hold or have previously held a UK or equivalent CPL/IR or ATPL (aeroplane and/or helicopter).
• Significant experience as a flight instructor and/or examiner.
• Significant experience in a management position within an Approved Training Organisation, Declared Training organisation, Commercial Air Transport operator, military training organisation or equivalent aviation environment.
• Strong understanding of UK pilot training, testing and licensing requirements.
• Experience of safety management systems, compliance monitoring or organisational governance.
• Strong written communication and analytical skills.
• Making balanced regulatory decisions based on evidence and regulatory requirements.

Experience in one or more of the following areas would be advantageous:

• Head of Training, Flight Examiner, Chief Flying Instructor or Chief Theoretical Knowledge Instructor experience.
• Regulatory oversight or auditing experience.
• Aviation safety investigation.
• Development or implementation of management systems.

Travel

The role requires travel throughout the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Occasional overseas travel may also be required.

Additional Information

For many appointments within the CAA, these roles require access to operationally sensitive infrastructure and/or Nationally Protected information. For these roles the post holders must undergo National Security Vetting and achieve the appropriate level of clearance. To be vetted we will usually expect a reasonable period of residency in the UK so that meaningful checks can be undertaken.For this role this will need to be 3 years.

If you do not meet these requirements, we may not be able to accept your application.

The CAA is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and ethical conduct. To help ensure transparency and protect the independence and reputation of the CAA, candidates invited to interview will be required to complete a Declaration of Interests form, disclosing any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest that could influence, or be seen to influence, their ability to perform the role objectively and impartially.

Relocation & Property
The CAA will be relocating from Aviation House (Our Gatwick Office) to new premises in a few years’ time. Our move is driven by strategic, operational and environmental considerations. We will be moving to a new local home, up to a 15-mile radius of Aviation House, to minimise disruption for our valued colleagues and customers. We are now working with colleagues and visitors to understand what we need in our new office, before we start our property search. We will sell Aviation House and land, vacate the site and move to new premises, but we do not expect to move before 2028

Inclusive Recruitment

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcome applications from all backgrounds. As a Disability Confident employer, candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be guaranteed an interview. Find out more about the Disability Confident Scheme . If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

Use of Artificial Intelligenceby candidates in the CAA recruitment process

We recognise that many of our candidates find Artificial Intelligence to be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factuallyaccurateand taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has beenidentified(presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected on that basis.

Working With Us

Explore What We Offer section on our careers website to find out about our benefits and how we support work-life balance.

Our Values
Do The Right Thing, Never Stop Learning, Build Collaborative Relationships, Respect Everyone – For more information please Click Here

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