ABOUT THE 'AIR PILOTS' The Honourable Company of Air Pilots (HCAP) was established (as the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators, commonly known as GAPAN) in order to represent pilot and navigator interests within all areas of aviation. The majority of its members are, or have been, professional licence holders, operating aircraft in the airlines, corporate aviation and all branches of Her Majesty's armed forces. There are also many private licence holders, who are not full-time professional airmen, flying in every area of general aviation, sporting aviation and recreational flying. The particular strength of the Air Pilots is its diverse spread of members and interests in all the various areas of contemporary aviation. This, together with an entirely apolitical outlook and a constitution which forbids it from engaging in trade union activity, enables the Air Pilots to form and to promote a truly unbiased, professional and experienced view on operational aviation matters. The principal activities of the Air Pilots are centred on sponsoring and encouraging action and activities designed to ensure that aircraft are piloted and navigated safely by aviators who are highly competent, self-reliant, dependable and respected. The Air Pilots fosters the sound education and training of air pilots and air navigators from the initial training of the young pilot to the specialist training of the more mature. Through Charitable activities, education and training, technical committee work, aircrew selection, a multitude of scholarships and sponsorships, advice and recognition of the achievements of fellow aviators world-wide, the Air Pilots keeps itself at the forefront of the aviation world.
