Biccie 74, here is a copy of an email I have sent to the First Minister of Northern Ireland, copied to the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales. I also wonder what the husband and father-in-law of the Honorary Air Commodore in Chief will think when they discover that some wazzers in the ACO have killed off all ACO flying within both future kings principality. Anyway with some Per Ardua Ad Astra maybe we'll get some proper aviation "Venture Adventure" back again.
Annexe 1: Written statement - Mr Julian Brazier, (Parliamentary under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence))
Annexe 2: Percentage efficiency figures, Volunteer Gliding Squadrons (2011, Last figures available, but note that there has been no VGS flying since 2014)
First Minister,
The Air Training Corps in Northern Ireland has been in existence since the early days of the second world war. Among the many activities available to cadets is the opportunity to be provided with gliding induction flights between the age of 13 3/4 and 16 and, from age 16 are able to apply for a gliding course which, if showing the aptitude can lead to them flying solo (long before they can legally drive). Those cadets who show a high aptitude can have further advanced gliding training and where applicable may become staff cadets at the gliding school, eventually rising through the organisation to become instructors themselves.
Gliding training for cadets in Northern Ireland, up until the pause mentioned in the written statement, has been provided by 664 Volunteer Gliding Squadron (VGS) based at Newtownards airfield, with, occasionally, weekly residential courses at Central Gliding School at RAF Syerston in Nottinghamshire.
Many cadets in Northern Ireland have caught the “aviation bug” through flying with 664 VGS and have been spurred on by their desire to continue flying professionally. There are now ex cadets from Northern Ireland flying with the RAF, the Fleet Arm, The Army Air Corps and the Irish Air Corps. Others are flying with the Airlines many on long haul with Virgin Atlantic and British Airways. If you are flying out of the International or City airports and the captain or co-pilot has a Northern Ireland accent, it is highly likely that their interest in aviation was kindled by their first ever flight with 664 VGS.
This has now come to an end. With the ministerial statement the cadets in Northern Ireland are now going to be restricted to applying/competing for what will be much sought after residential courses at the Central Gliding school. If the weather at the time is poor, it is highly likely that the cadets will not complete the course and will return home without their wings and no possibility of being re-coursed. And, of course, for those who show the aptitude, there will be no opportunity to become staff cadets, thus removing the likely first step in their possible future career.
It is worthy of note that these decisions mean that all air cadet flying within the Principality of Wales will cease. With the choice of 661 VGS at Kirk Newton being chosen as the only gliding squadron in Scotland and the problems associated both with the squadron and infrastructure problems at the airfield, it is my contention that this will not happen and that, therefore, there will be no air cadet gliding within Scotland.
This then leads me to think that the organisation and locations of all air cadet gliding will now be England centric brought about by “Little Englander” thinking by those decision makers in Headquarters Air Training Corps (HQAC) and No. 2 Flying Training School. Furthermore the opportunities and advancements offered to English cadets will be denied to those cadets fortunate enough to be living in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.