Meet The Team
Ollie Desforges
Health and Safety Manager
Ollie has worked in aviation for over 15 years and currently works for an international airline flying long-haul on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. He completed his first solo on the Vigilant motor glider while on a gliding scholarship with the air cadets. After which, he then stayed on with the gliding school and became a gliding instructor. He then went on to get his professional licence at FTE Jerez before joining a UK regional airline flying the Dash-8 Q400 Turbo Prop. After being stationed at various locations around the UK, he eventually ended up in Glasgow as a Line Training Captain and working for the Flight Safety Department before moving on to flying the 787. His favourite destination is Japan.
David Boyle
Director/ Owner
David has been involved in aviation for over 12 years and works for an international European airline flying short to medium haul on the Boeing 737-800. He completed his first solo on the Cessna 152 during his PPL(A) at Barton airfield. He then went on to get his professional licence via the modular route studying at CAE Oxford Aviation, Bartolini Air and Simtech before joining an Irish airline flying to destinations all over Europe. He established Ascent Aviation Ltd in 2018 to create a community that promotes, helps and inspires aviation enthusiasts, young and old from all backgrounds.
Lisa Callaghan
Operations Manager
From checking-in for your flight until the final landing, Lisa strives to make sure each and every one of our customers receive a first class experience with us at Ascent Aviation. Lisa graduated from the University of Stirling with a bachelor’s degree in Geography and decided to join Flybe, in 2015, as Cabin Crew. Like many, Lisa caught the flying bug and fell in love with working in the skies. She was based in Edinburgh, flying on the Dash 8 Q400, for over 4 years before she pursued her travelling dream by joining Virgin Atlantic where she was trained to fly on the B787, A350, A340 and A330 from London Heathrow. The Covid-19 pandemic clipped Lisa’s wings and she joined Ascent Aviation as our full-time Bookings & Events Manager where she still loves to deliver a first class service to our customers in the (virtual) skies!
Tony Clark
Instructor (A320)
Tony currently flies the Airbus A320 aircraft for an international airline flying both short and medium haul routes. After leaving school he obtained his private pilots license and went on to study aeronautical engineering. Shortly after graduating he moved to New Zealand to complete his professional license through CTC Aviation. On returning to the UK he was offered a flying job and subsequently spent a number of years at various locations around the UK, before finally getting the opportunity to return back to Glasgow, where he is currently based. Tony still has fond memories of his first solo, which was here at Glasgow and despite having flown throughout Europe and the USA and providing the Scottish weather allows, he is still biased towards Scotland when it comes to his favourite views whilst flying.
Ashleigh Connolly
Part-time Receptionist
Ashleigh has worked as our part-time receptionist since 2019, she is an aviation enthusiast and keen traveller, having flown across the world to the likes of Dubai, New Zealand and various parts of Europe. Ashleigh graduated from Glasgow University with a honours degree in International Supply Chain Management, whilst working full time in the health care sector. Ashleigh enjoys welcoming customers of all ages for the trip of a lifetime!
Connor McNally
Instructor (A320)
Connor started flying at the age of 16 but his love of aviation started from as early as he can remember. Becoming a pilot was always a dream for Connor and after obtaining his Private Pilots Licence at the age of 18, he went on to train at CTC Aviation (L3 Harris) where he completed his Airline Pilot Training, graduating in 2016 after 8 months of flying in New Zealand as well as theory and instrument training here in the UK. Connor's airline career started with easyJet, based in Glasgow, flying the Airbus A320. He flew for easyJet all over Europe for almost 4 years before moving to Virgin Atlantic on the Airbus A330 to fly long-haul, unfortunately losing his position there due to COVID. Connor loves to welcome customers of all experiences and backgrounds to our brand new A320 simulator and show them how to fly the advanced passenger jet.
Kriss Armstrong
Instructor (B737)
& fATPL Scholar
Kriss, like most pilots, wanted to fly for longer than he can remember and has a complete fascination for flight. His career in aviation began at the only logical place – The Airport. Working as a flight-dispatcher at Glasgow Airport enabled him to gain invaluable knowledge into the life of an airline pilot…His conclusion? It was definitely for him. Serendipity at play, He met David on a flight over to Dublin, and by the end of which, had secured a job in his exciting new enterprise - a place young aspiring pilots could only dream of working. Ascent Aviation has flourished since the doors opened and Kriss is delighted to now be working as part of a Zero to ATPL(f) scholarship which will enable him to develop from student pilot status to fully-fledged airline pilot.
Steve Slater
Instructor (B737)
Steve has been an aviation enthusiast since he was 5 years old which led on to him joining the Air Cadets in 2006. After gaining his PPL from Sherburn, Yorkshire, he then continued his Commercial training and Instrument Rating abroad in Sweden at Diamond Flight Academy during the Winter of 2019. He is currently employed by a UK based airline in Glasgow on the Boeing 737 and works part time instructing at Ascent Aviation.
Maarten van Leeuwen
Instructor (B737)
Maarten has been active in the Aviation Industry since 2015 after graduating from the CAE Oxford Aviation Academy in Amsterdam. In 2015 he moved to Scotland to start his career with Flybe on the Dash 8 Q400. At the end of 2017, Maarten moved back to his home country to fly the B737NG for Transavia based at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport flying all over Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. In 2020, Maarten joined British Airways on the Queen of the Skies, the B747, but unfortunately, he was not able to finish his training due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Maarten works part time at Ascent Aviation sharing his experience on the B737NG with all our customers.
Eunan McColgan
Instructor (B737)
Eunan has been in commercial aviation for 8 years and is currently a First Officer on the Boeing 737 for a large holiday airline. During school he was a member of the Air Cadets before studying Aeronautical Engineering and joining the Universities of Glasgow & Strathclyde Air Squadron. He then gained a place on a part-sponsored ATPL course, going on to fly as a First Officer and then Captain on the Dash 8-Q400 based in Glasgow before joining his current airline. So far, his career highlight has been spending the winter based in Montreal, Canada, flying the B737 to destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico.