Air Cadets grounded?
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ATC and CCF
ATC and CCF back flying at an AEF near me since Aug 13 and the cadets enjoying it. The cadets (circa 45K UK wide) are very keen and the adult staff (circa 10K UK wide) likewise… I understand nearly 1000 first flight certificates have been issued to cadets at one AEF alone..! The ACO organisation is very much on the up.
As for OC 2 FTS… he wasn't always been an air defender I believe so should know his way to his wallet..!
As for OC 2 FTS… he wasn't always been an air defender I believe so should know his way to his wallet..!
the AD does give a time limit to comply, so they have actual been stricter than the AD requires.
True, but can one really fault them for this? The actual impact of grounding the aircraft is nil (other than frustration/disappointment) whereas the potential fallout from a mishap had the aircraft kept flying is enormous.
True, but can one really fault them for this? The actual impact of grounding the aircraft is nil (other than frustration/disappointment) whereas the potential fallout from a mishap had the aircraft kept flying is enormous.
Not in the slightest, as a Camo myself I can't quibble with sound judgement
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I have it on good authority from the organisation that maintains the Vikings that the grounding of the Viking fleet had absolutely nothing to do with the EASA AD!!!! Something to do with maintenance procedures and paperwork.
They got audited. There were 'findings'. They decided not to fly until some processes and procedures were intro'd or changed to be 'compliant'.
Pretty much the way civvy CAT Ops work, except only in severe cases do you stop flying immediately. Since the Cadets weren't likely to have been stranded in Malaga/Falklands etc - the immediate fix option was taken.
Pretty much the way civvy CAT Ops work, except only in severe cases do you stop flying immediately. Since the Cadets weren't likely to have been stranded in Malaga/Falklands etc - the immediate fix option was taken.
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The CO of my old ATC Sqn didn't seem to appreciate the "Air" part - all he wanted to do was field a team for the Nijmegen marches. He didn't like it when I told him that if I'd wanted to do a lot of "walking about wearing green" I've joined the Pongo cadets and that there was "a good reason why we wore blue".
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Beagle,
the 'air' bit of the ACO is both expensive and hugely rationed - when they aren't doing 'air' they have to be given something else to do, otherwise they walk.
the ATC Sqn i was previously involved with - a big, successful Sqn with lots of 'air minded youth' - was getting squatt-diddly flying or even station visits: no AEG, very little AEF, no opportunity flights.
as a cadet 20+ years ago most of the kids in my sqn over 16 had gliding wings of some type, AEF would have been every 3-4 months, AEG every 6 weeks or so, opportunity flights happened every 4 weeks or so and we did camps at places like Lossie, Marham, Odiham etc.. now? 2, perhaps 3 out of 50+ might have a gliding qual, you might get an AEF at camp, and that camp would probably not be at a flying station.
green stuff, shooting, AT etc... is cheap, and it can be organised without wondering whether someone else will cancel it without notice - little wonder its what gets done.
the 'air' bit of the ACO is both expensive and hugely rationed - when they aren't doing 'air' they have to be given something else to do, otherwise they walk.
the ATC Sqn i was previously involved with - a big, successful Sqn with lots of 'air minded youth' - was getting squatt-diddly flying or even station visits: no AEG, very little AEF, no opportunity flights.
as a cadet 20+ years ago most of the kids in my sqn over 16 had gliding wings of some type, AEF would have been every 3-4 months, AEG every 6 weeks or so, opportunity flights happened every 4 weeks or so and we did camps at places like Lossie, Marham, Odiham etc.. now? 2, perhaps 3 out of 50+ might have a gliding qual, you might get an AEF at camp, and that camp would probably not be at a flying station.
green stuff, shooting, AT etc... is cheap, and it can be organised without wondering whether someone else will cancel it without notice - little wonder its what gets done.
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Cokecan
Your comment - "green stuff, shooting, AT etc... is cheap, and it can be organised without wondering whether someone else will cancel it without notice - little wonder its what gets done."
Not quite right, sqns still have to complete the required RAs, gain authority to undertake activity, etc. And as for running without wondering whether someone else will cancel, well, we have just had camping/bivvi'ing in the green environment banned until further notice. Down from HQAC yesterday. Could extend further to include AT and DofE expeditions. We don't know yet..........
So flying just got back to normal, gliding and bivvi'ing suspended, what else can we get cadets to do....... drill
Your comment - "green stuff, shooting, AT etc... is cheap, and it can be organised without wondering whether someone else will cancel it without notice - little wonder its what gets done."
Not quite right, sqns still have to complete the required RAs, gain authority to undertake activity, etc. And as for running without wondering whether someone else will cancel, well, we have just had camping/bivvi'ing in the green environment banned until further notice. Down from HQAC yesterday. Could extend further to include AT and DofE expeditions. We don't know yet..........
So flying just got back to normal, gliding and bivvi'ing suspended, what else can we get cadets to do....... drill
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What is going on - seems designed to pi@@ off the offices and instructors and demotivate the cadets. Such a brilliant organisation too. I owe it, CCF and ATC, heaps. More power to their elbow.
Back in the 90s there were some of us, both RAFRO (OC Airfield and Wing Admin Officer - a retired Wg Cdr) and RAFVRT who considered there was too little 'Air' in Air Training Corps' so we started a 'microlight AEF' at Halton which flew many cadets in civil registered microlights (initially Cyclone AX3 then Chevvron 2-32C) with an HQAC approved 'blood chit' and eventually developed to offer HQAC approved Microlight Flying Scholarships.
Regretfully after achieving some 19 microlight 'Restricted' PPLs, it all folded when HQAC 'pulled' the funding and the microlight school was forced into liquidation.
The cadets were awarded a specially produced 'Microlight Flying Scholarship' badge which they wore on the breast of the woolly pully, not on the shoulder patch like other cadet flying badges.
Regretfully after achieving some 19 microlight 'Restricted' PPLs, it all folded when HQAC 'pulled' the funding and the microlight school was forced into liquidation.
The cadets were awarded a specially produced 'Microlight Flying Scholarship' badge which they wore on the breast of the woolly pully, not on the shoulder patch like other cadet flying badges.
Last edited by chevvron; 1st May 2014 at 11:07.
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Correct quote tag
Update just psoted from HQAC:
As the Engineers at RAF Syerston continue to work to provide me with appropriate assurance to allow me to remove the pause in Gliding I thought it would be timely to provide you with an update.
The team at RAF Syerston is working to provide me with a glider return to flight regime, in a timely manner. Gliding is a crucial element of the ACO and will be for many years to come. As you are aware Defence has identified funds to support ACO gliding up to 2025 as a minimum. The activity we are currently undertaking at RAF Syerston will compliment this Defence commitment and provide a firm base to enhance further our gliding operation.
As a consequence of this engineering activity, and to assist in you future planning, please assume it is unlikely that any cadet gliding will take place before 1 Jun 14. This situation is under daily review and if it should change I will be advising all addresses as a matter of urgency. I do however expect some gliding operations to be undertaken soon, most probably at RAF Syerston with the main thrust of this activity focussed on retaining and regaining currency for VGS Staffs.
In sum it is regrettable that our pause will remain for a longer period than expected. That said, I can assure you that return to cadet flight is my top priority. Once we have achieved this I am absolutely confident that our gliding regime will continue to blossom further under the management of 2FTS and supporting engineering authorities.
The team at RAF Syerston is working to provide me with a glider return to flight regime, in a timely manner. Gliding is a crucial element of the ACO and will be for many years to come. As you are aware Defence has identified funds to support ACO gliding up to 2025 as a minimum. The activity we are currently undertaking at RAF Syerston will compliment this Defence commitment and provide a firm base to enhance further our gliding operation.
As a consequence of this engineering activity, and to assist in you future planning, please assume it is unlikely that any cadet gliding will take place before 1 Jun 14. This situation is under daily review and if it should change I will be advising all addresses as a matter of urgency. I do however expect some gliding operations to be undertaken soon, most probably at RAF Syerston with the main thrust of this activity focussed on retaining and regaining currency for VGS Staffs.
In sum it is regrettable that our pause will remain for a longer period than expected. That said, I can assure you that return to cadet flight is my top priority. Once we have achieved this I am absolutely confident that our gliding regime will continue to blossom further under the management of 2FTS and supporting engineering authorities.
Last edited by Aggamemnon; 1st May 2014 at 15:05. Reason: Fix quote tag
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1. What is the issue that requires such a pause in core Air Cadet activity, and the reason most join?
2. I suspect "complement" would be better than "compliment" (Para 2, line 2). My boss at any stage in my career would have given me a mega [email protected] for that error.
2. I suspect "complement" would be better than "compliment" (Para 2, line 2). My boss at any stage in my career would have given me a mega [email protected] for that error.
Wander00,
The whole passage is an ISS tutor's delight!
But let's remember, this person is at least trying to keep the kids flying. Superb English isn't going to get them off the ground, which is the aim of the exercise under pretty challenging financial and technical constraints.
The whole passage is an ISS tutor's delight!
But let's remember, this person is at least trying to keep the kids flying. Superb English isn't going to get them off the ground, which is the aim of the exercise under pretty challenging financial and technical constraints.
Last edited by Haraka; 1st May 2014 at 17:01.
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1. Wander00 the "pause" (grounding in non wanquespeak) is due to the engineering documentation not accurately reflecting what work has been carried out on the aircraft.
2. Precisely, and I thought an English GCSE was a prerequisite to becoming an officer.....?
2. Precisely, and I thought an English GCSE was a prerequisite to becoming an officer.....?
