Phillip Ashley-Smith comes from a Royal Air Force family – his father and uncle having flown DH Mosquitos post-war – but he chose a different path and joined the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm as a Helicopter Navigator and Weapons Systems Operator.
After completing his UK military service, Ashley-Smith relocated to Switzerland, earning both his Fixed Wing and Helicopter Licences along the way. He joined Swissair in Zürich Flight Operations as a Flight Planning and Ops Control Officer. In 1992, he was seconded to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to establish ship-based helicopter food airlift operations, initially in Somalia and subsequently in other African conflict zones.
Having gained extensive experience in challenging operational environments, particularly across Africa, Ashley-Smith became Flight Operations Manager at Zimex Aviation. There, he oversaw operations of Twin Otter and Pilatus Porter aircraft for oil companies, the United Nations, ICRC and other NGOs specialising in difficult or conflict-affected regions worldwide.
In 1998, he founded the PAS Aviation Group and has served as CEO for over 27 years, steering the company through the ever-changing landscape of the aviation industry. With multiple companies across Europe, the PAS Aviation Group offers deep expertise in cross-border employment and airline operations, as well as aircraft and helicopter brokerage and asset management through a globally connected network. The Group has maintained a strong affiliation with ERA over many years.
Through the consulting arm of PAS Aviation, Ashley-Smith has held roles such as Head of Sales and Marketing at Swissair Flight Support, established partnership networks for NetJets Europe and Bombardier Flexjet Europe, and served as interim COO for Pilatus UK. These mandates have provided him with broad and in-depth experience across the aviation sector and a robust network of industry connections.