Sandy's family have asked us to thank everyone for the wonderful tributes and memories which have been posted on the site.
In accordance with their wishes, the following is released.
FOUNDER DIES BUT SCHOOL LIVES ON
It is sad news that Sandy Thomson, co founder of ATA – Air Training Services, died on 21st December 2003 after several months fighting against cancer.
Upon leaving the RAF after 17 years service he became an instructor at Oxford Training School. This led to jobs in Jordan and Trinidad, and in fact his ground school training expertise was enjoyed around the world including Malaysia, Cyprus and Florida. Returning to England he taught at Bournemouth and White Waltham before setting up ATA at Bagington near Coventry in 1992 with Pete Lines. ATA students benefited from his vast professional knowledge and upon learning of his death, numerous former students posted very kind remarks on
www.pprune.com. Sandy had an incredible knowledge of aviation, and along with the other instructors at ATA was able to teach ground school to hundreds of successful students.
Sandy will be sadly missed at ATA, but his legacy lives on as they proceed to take the next students though JAAs.