Dear All
Following on from my note last week I wish to provide you with some additional information explaining the glider activity that will take place between now and Christmas.
First at the outset let me remind each of you that Gliders have the highest visibility with our Senior Leadership both in Air Command and the MOD, and we retain their total support to sustain gliding well into the next decade.
Viking
So turning first to Viking. Commercial are actively engaged in outsourcing a comprehensive Viking recovery program. Once the details are agreed I can provided you with further information. We also continue to recover the Vikings with Southern Sailplanes.
Vigilant
22 Trg Gp and 2FTS are :
- Continuing with Vigilant recovery at RAF Syerston
- Undertaking a quick review of the merits of powered and unpowered gliding and powered flight
Reviewing the relative merits of Tutor vs Vigilant
- Producing a generic definition of the gliding (powered/ conventional) requirement for cadets
Once the above work is completed a second piece of work will follow to:
- Review Options (cost, time , risk)
- Mixes of fleets
- Basing
- Sqn attribution
- This work is to be completed before Christmas.
RAF Syerston Activity
Supplementary to this we anticipate Vikings at RAF Syerston soon and once we have refreshed our QGIs we will be inviting some of the Viking Community to RAF Syerston to undertake flying to FAT standard.
We continue to fly our Vigilant alternating between cadets and VGS staff. We soon anticipate inviting some G1/2 Vigilant staff to fly at RAF Syerston. We have secured additional funding (RAFCT) for more staff motivational flying. Details to follow soon from John Bradbury. Finally we are working on a program to deliver a formal part task trainer syllabus to cadets. I am minded some of you are already doing this but we intend to make it a formal element of the VGS training package to cadets in the future. I anticipate having this to you in the New Year.
Personal Note
On a personal note I am well aware of your frustrations regarding recovery of gliders; they are no different to mine. From afar it must seem quite an easy problem to solve. But I can assure you, glider recovery is most probably the most challenging task I and my supporting staffs have had to deal with. Yes we have glitches, mistakes are made, assured deadlines move to the right to name a few. But let me reassure you, some individuals are all working many long hours to solve the problems as quickly as possible.
And from myself, I am personally committed to getting this sorted. My maturity tells me some of you are unhappy with decisions, timing of information etc- I can only do my best which I do with passion and total commitment. That said, whilst I remain on watch, I intend to leave a legacy for ACO gliding that is fun, safe, sustainable and demonstrates we are worthy as a community of the significant investment and confidence placed in us by wider Defence. There are still many hard decisions to come and some of you, most likely, will be disappointed. I sense the future “glider space” is most likely to change, just like the RAF has changed over the years. That said, I encourage each and every one of you to work to the future alongside me and 2 FTS staffs. Moreover, encourage your VGS members to follow and contribute to it success. We must not lose sight we are all in this for the betterment of the air cadet - nothing more nothing less.
Thank you
Comdt 2FTS