Air Service Training
Encyclopedia
Air Service Training is an organisation in Perth, Scotland
, that has been training engineers and pilots for airlines, maintenance organisations and the military since 1931. It is owned by Perth College UHI, with training taking place on the college campus and at Perth Airport
, near Scone
.
standards. These range from introductions to aircraft systems and maintenance processes to approved courses needed for Licensed Aircraft Engineer (LAE) status. They include: approved IR Part 66 Category A; approved IR Part 66 Category B; Category B sandwich course, non-certifying courses and modular courses.
AST also runs academic courses up to BEng(hons) degree in aircraft maintenance. EASA
licences are generally regarded as suitable qualifications for beginning a career in aviation.
These courses are approved by the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA)
.
and EASA
and meets the JAR-147 requirements to deliver and assess the JAR-66 Ab-Initio course. It has also gained approval under EASA IR Part 147 regulations and is the preferred training provider of national and international companies, such as Cathay Pacific, British Airways, BMI British Midland, EasyJet and Bristow Helicopters Ltd.
AST has also been the preferred training provider for aircraft engineer licensing for several military and governmental organisations, including the Royal Flight of Oman, Kuwait Air Force and the British Army Air Corps.
As well as approved courses for engineer licensing, AST also provides customised training for individuals and organisations, including aircraft mechanics, aeronautical fundamentals and helicopter maintenance fundamentals.
Air Service Training was originally Airwork Services Training
, and at various times was part of the British & Commonwealth group and Bristow Helicopters Limited
. After its flying college closed, the aeronautical engineering college became a wholly owned subsidiary of Perth College in September 1996. At this point it became Air Service Training (Engineering) Ltd, and has recently started to provide flight training again.
, holder of records for flying to Australia and Japan, and Sir Alan Cobham
, founder of the flying circus and the Cobham Company.
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
, that has been training engineers and pilots for airlines, maintenance organisations and the military since 1931. It is owned by Perth College UHI, with training taking place on the college campus and at Perth Airport
Perth Airport (Scotland)
Perth Airport is a general aviation airport located at New Scone, northeast of Perth, Scotland. The airport used by private and business aircraft, and for pilot training...
, near Scone
Scone, Scotland
Scone is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. The medieval village of Scone, which grew up around the monastery and royal residence, was abandoned in the early 19th century when the residents were removed and a new palace was built on the site by the Earl of Mansfield...
.
Engineering Training
Working with the College, AST delivers aeronautical engineering courses for professionals so they can meet European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)European Aviation Safety Agency
The European Aviation Safety Agency is an agency of the European Union with offices in Cologne, Germany, which has been given regulatory and executive tasks in the field of civilian aviation safety. It was created on 15 July 2002, and it reached full functionality in 2008, taking over functions...
standards. These range from introductions to aircraft systems and maintenance processes to approved courses needed for Licensed Aircraft Engineer (LAE) status. They include: approved IR Part 66 Category A; approved IR Part 66 Category B; Category B sandwich course, non-certifying courses and modular courses.
AST also runs academic courses up to BEng(hons) degree in aircraft maintenance. EASA
European Aviation Safety Agency
The European Aviation Safety Agency is an agency of the European Union with offices in Cologne, Germany, which has been given regulatory and executive tasks in the field of civilian aviation safety. It was created on 15 July 2002, and it reached full functionality in 2008, taking over functions...
licences are generally regarded as suitable qualifications for beginning a career in aviation.
Flight Training
Flight training and ground school studies for professional pilots are delivered by the flight training part of AST, in partnership with Air Charter Scotland (ACS). They take students through the Private Pilot Licence (PPL), Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) theory ground school, Commercial Pilots Licence (CPL), Multi-Engine Rating (ME), Instrument Rating (IR) and the Multi-crew Co-operation Course (MCC).These courses are approved by the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA)
Joint Aviation Authorities
The Joint Aviation Authorities, or JAA, was an associated body of the ECAC representing the civil aviation regulatory authorities of a number of European States who had agreed to co-operate in developing and implementing common safety regulatory standards and procedures...
.
Approved Courses
AST has approval to run courses from ARB, CAA, JAAJoint Aviation Authorities
The Joint Aviation Authorities, or JAA, was an associated body of the ECAC representing the civil aviation regulatory authorities of a number of European States who had agreed to co-operate in developing and implementing common safety regulatory standards and procedures...
and EASA
European Aviation Safety Agency
The European Aviation Safety Agency is an agency of the European Union with offices in Cologne, Germany, which has been given regulatory and executive tasks in the field of civilian aviation safety. It was created on 15 July 2002, and it reached full functionality in 2008, taking over functions...
and meets the JAR-147 requirements to deliver and assess the JAR-66 Ab-Initio course. It has also gained approval under EASA IR Part 147 regulations and is the preferred training provider of national and international companies, such as Cathay Pacific, British Airways, BMI British Midland, EasyJet and Bristow Helicopters Ltd.
AST has also been the preferred training provider for aircraft engineer licensing for several military and governmental organisations, including the Royal Flight of Oman, Kuwait Air Force and the British Army Air Corps.
As well as approved courses for engineer licensing, AST also provides customised training for individuals and organisations, including aircraft mechanics, aeronautical fundamentals and helicopter maintenance fundamentals.
History
The Aeronautical Engineering College, founded by John Davenport, opened in 1934 at Hamble in Hampshire and operated there until 1960, when it moved to Perth Airport. More than 12,000 engineers and pilots from 150 countries have been trained as a result.Air Service Training was originally Airwork Services Training
Airwork Services
During the post-war period Airwork also further expanded its business into civil aviation. This expansion was financed by its wealthy shareholders, including Lord Cowdray, Whitehall Securities, the Blue Star shipping line, Furness Withy and Thomas Loel Evelyn Bulkeley Guinness.Airwork's other air...
, and at various times was part of the British & Commonwealth group and Bristow Helicopters Limited
Bristow Helicopters
Bristow Helicopters is a British helicopter airline originally based at Aberdeen Airport, Scotland, part of the Bristow Group based in Houston, Texas, USA....
. After its flying college closed, the aeronautical engineering college became a wholly owned subsidiary of Perth College in September 1996. At this point it became Air Service Training (Engineering) Ltd, and has recently started to provide flight training again.
Famous Former Students
Former AST aviation students include: The Hon Mrs Victor Bruce, the first female pilot to circumnavigate the globe; Amy JohnsonAmy Johnson
Amy Johnson CBE, was a pioneering English aviator. Flying solo or with her husband, Jim Mollison, Johnson set numerous long-distance records during the 1930s...
, holder of records for flying to Australia and Japan, and Sir Alan Cobham
Alan Cobham
Sir Alan John Cobham, KBE, AFC was an English aviation pioneer.A member of the Royal Flying Corps in World War I, Alan Cobham became famous as a pioneer of long distance aviation. After the war he became a test pilot for the de Havilland aircraft company, and was the first pilot for the newly...
, founder of the flying circus and the Cobham Company.