Politicians want answers on future of air training firm

Perthshire politicians are seeking answers from UHI Perth management as the city's Air Service Training firm, a subsidiary of the college, faces an uncertain future.

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First Minister and Perthshire North MSP John Swinney, Perthshire South and Kinrossshire MSP Jim Fairlie and Perth and Kinross-shire MP Pete Wishart last week wrote a joint letter to Perth UHI principal Margaret Cook following the announcement earlier this month it had entered administration.

The three Perthshire SNP representatives have also written to management of the Tay Cities Deal fund to enquire if unallocated funds could be directed to support AST and help secure its future.

Perthshire Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser has also suggested £8.1m earmarked for a Perth College Aviation Academy for Scotland (AAS) scheme could help to restore cancelled training courses.

The long-established Perthairport based training firm Air Service Training (Engineering) Limited (AST) employs 28 people.

The administrator said on April 10 that UHI Perth had provided funding to ensure the BScin Aircraft Maintenance Engineering and Management programme will continue until the end of the academic year, but all other courses were to cease immediately.