Southampton University Air Squadron (SUAS ) is a unit of the Royal Air Force which provides basic flying training, adventurous training and personal development skills to undergraduate students of the University of Southampton, University of Portsmouth, Bournemouth University, Southampton Solent University, University of Chichester and University of Winchester. The aim of all University Air Squadrons is to allow those potential RAF officers to experience service life and to allow them to decide whether they are suited to it. There is no obligation to join up after being a member of a UAS unless an RAF bursary is successfully applied for. SUAS is parented by MoD Boscombe Down where it flies Tutor aircraft.
Training Nights
Training nights are held on Tuesday evenings at MoD Boscombe Down and are compulsory for Officer Cadets. Christmas (Freshers' Camp), Easter and Summer Training periods, each between a few days and a week long in duration are held at MoD Boscombe Down to further the development of members through flying, adventurous training, sport and force development.
Affiliated Units
SUAS parents 2 Air Experience Flight with which it shares aircraft to allow local air cadet units the chance to experience powered flying.
Flying
Students follow a modified form of the Elementary Flying Syllabus covering the basics of flight up to solo navigation exercises. Students who complete this initial syllabus can then progress to the Advanced Flying Syllabus and learn formation flying, aerobatics, and low level navigation skills. Each student is officially allocated 10 hours of flying training each year, though occasionally some flyers exceed this amount. Some individuals apply for a PPL from their flying experience on the UAS.
The flying aspect of the SUAS is overseen by the Commanding Officer (OC SUAS) and the Chief Flying Instructor (CFI), both of whom are RAF Qualified Flying Instructors (QFI). Additional QFIs are sometimes available.
All flying is based at MoD Boscombe Down where the Grob Tutor is used as the instructional aircraft. Previous types operated were the De Havilland Chipmunk and Scottish Aviation Bulldog.
Adventurous Training
SUAS participates in many forms of adventurous training (AT), including climbing, canoeing, kayaking, mountaineering, sailing, ski touring and mountain biking. The squadron's Ground Training Instructor (GTI) facilitates many of the above activities, but most activities and exercises are organised and led by students.
SUAS relies heavily on student instructors for adventurous training (AT). Qualifications can be gained by attending a Joint Services Adventure Training (JSAT) course, which is usually free. Students attending will be taught the necessary techniques for successful and safe instruction in their chosen discipline, and can then lead others on AT.
MEC Cup
In 2009, the Southampton Military Education Committee introduced a competition between the four service units based in the city. Organised by the students in the units, Thunderer Squadron (DTUS) contributed a weekend of AT in the Snowdonia National Park. Each unit had the opportunity to enter one or more teams to show off their planning, navigation and expedition skills. In 2009 Thunderer Squadron took first place in this event. In 2010, SUAS's two teams took the first two positions. In 2011 SUAS won for the second consecutive year.
Expeditions Abroad
In previous years small deployments to Canada, for open canoeing and dog sledding, and skiing in the European Alps have taken place. A week in Germany in the summer of 2010 included rock climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking and paddle sport.
Some students may take the opportunity to travel abroad with regular members of the armed forces. SUAS has been represented in France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy in past years. Student instructors have assisted regular forces to mount expeditions overseas, most recently Rock Climbing high in the Italian Dolomites.
With an enhanced emphasis on expeditions, the RAF no longer supports exclusive downhill skiing and instead focuses on the significantly more arduous ski touring. In January 2011, SUAS and Oxford UAS went on a joint expedition to Sainte Foy for this purpose.
SUAS members had planned several overseas expeditions in 2020 and 2021 such as diving in Malta and kayaking in Canada, however these plans remain on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mountaineering and Rock Climbing
In addition to larger expeditions, weekends in the Snowdonia National Park and Brecons Beacons of Wales to improve climbing and mountaineering skills are a regular occurrence.