Ascent Flight Training

Aiden, Ascent's very first apprentice, reflects on his first year with us, in this great piece from Weston College, where he studies. For Aiden, one of the biggest benefits of an apprenticeship is being able to combine academic study with practical experience. He said: “Learning and working inside industry can provide skills and experiences not found elsewhere." A valued member of the Ascent team, Aiden's fresh thinking and innovative ideas clearly demonstrate the business benefits of apprenticeships - and we are delighted to have him on board. 👏

Ascent's Qualified Flying Instructors are proud to deliver Elementary Flying Training to the next generation of frontline aircrew from our sites at #RAFCranwell and #RAFBarkstonHeath. We believe the best careers combine professional excellence with meaningful impact and at Ascent you'll help shape the future of military aviation, while being empowered to support the communities around you. What's the view from your office window? https://lnkd.in/eaMi8RcD #UKMFTS #AviationCareers #FutureAviators

As we move towards the start of our new mission aircrew training system at #RNASCuldrose and #RAFCranwell, we are delighted to have reached a new milestone, with the Course Implementation Compliance Demonstrations (CICD) for both the 416 RAF Weapon Systems Officer Mission Systems Course and the 417 Royal Navy Observer Mission Systems Course successfully completed. The successful outcomes represent a major milestone in the modernisation of UK Military Mission Aircrew ISR training and demonstrates the strong collaboration between industry and defence partners. Both courses are scheduled to commence formal delivery in November 2026, utilising the newly introduced Ground Mission Trainer alongside 4 x modified Avengers. Together, these capabilities provide an advanced and highly integrated training environment, enabling aviators to develop and refine mission systems competencies on a high-fidelity platform before progressing to Operational Conversion Units. The enhanced training approach, is designed to deliver trainees to the final phase of their training pipeline, with an improved baseline of mission systems knowledge and operational proficiency, ultimately increasing readiness and effectiveness as they transition to frontline aircraft.

The Ascent team at #RNASCuldrose are always keen to tackle new experiences and were delighted to take part in the recent Cornwall Business Challenge, stepping out of their comfort zones for a day of demanding outdoor challenges. A true collaboration across Ascent, our military colleagues and suppliers Draken, the Culdrose team demonstrated how successful partnerships are built on trust, communication and teamwork, while raising money to support #BFAdventure's work with young people across Cornwall. The team faced a variety of physical and mental challenges designed to test their resilience, problem-solving abilities and team cohesion. From navigating caves and squeezing through tight underground passages, to tackling water-based and engineering-inspired tasks, every activity required them to work together and support one another to achieve a shared goal. Congratulations to all for embodying the collaborative spirit that exists at Culdrose! 🎉#UKMFTS #CornwallBusiness #BusinessChallenge #TeamBuilding

It won't be long until the first #UKMFTS trainees begin our new mission aircrew training system, and building work on new infrastructure at #RNASCuldrose and #RAFCranwell is progressing well. At Culdrose, we are working towards building completion in the spring, with the ground floor largely skimmed and the first-floor partitions continuing. The brickwork is now up to the top of the windows on the ground floor and glazing has commenced. The externals continue at a steady pace with the removal of legacy structures in readiness for the commencement of the hard and soft landscaping. The new operational support base has been named the St Merryn Building. St Merryn is a tiny, picturesque village in North Cornwall that has been associated with 750 NAS since RNAS St Merryn airfield was home to the reforming of the Squadron in 1952. At Cranwell, the construction phase is fast approaching conclusion, with Babcock International Group and Kier Construction starting to demobilise and reinstate the area. The new Hay building honours FS John Hannah VC, who was the youngest recipient of the VC for aerial operations, and Air Cdre Nick Hay, who was the ISTAR Fce Cdr from 2018 to 2022, during which time he was a staunch supporter of ISTAR MA. The new mission aircrew training system will bring substantial advances to training at both Culdrose and Cranwell, enhancing the UK’s key defence capabilities and investing in local communities. The massive scaling of this service will result in a four-fold increase in critically important mission aircrew trainees to 140 per year for the Royal Navy and RAF. It will deliver the latest training advances through UKMFTS, to meet growing ISTAR and UAS demands of the military frontline.

As part of our role as Training Service Partner under the UK Military Flying Training System (#UKMFTS), it is important that Ascent engages with industry and is familiar with the range of training aircraft and associated training systems currently available on the market. This is even more essential following the announcement in the Defence Investment Plan of the UK’s Jet Training System programme, replacing the Hawk T1 & T2, whilst we await confirmation of the procurement approach. Many of these training aircraft were showcased at this year’s Farnborough International Airshow #FIA2026. Following previous visits to the International Flight Training School in Italy to fly the M-346, and to Sacheon in the Republic of Korea to fly the T-50, Ascent recently had the privilege of visiting Turkish Aerospace (TAI) facilities in Ankara, where QFI Gary Clark got to experience the Hürjet 001 first hand. Great credit to TAI for the remarkable progress achieved with Hürjet and its wider portfolio of aerospace platforms. Thanks to the entire TAI team for their hospitality and openness throughout the visit. We have been consistently impressed by the professionalism, transparency and warm welcome extended by all of our industry partners as we continue this journey. Ascent's next stop is Switzerland, to see first hand how Pilatus is approaching 5th-generation fast jet training through its PC-21-based training system.

Great article from the #RIAT team on Ascent and its sustainable flying training.

We are always delighted to support the amazing work carried out by the Jon Egging Trust, helping young people build skills and confidence.

How experienced are our instructors? Well Ascent #RAFShawbury QHI, Chris Hearn, has just reached the amazing milestone of 9,000 flying hours, while conducting a Double Head Circuit sortie with two current 2MAW trainees #UKMFTS. Chris began his aviation career in 1987, after completing pilot training with the Army Air Corps, and has enjoyed a distinguished 39-year flying career, including numerous overseas deployments and command appointments at both unit and squadron level. In 1999, he achieved the prestigious A1 Qualified Helicopter Instructor grading, a testament to his exceptional instructional ability and professional standards. Chris’s 9,000-hour milestone reflects not only remarkable skill and dedication, but also the lasting impact he has had on generations of military aviators throughout an outstanding career. Congratulations Chris! 👏🚁

Graduations are a great reminder of why the Ascent team do what we do! Congratulations to all our #UKMFTS trainees who are graduating this summer, including those on Courses 310-28 and 310-29 from the Texan Basic Fast Jet Training Programme at #RAFValley. Reviewing Officer, Air Vice-Marshal Ian Sharrocks, Air Officer Commanding 22 Group said: “These graduates have shown the skill, resilience and determination needed to succeed in military aviation. They represent the very best of our future fighting capability and the next generation of combat aircrew who will defend the UK and its interests.” Graduates included Flt Lt Arshdeep Singh Dang, the first Sikh trainee to graduate on the Texan aircraft at 4FTS under UKMFTS and the first Sikh to be awarded RAF wings since WWII. He told the Indian Express: “It was my paternal grandfather Sardar Santokh Singh Dang’s dream that my father should be a pilot. But my grandfather died when my father was just 6. So my father never really had those opportunities or resources to fulfil his wish. My parents encouraged me, and I started to believe that I could be a pilot. And it happened.”