South Wales Aviation Group: St Athan

Universities of Wales Air Squadron

UWAS is a Squadron of the Royal Air Force's Volunteer Reserve for students from Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Swansea University, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, University of South Wales, Glamorgan University, and Aberystwyth University. It was formed at St Athan on 26/08/63 with five de Havilland Chipmunk T.10s. Scottish Aviation Bulldog T.1s replaced the Chipmunks from September 1974 until they were replaced by the Grob Tutor in June 2000.

UWAS is a mid-size University Air Squadron with a strength of 60 students and 8 staff. Around 25 students are recruited each year from the catchment-area academic establishments. UWAS includes 1 Air Experience Flight (1 AEF) who fly the same aircraft under a mainly cadet flying task. UWAS uses the ATC callsign "UAW" followed by a two digit number.

The following aircraft were used during 2025.

G-BYUE/UE	Grob G.115E Tutor	82090/E	Babcock Aerospace Ltd, Cranwell	Departed

Arrived 22/11/23 from Wittering ..departed 11/07/25 to Boscombe Down

G-BYVB/VB	Grob G.115E Tutor	82112/E	Babcock Aerospace Ltd, Cranwell	Current

Arrived 02/06/25 from Boscombe Down

G-BYVF/VF	Grob G.115E Tutor	82116/E	Babcock Aerospace Ltd, Cranwell	Current

Arrived 04/06/25 from Boscombe Down

G-BYVK/VK	Grob G.115E Tutor	82121/E	Babcock Aerospace Ltd, Cranwell	Departed

Arrived 01/07/24 from Benson ..departed 27/06/25 to Boscombe Down

Picture credit Malcolm Bradbury

G-BYWM/WM	Grob G.115E Tutor	82148/E	Babcock Aerospace Ltd, Cranwell	Current

Arrived 27/06/25 from Boscombe Down

G-BYWR/WR	Grob G.115E Tutor	82152/E	Babcock Aerospace Ltd, Cranwell	Departed

Arrived 16/10/25 from Benson. Departed 22/10/25 back to Benson.

G-BYXJ/XJ	Grob G.115E Tutor	82170/E	Babcock Aerospace Ltd, Cranwell	Departed

Arrived 13/02/25 from Boscombe Down ..departed 11/04/25 to Middle Wallop ..returned 02/05/25 from Middle Wallop ..departed 04/06/25 to Boscombe Down

Picture credit Malcolm Bradbury

G-BYXS/XS	Grob G.115E Tutor	82178/E	Babcock Aerospace Ltd, Cranwell	Current

Arrived 29/08/25 from Boscombe Down

G-BYXT/XT	Grob G.115E Tutor	82179/E	Babcock Aerospace Ltd, Cranwell	Departed

Arrived 13/03/24 from Middle Wallop ..departed 02/06/25 to Boscombe Down

G-CGKW/KW	Grob G.115E Tutor	82322/E	Babcock Aerospace Ltd, Cranwell	Departed

Arrived 18/07/25 from Boscombe Down ..departed 28/07/25 to Boscombe Down

G-JPVA/XW289/73	BAC Jet Provost T.5A	EEP/JP/953	Horizon Aircraft Services	Current

Gate Guard

Picture credit IanG

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Notice to Readers: You are fully welcome to use information from our site, all we ask is that the South Wales Aviation Group are credited. Please don't copy whole sections of the blog for use on your own site. The site is produced by aviation enthusiasts for aviation enthusiasts and is not intended for official use in any way ..regards the SWAG team.

Editorial Information: In the "Editors on Line" section on the sidebar you will see a list of the SWAG editors currently online, the star * next to one of their names denotes the editor who has primacy at the time and any emails/information should be directed to that person. The editors are: Stu, Phantom2, AndyD , and MikeyF (future events) ..contributing photographers are: StuC, IanG, RichT, Mark Pearce, Matthew Blunt, Hugh Trainer, Ginge Little, Angelo Harmsoworth, Keith Morgan and Phil Watkins

Please continue to send in your pics for use as the header. I would like them cropped to as near to 1600X500 as possible as this makes it easier for me to edit and fit on the site. I will try and change the picture every Sunday ..Regards IanG

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MOD St Athan Information - EGSY 07/25

To spot here you're best off taking the B4265 St Athan to Llantwit Major road. From here you will see a railway bridge that leads to a paved track that runs along the fence and runway. This track leads to an unmanned entrance gate and is under CCTV surveillance. If you use this track, please park at the far end, not on the verges, as it is used by wide farm vehicles and delivery lorries. All a/c in outside storage can be seen from the bridge itself. The track can also be accessed via St Athan village via Llantwit Road opposite the Church. To view the Caerdav hangar (Twin Peaks) and scrapping area continue westbound along the B4265, past the West Gate entrance and turn right at the traffic lights. Follow this road to the T-junction and turn right onto the new road. The entrance road to the South Wales Aviation Museum is left at the next traffic lights, views can also be had from here as it's the only convenient stopping place. Be aware there are regular Security and Police patrols around the airfield and you may be stopped and questioned.

Frequencies in use are:

122.865/419.1125 Tower/Ground

241.125 Tower (as directed)

130.560 ATIS

Click HERE for residents

OTT Information

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Here we will list some frequencies and other information to help those who like to spot aircraft on the upper airways & tacan routes over Southwest Britain

Swanwick Mil

128.700 Southwest sector
133.300 Southwest sector
133.900 Daventry sector (Includes TR1 VLN-BZN)
135.150 Southwest sector (Includes TR1 LND-VLN)
252.875 Daventry sector (Includes TR1 VLN-BZN)
278.600 Southwest sector (includes TR1 LND-VLN)
280.350 Mid Wales sector

London Control

126.075 Berry Head sector (South of Cardiff -FL305)
127.700 Spare frequency (for unservicabilities and emergencies)
128.815 Berry Head sector (South of Cardiff FL305+)
129.375 Strumble sector (West of Cardiff -FL305)
132.950 Lands End sector (Southwest of Cardiff all levels)
133.600 Brecon sector (North -FL335, East FL265-FL335)
134.460 London Upper sector (FL305+ from Compton East)
134.750 Sector 23 (for Cardiff BCN-ALVIN deps -FL265)
135.255 Strumble/Brecon (West, East and North, FL335+)

North Atlantic Oceanic Clearances

123.950 (aircraft registered West of 30 degrees West)
127.650 (Aircraft registered East of 30 degrees West)

Western Radar

132.3 (for aircraft wishing to join or leave Controlled Airspace)

London Information

124.75 (for low level traffic not receiving a LARS service)

For more information on the area covered click on the "airways map" tab at the top of the site.

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