At Ascent, safety, precision, and professionalism are at the core of everything we do. That’s why we’re proud to hold an ISO 9001 certification — an internationally-recognised standard that reinforces our commitment to quality in aviation training.
What is ISO 9001?
ISO 9001 is the global benchmark for Quality Management Systems (QMS). It sets out the criteria for a structured, process-driven approach to managing and improving the quality of services. For us, that means ensuring every flight, every lesson, and every interaction meets the highest standards of safety, consistency, and excellence.
How we apply ISO 9001 in flight training
Achieving ISO 9001 certification in a flight training environment involves aligning our operations with rigorous quality principles. Here’s how we’re doing it:
- Standardised training procedures: From ground school to simulator sessions, to in-air instruction, we ensure all training follows clearly defined, regularly reviewed procedures
- Instructor excellence: We invest in continuous professional development for our instructors, ensuring they deliver consistent, high-quality training
- Student feedback loops: We actively collect and act on feedback from trainees to improve the learning experience
- Safety & Compliance: We integrate ISO 9001 with aviation safety standards and regulatory requirements to ensure nothing is left to chance
- Cross-department collaboration: From operations and scheduling, to maintenance and customer service, every team plays a role in upholding our quality standards
Roles & responsibilities
ISO 9001 is a company-wide commitment, and every team member plays a vital role:
- Senior Leadership: Sets the strategic direction, ensures resources are available, and champions a culture of quality
- Quality Manager: Oversees the QMS, conducts internal audits, and ensures compliance with ISO 9001 standards
- Instructors & training staff: Deliver training in line with approved syllabi and procedures and contribute to continuous improvement through feedback and reporting
- Support teams (operations, admin, maintenance): Ensure that scheduling, documentation, and aircraft readiness all support a seamless and safe training experience
- All employees: Are encouraged to identify opportunities for improvement and uphold our quality values in their daily work
Our Quality Policy
Our Quality Policy is the foundation of our ISO 9001 journey. It reflects our commitment to:
“Delivering safe, consistent, and high-quality flight training that meets regulatory standards and exceeds customer expectations. We are committed to continuous improvement, operational excellence, and fostering a culture where quality is everyone’s responsibility.”
This policy guides our decisions, shapes our processes, and ensures that every student who trains with us receives the highest standard of instruction and support.
Why it matters in aviation
✅ Trust & safety: ISO 9001 reinforces our reputation as a safe, reliable, and professional training provider
✅ Operational Consistency: It helps us deliver a uniform training experience across instructors, aircraft, and locations
✅ Continuous improvement: We don’t just meet standards — we strive to exceed them, every day
✅ Global recognition: ISO 9001 is respected worldwide, giving our students and partners confidence in the quality of our training
ISO 9001 isn’t just a badge — it’s a mindset. As Ascent continues our training journey, we’re building a culture of quality that benefits our trainees, staff, and the wider aviation community.
