Oxford Aviation Training

CAE Oxford, part of CAE Inc., is an ab initio flight training network. It provides integrated aviation training and resourcing services. Professional airline pilots have been trained at the Oxford Aviation Academy flight school since 1961.

OAA operates 125 training aircraft, 64 simulators, and 10 training centers, delivering a portfolio of aviation training courses. OAA's 3 ''ab initio'' airline pilot training schools have trained more than 26,000 professional pilots over the past 50 years. OAA's 7 training centers offer approved airline pilot, cabin crew and maintenance engineer training on a wide range of aircraft types, including Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, BAE Systems, and Embraer.

The Oxford Aviation Academy includes the former Oxford Aviation Training—a commercial pilot training school based at London Oxford Airport in the United Kingdom—and Mesa Falcon Field Airport (Arizona) in the United States; the former SAS Flight Academy; the former GECAT; and the former BAE Systems Woodford, UK Training Centre, all of which are majority owned by STAR Capital Partners of London with a minority stake of less than 20% retained by GE Commercial Aviation Services.

The Airline Pilot Programme First Officer course is a full-time, Integrated Civil Aviation Authority/ European Aviation Safety Agency (CAA/EASA) course leading to the award of a 'Frozen' (becoming unfrozen when the candidate has completed 1500 hours in a multi-pilot environment) Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL).

History

The Oxford Flying Club was opened by the Mayor of Oxford in 1939. However, restrictions placed on civil aviation during World War II curtailed its activities, and the airfield operated as RAF Kidlington for the duration of hostilities. The club reopened in 1947, renamed as the Oxford Aeroplane Club. During the 1950s, it gradually increased its fleet and, by 1960, had become a flying school geared to the training of professional pilots.

In 1961, the flying school's parent company, Oxford Aviation, merged with the Pressed Steel Company to become British Executive Air Services Ltd. (BEAS). Dedicated ground school buildings and student residential accommodation were provided on site, and the first fully integrated Commercial Pilot's Licence (CPL) and instrument rating (IR) courses began in May 1962.

In 1963, the BEAS Flying Training Division was renamed Oxford Air Training School. Since then, over twenty thousand trained commercial pilots and aircraft engineers have graduated from the school. Including the first ever Commercial Space Shuttle Pilot's Licence, which was awarded in 1989. The school changed its name to Oxford Aviation Training (OAT) in the 1990s.

On June 19, 2007, OAT's parent company, BBA Aviation, sold OAT to GCAT Flight Academy (formerly General Electric Commercial Aviation Training, part of General Electric and SAS Flight Academy, part of Scandinavian Airlines System) for $63 million (£32 million). The deal was backed by GCAT Flight Academy's majority shareholder, STAR Capital Partners, an independent venture capital fund.

In early February 2008, GCAT Flight Academy changed its registered name to Oxford Aviation Academy Ltd. OAT's branding and logo adorning the training centre at Oxford and Goodyear Airports were replaced, with the new logo bearing the title 'Oxford Aviation Academy'. The insignia on the tailplanes of its Piper PA-28 Warrior and Piper PA-34 Seneca aircraft were also replaced with the new logo design. The new logo also appeared at the 8 locations formerly named GCAT Flight Academy, including those in Scandinavia and Hong Kong that GCAT purchased from SAS Flight Academy and the Woodford Training Center, purchased from BAE Systems. These changes were a result of both GCAT Flight Academy and Oxford Aviation Training being re-branded as Oxford Aviation Academy.

In 2008, OAA acquired General Flying Services, based in Moorabbin, Victoria, Australia.

In 2020, it was announced that CAE Oxford would close all ground training in early 2021 and move to a new location at CAE Gatwick, ending a legacy of over 50 years.

Fleet

Gallery

File:Piper PA-34 Seneca on the apron of London Oxford Airport, Oxfordshire, UK - 20130124.jpg, Piper PA-34 Seneca at London Oxford Airport
File:Runway of Phoenix Goodyear Airport, Arizona, USA, seen from a Piper PA-28 cockpit - 20120206.jpg, Final approach of RWY03 of Phoenix Goodyear Airport
File:Phoenix Goodyear Airport, Phoenix, Arizona.jpg, Phoenix Goodyear Airport one of the historic flying bases of Oxford Aviation Academy
File:OAAPA.jpg, Piper PA-28 Warrior at Phoenix Goodyear Airport
File:Goodyear.JPG, Piper PA-28 Warrior over Phoenix, Arizona
File:Phoenixgoodyear.JPG, Phoenix Goodyear Airport
File:PA34-200T.JPG, A PA34 of Oxford Aviation Academy at Seneca's ramp at Phoenix Goodyear Airport

See also

* Oxford Airport
* Phoenix Goodyear Airport
* Moorabbin Airport
* British Airways
* European Aviation Safety Agency
*Civil Aviation Authority
*Pilot licensing and certification
* Buckinghamshire New University

References

External links

Official website

{{Coord, 51.8336, -1.3144, region:GB_type:airport, display=title

Aviation schools in the United Kingdom
Education in Oxfordshire
Educational institutions established in 1961
1961 establishments in England
Kidlington