The Aerial Erector School (AES) is located at the Joint Services Signals Organisation (JSSO) Digby, based in Lincoln. The AES is part of the Communications Electronics Basic Training Squadron (CEBTS) at RAF Cosford, and is primarily responsible for conducting Basic and Further Training Courses for Trade Group 4 (TG4) RAF Aerial Erectors. AES also provides specialised training courses in Climbing Aptitude, Scaffolding, and Climbing and Working at Height to meet the requirements of Defence Estates ‘Safety Rules & Procedures 07’ (SRP07).

The school is also one of the few specialist-training providers to offer an in-depth course in Advanced Fibre Optics, which includes both Single and Multi Mode Fibre systems. In addition to military personnel, the school is able to train civilians drawn from a wide variety of commercial companies, many of who require their job applicants to be graduates of the school.

AES have a staff of 21 and currently run 9 courses with a maximum class size of 12 and are also an approved centre with Edexcel and City & Guilds awarding bodies, enabling them to provide the Communications Apprenticeship to the trade. To keep abreast of rapidly developing technology, AES continues to seek ways of improving the service it provides, as well as keeping its achievement of accreditation of Investors in People and BS EN 9001 standards.

In addition to refining its syllabuses, AES continues to plan new projects to enhance its training facilities; these have recently included the improvement of its engineering training workshops and commissioning the construction of a new field store/training room, designed to enhance the external training phase of their courses.