East of Scotland Universities Air Squadron
Encyclopedia
The East of Scotland Universities Air Squadron , commonly known as ESUAS [spoken - eez-you-aiiiiii-s], is a squadron within the Royal Air Force
established in 2003 as an amalgamation of "East Lowlands Universities Air Squadron" and "Aberdeen, Dundee and St. Andrew's Universities Air Squadron". It is based at Royal Air Force Leuchars
, in Fife
and flies a fleet of five Grob Tutors. The Squadron has four Flights, A, B, C and D; each with a student Flight Commander (until 2007 there were two flights; Northern and Southern). The Northern Flight served universities in Aberdeen
, Dundee
and St. Andrew's, while the Southern Flight served the four universities located in Edinburgh
), a total of nine universities. ESUAS is also the parent squadron of 12 Air Experience Flight
, who jointly fly ESUAS' Tutor fleet.
A Squadron Leader
is the Commanding Officer
, while ESUAS also has another three Qualified Flying Instructors and a Ground Training Instructor. There are some ninety students and some fifteen civilian support staff who are contracted from Babcock
who purchased and merged with VT Aerospace
in July 2010.
Students volunteer to join ESUAS at their university's Freshers' Fair and then undergo a selection process. If successful they are attested
and join the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
as an Officer Cadet
symbolised by a White Rank Tab. Students in their third and fourth years wear a subtly browner (often mistaken for dirtier) shade of the white rank tab.
ESUAS activities include flying training, sports including Rugby and Football, where students are able to compete against other UAS squadrons at annually held competitions , military
and leadership training
, adventurous training
, charity and community work
and a vibrant social scene. The scope of ESUAS, like other University Air Squadrons
is to let young people experience life in the Royal Air Force
and to develop their skills in the fields mentioned (and other fields near Leuchars as well).
One notable tradition is that ESUAS is well known for singing Auld Lang Syne
in its French form to commemorate Mary of Guise's
siege of Perth Castle on Burn's Night
.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
established in 2003 as an amalgamation of "East Lowlands Universities Air Squadron" and "Aberdeen, Dundee and St. Andrew's Universities Air Squadron". It is based at Royal Air Force Leuchars
RAF Leuchars
RAF Leuchars is the most northerly air defence station in the United Kingdom. It is located in Leuchars, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland, near to the university town of St Andrews.-Operations:...
, in Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
and flies a fleet of five Grob Tutors. The Squadron has four Flights, A, B, C and D; each with a student Flight Commander (until 2007 there were two flights; Northern and Southern). The Northern Flight served universities in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
and St. Andrew's, while the Southern Flight served the four universities located in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
), a total of nine universities. ESUAS is also the parent squadron of 12 Air Experience Flight
12 Air Experience Flight
No. 12 Air Experience Flight is an Air Experience Flight run by the Air Cadet Organisation of the Royal Air Force. Its role is the teaching of basic flying to cadets of the Air Training Corps and Combined Cadet Force from the Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee ATC Wings and CCF from the East of...
, who jointly fly ESUAS' Tutor fleet.
A Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
is the Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
, while ESUAS also has another three Qualified Flying Instructors and a Ground Training Instructor. There are some ninety students and some fifteen civilian support staff who are contracted from Babcock
Babcock International Group
Babcock International Group plc is a British-based support services company specialising in managing complex assets and infrastructure in safety-critical and mission-critical environments. Although the company has civil contracts, its main business is with public bodies, particularly the UK...
who purchased and merged with VT Aerospace
VT Group
VT Group plc was a British defence and services company, formerly known as Vosper Thornycroft. The Company had diversified from shipbuilding into various engineering and support services, becoming involved in many areas of provision through five main operating groups: VT Communications, VT...
in July 2010.
Students volunteer to join ESUAS at their university's Freshers' Fair and then undergo a selection process. If successful they are attested
Attestation
Attestation may refer to:* Attestation clause, verification of a document* Various police oaths in the United Kingdom...
and join the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve consists of a number of groupings of individual military reservists for the management and operation of the Royal Air Force's Air Training Corps and CCF Air Cadet formations, Volunteer Gliding Squadrons , Air Experience Flights, and also to form the...
as an Officer Cadet
Officer Cadet
Officer cadet is a rank held by military and merchant navy cadets during their training to become commissioned officers and merchant navy officers, respectively. The term officer trainee is used interchangeably in some countries...
symbolised by a White Rank Tab. Students in their third and fourth years wear a subtly browner (often mistaken for dirtier) shade of the white rank tab.
ESUAS activities include flying training, sports including Rugby and Football, where students are able to compete against other UAS squadrons at annually held competitions , military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
and leadership training
Leadership
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
, adventurous training
Adventure
An adventure is defined as an exciting or unusual experience; it may also be a bold, usually risky undertaking, with an uncertain outcome. The term is often used to refer to activities with some potential for physical danger, such as skydiving, mountain climbing and or participating in extreme sports...
, charity and community work
Charity (practice)
The practice of charity means the voluntary giving of help to those in need who are not related to the giver.- Etymology :The word "charity" entered the English language through the Old French word "charité" which was derived from the Latin "caritas".Originally in Latin the word caritas meant...
and a vibrant social scene. The scope of ESUAS, like other University Air Squadrons
University Air Squadron
University Air Squadrons are training units of the Royal Air Force which primarily provide basic flying training, force development and adventurous training to undergraduate students at British universities...
is to let young people experience life in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and to develop their skills in the fields mentioned (and other fields near Leuchars as well).
One notable tradition is that ESUAS is well known for singing Auld Lang Syne
Auld Lang Syne
"Auld Lang Syne" is a Scots poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song . It is well known in many countries, especially in the English-speaking world; its traditional use being to celebrate the start of the New Year at the stroke of midnight...
in its French form to commemorate Mary of Guise's
Mary of Guise
Mary of Guise was a queen consort of Scotland as the second spouse of King James V. She was the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots, and served as regent of Scotland in her daughter's name from 1554 to 1560...
siege of Perth Castle on Burn's Night
Burns supper
A Burns supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns, author of many Scots poems. The suppers are normally held on or near the poet's birthday, 25 January, sometimes also known as Robert Burns Day or Burns Night , although they may in principle be held at any time of the...
.