One Team, One Mission: To provide Total Support to No 1 Flying Training School at RAF Linton-on-Ouse. 

The role of VT Aerospace at RAF Linton-on-Ouse is to provide sufficient airworthy Tucano aircraft to meet the Basic Fast Jet Training task of No 1 Flying Training School and to supply full engineering and logistics support to the Station. We, and the Training Aircraft Integrated Project Team which is also located at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, have a partnering agreement to devise and implement the most cost effective methods of providing all aspects of Tucano support. VT Aerospace is proud to be part of the excellent working relationship with the Royal Air Force and of our part in providing successful flying training at RAF Linton-on-Ouse.

Andrew Garner BSc CEng MRAeS is the Contract Manager for VT Aerospace’s contracts at RAF Linton-on-Ouse and is also the Station’s Chief Engineer. He joined VT Aerospace after 23 years in the Royal Air Force as an engineer officer and most recently as the head of the Tucano Support Authority in the Training Aircraft IPT. His previous RAF appointments included engineering management on a variety of aircraft types including Phantoms, Hawks and Tornados in the Falkland Islands where he was the Commanding Officer of the Joint Logistics Unit. His VT Aerospace team at Linton-on-Ouse operates in 3 main departments:

- Engineering Operations

- Second Line engineering

- Station Support.  

Engineering Operations

Lead by Bob Holt, Engineering Operations provides direct engineering support to the day-to-day flying activity on the Station of up to 80 flights per day. The department comprises Aircraft Rectification which undertakes all of the corrective maintenance on the aircraft and the Flight Line which carries out all of the support necessary to keep the aircraft operating on the busy flight line.

Second Line Engineering

Second Line Engineering is managed by Bernie Bakes and comprises Scheduled Maintenance where the in-depth servicing of Tucano aircraft and their structure, engine, electrical and radio systems are carried out; Second Line Support which maintains Survival Equipment, ejection seats, canopies small arms, ground equipment and also undertakes aircraft repaints; and finally Engineering Co-ordination and Planning which ensures it all works in perfect harmony.

Station Support Services

Procurement and supply, motor transport, Air Traffic Control Engineering, photography and domestic cleaning services are provided by the Station Support Services Contract under the management of Mike Smales. Mike also provides logistics support to the Tucano aircraft fleet with the help of VT Aerospace’s Logistics facilities based at Ferndown in Dorset                       

Human Resources                                     

Our Human Resources department lead by Sandie Welsh provides comprehensive administrative and personnel support to our staff including recruitment. VT Aerospace has a wide range of employment possibilities at RAF Linton-on-Ouse and speculative CVs are always welcome (send them to Tessa Rumbelow, VT Aerospace, RAF Linton-on-Ouse, York YO30 2AJ. Email: tessa.rumbelow@vtplc.com).

VT Organization

VT Aerospace has several other important contracts around the world and is itself part of the wider VT Group, a leading defence and civil contractor focusing on technical and other related support services, shipbuilding and marine products in a global network with headquarters in the UK. See our Website www.vtplc.com/aerospace for further details.