Oxford University Air Squadron (OUAS) onboards University Students across Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. University Air Squadrons play a vital role in inspiring, training, and developing the next generation of Royal Air Force leaders. From leadership training weekends to flying sorties, OUAS delivers a packed programme that blends aviation skills, personal development, and military ethos.
The Squadron aims to encourage students by challenging them both in the air and on the ground, taking them outside of their comfort zones and building resilience, teamwork, and confidence. Many of the activities are based on core RAF principles of leadership, communication, and professional excellence, all of which are reinforced at RAF Benson, the unit’s home base.
OUAS cadets benefit from structured training that includes flying experience in the Grob Tutor T.1 aircraft, adventurous training expeditions, and leadership exercises. These exercises mirror the demands placed on RAF personnel in operational environments around the world.
For many students, joining OUAS provides their first experience of aviation. The excitement of taking the controls of an aircraft, combined with the responsibility of planning and executing sorties, gives students a unique sense of achievement and purpose. The Squadron also supports personal growth through drill, fieldcraft, and adventurous training such as mountaineering, sailing, and expeditions across the UK and Force Development trips abroad. Several current RAF officers began their journey at OUAS, and many reflect on the pride they felt when first donning their flying suit and representing their squadron at public events.
For OUAS alumni, the Squadron is often the first step into a rewarding career with the Royal Air Force. The skills developed – from flying and decision-making under pressure to leadership and teamwork – provide an invaluable foundation, whether cadets go on to serve in the RAF or pursue careers in the wider world.
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