STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS

Yesterday, the Oxford Airline team had the honour to host the 59th alumni reunion of BA1 - who completed their training at the Oxford Air Training School (OATS) from 1967-1968. This course was often referred to as the 'long course' or UK CAA CAP509. 

This particular '509' course was significant and pioneering - being the first sponsored course that comprised 25-cadets from both BOAC and BEA as a 'Joint Airways' scheme at OATS alongside the renowned COAT Hamble (Southampton) courses. They also lived in a newly built 'Langford Hall' (which many former Oxford cadets may remember with 'fondness'). Graduates from this course went on to fly 'golden age' turbine aircraft types such as: VC10, Tristar, Trident, Vanguard, B737, B777, B747 - how fortunate were they!

Spending the whole day with us at Oxford, the BA1 Alumni relived fond memories of the Kidlington airfield, viewed the control tower/RADAR and were reminded once again of the PA30 Twin Comanche from their own MEP training era. Within the OAT airline training centre, they flew our B737NG, A320 and DA42 simulators - a far cry from the LINK trainers they used way back then. And they could all still fly - very well!

The day was supported by the current British Airways Head of Training, Mark Smith and our OAT team: we heard about many enthralling experiences. We applaud their inauguration of BA sponsored training at Oxford, their unique airline flying career successes as well as the inspiration they provided to the three young trainee pilots who helped this 59th year of reunion together to be such a joyful occasion.