Advice please on RAF Air Cadets - CGI?

[peterkdoyle]

Hi I'm hoping that somebody can guide me please - on where I can complete a conversion training course on a Grob G109B/Vigilant T1, so that I might be able to be considered as a Civilian Gliding Instructor (CGI), with the RAF Air Cadets? I know that the nearest station is the former RAF Abingdon, 612 VGS.

I am a CI with my local Wantage (1861) Squadron in the Thames Valley Wing, helping deliver the BTEC ground school programme in Aviation Studies. I have 220 hours on a UK PPL/ Night Rating, mainly on PA28's Warriors, (however out of currency by 3 years). I am also a College Lecturer delivering Business & Entrepreneurship programmes, to 16 to 25 years old students.

I'd appreciate any advice on where I might be able to re-validate and up-skill myself in the Easter/ Summer holidays in 2013.

Thanks!

[Skymong]

So you are looking at getting a civilian gliding instructor rating, or converting your civvie rating to a mil one?

Try Wyvern gliding club, they have a 109: Wyvern Home (http://www.wyvernglidingclub.co.uk/)

Otherwise try contacting the JSAT Gliding Centre, I believe they run instructors courses.

[airborne_artist]

From Air Cadets - Join as a Civilian Gliding Instructor (http://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/wanttojoin/civilianglidinginstructor.cfm)

"You have to be a pilot already, right? No! If you are aged 18-55 and show real aptitude we'll teach you.

Of course it'll help if you already have flying or gliding experience, but we are more interested in developing your potential if we think you have what it takes to pass the skills you learn on to our cadets."

[360BakTrak]

Go to see the guys at 612 on a Saturday or Sunday morning, ask for Flt Lt Peter Mockeridge who, I believe, is the CO. Very nice man who should be able to help.

[si.]

The fact that you are already a CI, and therefore 'on the books' and hold the relevet security clearance, makes the process a lot simplier. As a posting on a VGS is an extra duty, you wouldn't need to appear on their establishment.

As has been stated, arrange to speak with the VGS CO or CFI, who will guide you through the process. I don't recall a conversion proceedure, as civilian ratings didn't carry any 'points' in the CGI training process. You'd still be required to complete the required number of flights to pass each stage of training, although passing should be much easier!

When I was active on a VGS, a CGI candidate who could already fly, was snapped up before they changed their mind...:ok:

Edit: I'd be surprised if Flt. Lt. Mockeridge was OC 612, as OC VGS is a Sqn Ldr post, but I'm sure he'll be able to help.

[tmmorris]

Sqn Ldr Mockeridge is indeed the OC. Give him a call.

Tim

[360BakTrak]

Sorry....he was a Flt Lt when I was there years ago! Obviously been promoted.

[Birthday Boy]

If you can permit a bit of thread drift, I was interested to see 1861 Wantage Squadron Air Training Corps appear on this forum. I was a cadet in the squadron back in 1957 although technically it was the detached flight at Didcot.

FltLt Authur Simmons was the CO of the Wantage squadron and FltLt Bob Gardner was the CO of the Didcot detached flight. I think that it was about 1960 that the detached flight was renamed 2410 Didcot sqn.

Thanks for evoking some very pleasant memories.

[dead_pan]

You may consider joining Oxford Gliding Club at Weston-on-the-Green to up your hours and gain an instructor rating. Very helpful bunch of blokes, and membership is as cheap as chips.

[peterkdoyle]

I'll drop into see the 612 VGS guys over Xmas.

All the best :ok:

Peter