1.10 In 2008, after a competitive process, the Department awarded Ascent a 25-year contract to provide core flying training at multiple sites across the UK (Figure 6 overleaf). Ascent's responsibilities include:
• training design;
• providing facilities, such as training devices and simulators; and
• selecting new training aircraft.
1.11 Ascent and its subcontractors provide training services. Ascent manages subcontractors for the Department. The Department's responsibilities include:
• student selection and determining the number of students needed;
• providing military instructors, airfields and fuel; and
• setting training standards.
1.12 The Department has approval rights over Ascent's training design, course material and any documentation that launches a procurement for equipment or services.5 It also manages maintenance and availability of the advanced jet training aircraft, which it bought outside the contract with Ascent under a ministerial direction.6
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5 The Department's approval rights relate to whether training meets applicable standards.
6 A ministerial direction can be requested by an accounting officer when a minister decides to continue with a course of action the accounting officer has advised against. The Hawk T2 advanced jet trainer was bought under a ministerial direction.