Join Us

New members join the Air Squadron at the start of the first term of the academic year. Due to the benefits available for being a member of an Air Squadron there are more applicants than there are places available. For this reason there is a selection process for prospective members.

Benefits

The benefits of joining a University Air Squadron are not limited to the free flying instruction that you will receive:

Financial

Students are paid for the time that they spend participating in Squadron activities. This includes but is not limited to: time spent flying, time spent representing the squadron at sporting events, time spent on military adventure training courses and expeditions, and time spent at formal Air Squadron functions such as the Annual dinner. The rate of pay is from £37 - £59 per day depending on your status on the squadron. The maximum number of days pay that can be accumulated in any one year is 30, depending on activities attended. An additional Training Bounty is also awarded, if enough time is dedicated to squadron duties.

The Squadron will also reimburse any travel costs and expenses incurred in getting to and from official Squadron activities. This includes travel from your own University to town nights, or from your home to out of term time activities such as flying camps, sporting events or adventure training expeditions.

Career

Whether or not you end up joining the Royal Air Force, membership of MASUAS will be of huge benefit in later life. It impresses employers, and you will gain priceless teamwork and leadership skills, all taught by some of the finest instructors in the world.

Social

The friends you make in MASUAS, thanks to your shared interests and enthusiasms, are likely to be friends for life.

Recruitment

If you are interested in joining Manchester and Salford University Air Squadron then come and visit us at any of the Freshers' Fayre events we will be visiting next year where a current undergraduate or staff member will be happy to talk to you. We will be recruiting from Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan and Salford Universities from the 19-22 September 2011.

Alternatively, during freshers week you can find us at:

Manchester: University Barracks, Boundary Lane, Manchester, M15 6BL

Salford: University House (University of Salford Student's Union), Peel Park Campus, Salford, M6 6AL

Queen's University: Please contact us here

If you are unable to make it to any of the events we are attending then please do not hesitate to get in contact with us.

Eligibility

To join a UAS you must become a member of the Volunteer Reserve. Membership entitles you to fly in military aircraft of the RAF and you must also satisfy age, educational, and nationality requirements.
Broadly speaking this means you need to be:

• Older than 17 and a half years on joining.

• A full time undergraduate with 2 A levels or equivalent, studying for a first degree with at least 3 terms remaining before graduation and not on a Foundation Year.

• A citizen of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth or of the Republic of Ireland.

• A member of one of the Universities we serve: University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Salford or Queen's University Belfast.

If you are not a member of one of these Universities but still interested in joining a UAS then have a look at the websites of one of the other UASs, the addresses of which can be found here.

In addition, there are certain basic health and fitness requirements that must be met in order to be elgible.

Selection

Notes for Applicants

Every year many more people than we can accept apply for squadron membership. This means that the competition for places is high. However, to ensure your application is given the best chance of success, please adhere to the following instructions promptly and accurate, ensuring you are on time for your interview. The notes overleaf should help you prepare for the main selection interview.

We will contact you to let you know if you have been selected for interview shortly after the Freshers' Fairs; however, you may contact us at any time to seek further information.

The Interview

When you come for interview please bring your birth certificate and two recent passport photographs. The interview will be conducted in a fairly formal manner, will last about 45 minutes and will include questions covering the following topics:

• Your background

• The schools you attended and what activities you were involved in whilst there.

• What hobbies and activities you undertook outside school.

• What positions of responsibility you have held.

• What other activities you are involved with at University.

• A few questions about the RAF and current affairs.

• Finally you will be asked why you want to join our Squadron and why you think you are worth the money we would spend teaching you to fly.

In general we are looking for young men and women who have both an interest in flying and the potential to be future officers and aircrew. Applicants should be sociable, enthusiastic, self-motivated and good team members who are keen to attempt something new and challenging. Previous flying experience however is not required - all we seek is potential.

If successful at the main interview, you will then be asked to forward documentation to your family doctor in order to confirm your fitness to join the UAS.

Successful candidates will then be ready to join the squadron.