Our Team | ACS Flight Training

Meet the Team

Graeme Frater - Managing Director

Co-founder of the parent company and CEO of ACS Aviation with over 24 years experience within the industry. Graeme has developed excellent working relationships with key companies over the years and has experience working with several airlines and ATO's throughout the UK and Europe. Graeme is responsible for the day to day operation of the entire business and responsible for ensuring safety is the number one priorty.

Craig McDonald - Group Technical Director

Co-founder of the parent company, Cloud Global Group, Craig offers a wealth of knowledge with almost 20 years experience in the aviation industry. Craig's background is in aircraft maintenance, MRO management and he is also a commercial airline pilot. Craig is responsible for all technical and engineering services including business development, projects, acquisitions, leasing, training and recruitment.

Louise Ewart - Sales Director

Louise Ewart has a background in the travel services industry and airline management. Louise has managed teams of specialist consultants and overseen group sales and the teams delivery of strategic products. Louise works with the senior management at ACS and is responsible for sales and marketing.

Philip Morritt - Head of Training

Philip Morritt has been instructing in the UK and Ireland for over 20 years. As well as teaching students undertaking the PPL, CPL MEP, IR and Flight Instructor courses he has also flown as an air taxi pilot. Philip has years of experience and has been involved in Commercial Air Operations and is also the Safety Manager.

Andrew MacMillen - Chief Flight Instructor - PPL

Chief Flying Instructor (PPL), Flight Instructor and CAA Flight Examiner, Ground Examiner and Aviation English Examiner. Andrew holds UK CAA, EASA, FAA and Hong Kong CAD Flight Instructor qualifications. Has instructed in the USA, Germany, Hong Kong and the UK.

Charlie Marshall - Chief Flying Instructor - Commercial

Charlie has been instructing full time since 2018. He has taught PPL, CPL and currently delivers MEP and IR courses. He has been flying privately for over 30 years and also runs an aircraft leasing business.

Jeni Malloch - Operations Manager

As Operations Manager, Jeni is responsible for running the schools ground operations. Jeni liaises with our team of flight instructors and aircraft engineers each day to discuss issues, oversee all major operational decisions and devise solutions to problems that arise. Jeni is also responsible for student welfare and course admissions.

Erin Harvey - Training Manager

Erin Harvey is our Training Manager. Erin is responsible for the onboarding and enrolment of new students and the planning / co-ordination of our flight training courses. Erin supports the flight operations department and helps to ensure we operate an efficient schedule while supporting students through their training journey from enrolment through to graduation.

Ian Weinstein

I started my flying career in 1978 and progressed to Owner/CFI at Halfpenny Green Flight Centre until 1999. The last 12 years I have been a CPL, MEP, and IR Instructor with over 14000hr experience. I am a Flight Examiner for PPL, CPL, IR(R), IRE (initial IRT and Re validation/Renewals).

Bill Stewart - Commercial Instructor

Bill has been instructing in the UK and for over 30 years. As well as teaching students undertaking the PPL, CPL MEP and IR courses he has also flown commercially in a wide variety of aircraft from MEP to medium jet. He has also been a post holder responsible for pilot training within ATO and AOC operations.

Bass Channells - Commercial Instructor

Bass started flying in his home town of Stellenbosch, South Africa in 2011 and went on to instruct in the Cape Winelands in 2015. After moving to the UK in 2017 and completing ATPL exams, he flew and instructed out of London Elstree before trading the city skyline for Perth early 2022.

Ken Peach - Commercial Instructor

Ken is a time served, career instructor, with over 30yrs of instructing experience, over 25 yrs at commercial level and at various major established training organisations. Teaching from PPL level and to both integrated and modular ATPL MEIR level.
Over the years he has held the positions of CFI and Stds Manager at various training organisations, he has helped countless students along the path to realising a career in commercial aviation.

Shashank Pratapa- Instructor

Having completed his CPL, ME-IR & FI courses at ACS, Shashank joined the team at ACS as an FI to spread his passion for aviation to the future pilots. Flying for over 12 years, he is a keen glider pilot and a mechanical engineer.

Ian Corse - Instructor

Ian started flying in 2000. Post-PPL he progressed onto the Piper PA28 and started an IMC rating in 2002. In 2006 he passed the AOPA approved aerobatics course. Ian is also the chairman of the Perth Airport based, Scottish Aero Club and has been instructing at ACS Aviation since 2020.

Ian Buchan - Instructor

Ian gained his PPL in 1993 at Sherwood Flying Club at Tollerton Airfield near Nottingham. He then flew thereafter for 15 years as a hobby, including flying safari trips, with his family, around Australia, Canada and the US. After early retirement in 2008 Ian spent the next two years training as an EASA SEP Flight Instructor, he quotes ''a tough, but enjoyable and rewarding experience''. Ian then instructed for 4 years at Sherwood Flying Club and has spent the last three years at Perth after moving back to his home country.

Benjamin Penner - Instructor

Benjamin started his flying career Jan 2021 and completed the ACS Fast Track course Dec 2022. Then having discovered a love of flying small planes in bonnie Scotland, he’s now become a Flight Instructor at ACS to spend more time doing just that.

Iain Hutchison- Instructor

Iain’s 1st flight was at age 14 from Dundee, he’s now quite a bit older. He flew with East Lowlands University Air Squadron (ELUAS), gained his PPL in Florida in 1995 then juggled recreational flying with work and family. He enjoys flying his replica Spitfire over Scotland and feels particularly privileged to be able to help new pilots as a part time ACS instructor.

Matthew Newton - Instructor

Since childhood, Matthew been passionate about aviation. He took his first flying lesson at 17 and subsequently completed my commercial flight training here at ACS. He is now an instructor at ACS, a role that allows him to inspire and mentor the next generation of pilots, sharing not only his knowledge and experience but also his enduring enthusiasm for flying.

Dave Finlay - Instructor

Dave first took wing in 1971, as he quotes ''just after the aeroplane was invented'' Dave has been instructing since 2006 and, he says flying is a true passion of his and will always be with him!

Neil Cole - Instructor

Neil took his first flight with the Air Cadets at the age of 14, and aviation has been a passion ever since. After university, he spent three years teaching English to kids in Vietnam, and then decided to come back to the UK and make aviation his career. Having completed the Fast Track ATPL programme at ACS, he was offered an opportunity to stay on as an instructor, and comments ''its an enormous privilege to help students from all over the world get their own pilot journeys off the ground''

Craig Harvie - Instructor

When Craig started high school his brother introduced him to a flight simulator on the PC which kickstarted his passion for aviation. Since then he has completed his PPL, ATPL theory, CPL and Flight Instructor Rating which now allows him to pass on knowledge and the passion for aviation.

Jeremy Hawksworth - Instructor

Jeremy is a part time flying instructor with ACS. He also works as an airline pilot flying the B737NG around Europe.

Andi Howie - Instructor

Andi started flying in 1993 when he used a bank loan meant for a car to pay for a PPL. He worked his way up to an ATPL and has flown the B737 commercially around Europe, The Middle East, Africa and India. His flying focus is now on instructing and hopefully passing his knowledge and experience to future aspiring pilots and having fun whilst doing it. ''I love adventure, travel and new experiences and flying allows me to have all of that everytime''.