Perth airport-based ACS Aviation, which employs over 40 people in Scotland, has successfully recruited trainee aircraft mechanics who will learn their trade over three years within its Part 145 division, ACS Engineering. COO Craig McDonald reports that more than 100 young people expressed interest in the jobs.

Trainee aircraft mechanic positions give successful candidates the opportunity to achieve their aircraft maintenance engineers licence whilst working and earning. ACS has partnered with Air Service Training (AST) College, also based at Perth, to deliver the modular training for the three-year programme.

McDonald goes on to say that many people had asked why the company was hiring in the teeth of the COVID-19 crisis, which has left the aviation industry reeling. “There’s a very simple reason for that; this is a three-year programme,” he comments. “We were planning for the long-term when we decided to hire the trainees.”

ACS Aviation is set to expand its flight training capabilities by adding additional aircraft to the fleet in 2020. In addition to that the company is currently in talks with several airports throughout the UK to expand aviation operations in 2021. Scottish Enterprise has welcomed the news, saying: “It’s a huge vote of confidence in the aviation sector.”