About us

Created and based in the UK, AirTanker Services (ATrS) provides the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) service to the UK Ministry of Defence, under a 27-year Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract with an estimated value of £13bn.

ATrS is a joint venture Company owned by five shareholders*. Once operational we will be responsible for providing the RAF with safe, reliable and efficient air-to-air refuelling and troop transport service with 14 Airbus A330-200 aircraft - the first of which will be delivered in 2011. We will also provide a support service, including the construction of a state-of-the-art two-bay hangar, training and maintenance, flight operations and fleet management, plus ground services which will enable air-to-air refuelling and air transport missions.

As we move towards full operational capacity, we will increase our team to over 500 personnel - of which approximately half will be seconded from the RAF. The remainder will be a mixture of Sponsored Reservists and civilian staff. This is where you come in.

* NB: The five shareholders and the key services they will be offering are:

Cobham plc will be providing the Air to Air Refuelling (AAR) equipment and supporting it throughout the contract;
EADS NV will acquire the green aircraft (aircraft straight off the assembly line) and convert the first two military tankers;
Rolls Royce will provide the engines and then support them throughout the contract;
Thales UK will provide most of the military avionics and then provide through-life support for them. Thales will also provide a state-of-the-art training facility for Aircrew and ground staff;
VT Group plc is responsible for the re-provided facilities and infrastructure, including Communication and Information Services (CIS), Motor transport (MT) and Ground Support Equipment (GSE).