Air Cadets grounded?
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Don't know about dual commissions but as a VR(T) chap I can say that there is an extreme lack of uniformed staff, especially ex-military for which there is a definite role.
PS. Benson AEF is short of pilots.
PS. Benson AEF is short of pilots.
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Not being a pilot, I can't help you out at RAF Benson... Are ex-AAC Pilots encouraged to join AEF's?
I am just about to start at HQ 3 Div as an AR SO2 in what will probably be my last tour... I am seriously toying with the idea of joining the Cadets as adult staff afterwards, although coming from a Tech background (R Signals), I would probably prefer the Air Cadets...
I am just about to start at HQ 3 Div as an AR SO2 in what will probably be my last tour... I am seriously toying with the idea of joining the Cadets as adult staff afterwards, although coming from a Tech background (R Signals), I would probably prefer the Air Cadets...
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Don't know about AEFS but on our local VGS recently we have had one RN Lt Commander, one former AAC Major now promoted to Lt Col and two AAC Sgts, had to be the highest ranking VGS staff in the Corps 
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Which is exactly how it should be; if either of my children were to join the Air Cadets then I would want them instructed in the air by fully-qualified military pilots...
Which is exactly how it should be; if either of my children were to join the Air Cadets then I would want them instructed in the air by fully-qualified military pilots...
The ATC gliding schools have always had a high proportion of very talented instructors - the majority without a military flying background.
I know some 'professional' pilots with an 'amateur' attitude but conversely I know some 'amateur' pilots with a 'professional' attitude.
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I was speaking with a colleague still in the Air Cadet world. It would appear that it is most likely that my old VGS staff will start home based SCT sometime in the summer - next summer!! From there, gliding courses to start sometime in 2017.
Note the continued use of sometime. I think that for a lot of VGS's, there will be severe problems in retaining staff. Certainly a lot of adult staff will have found that that they can do the week-end overtime the boss keeps putting their way and that Mrs (or Mr) adult staff likes the extra money coming in/ the wee jobs that that are getting done that used to take forever/the picnic on a sunny Saturday or Sunday that used to be out of the question.
Staff cadets have, I suspect, re-ignited their week-end daytime interest in the other gender and - finally - I believe that under the current risk averse (thats a risk to some SO's career ladder) atmosphere that appears to be prevalent at higher levels within the RAF and ATC, the paperwork trail will be long and tortuous and too much of a total faff to be wort the effort. The V in VGS stands for Volunteer and I think that some of those in the higher echelons forget this.
Might I suggest that, as posted on a roof by the RAF POWs in Tengah POW camp awaiting release after the relief of Singapore, senior staff " Extract Digit"
Note the continued use of sometime. I think that for a lot of VGS's, there will be severe problems in retaining staff. Certainly a lot of adult staff will have found that that they can do the week-end overtime the boss keeps putting their way and that Mrs (or Mr) adult staff likes the extra money coming in/ the wee jobs that that are getting done that used to take forever/the picnic on a sunny Saturday or Sunday that used to be out of the question.
Staff cadets have, I suspect, re-ignited their week-end daytime interest in the other gender and - finally - I believe that under the current risk averse (thats a risk to some SO's career ladder) atmosphere that appears to be prevalent at higher levels within the RAF and ATC, the paperwork trail will be long and tortuous and too much of a total faff to be wort the effort. The V in VGS stands for Volunteer and I think that some of those in the higher echelons forget this.
Might I suggest that, as posted on a roof by the RAF POWs in Tengah POW camp awaiting release after the relief of Singapore, senior staff " Extract Digit"
Last edited by ACW342; 20th Aug 2015 at 13:38. Reason: spelling
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ACW, you forgot one lot. Those that were using the VGS's as their own private flying club. Not so prevalent in the conventional fleet but (back a few years ago) fairly common on the Vigi fleet.
That being said the organisation has almost a clean sheet to start again with. So hopefully, as you say those who can be bothered to make the effort or have stuck with the organisation can re-build successfully.
That being said the organisation has almost a clean sheet to start again with. So hopefully, as you say those who can be bothered to make the effort or have stuck with the organisation can re-build successfully.
FB - hope you are correct but speaking to a couple of VGS pilots it appears that certainly the one our local unit uses has lost a significant number of instructors during the "pause" to operations. Before they can start flying cadets they will have to make up that deficit and get everybody current again.
A sad state of affairs and one that could have easily been avoided methinks.
A sad state of affairs and one that could have easily been avoided methinks.
"It would appear that it is most likely that my old VGS staff will start home based SCT sometime in the summer - next summer!! From there, gliding courses to start sometime in 2017."
2017!
If true, that will be three years since the grounding, and takes the use of the word 'pause' to an entirely new level!
2017!
If true, that will be three years since the grounding, and takes the use of the word 'pause' to an entirely new level!
ChitterneFlyer
I was thinking the same thing.
These aircraft were not and most still are not airworthy. I hear that the repairs at the well-recognised civil glider maintenance facility have been far slower than expected due to the number of issues they have also found.
So the only way I could see this being "easily avoided" was about 20-odd years ago when the maintenance regime started to fail. I still believe that OC 2FTS and his team made exactly the right decision to 'pause'; although I do think this should be upgraded to 'grounded' now!
LJ
I was thinking the same thing.
These aircraft were not and most still are not airworthy. I hear that the repairs at the well-recognised civil glider maintenance facility have been far slower than expected due to the number of issues they have also found.So the only way I could see this being "easily avoided" was about 20-odd years ago when the maintenance regime started to fail. I still believe that OC 2FTS and his team made exactly the right decision to 'pause'; although I do think this should be upgraded to 'grounded' now!
LJ
LJ - That was the point I was trying to make, if you take an in house service and privatise it the overriding concern of the supplier is to turn a profit which can be at the expense of the output especially when the main variable is staff and they either get cut or their salary is reduced which can cause problems if people don't feel valued.
Regards.
BL
Regards.
BL
Gentleman Aviator
LJ and brokenlink
Not just the contractors: my understanding is that some of the "issues" go back to "blue suited engineers" days.
Not just the contractors: my understanding is that some of the "issues" go back to "blue suited engineers" days.
TTH - You may well be correct but having seen some of the effects of hiving of the work to the private sector I can well believe that any existing issues were simply magnified.
TTH
You may be right, but just how incentivised the 'blue suiters' would have been on the hand over to contractors may be a factor?
Anyway, I still don't think 'easily avoided' is accurate.
Just an opinion, though...
You may be right, but just how incentivised the 'blue suiters' would have been on the hand over to contractors may be a factor?
Anyway, I still don't think 'easily avoided' is accurate.
Just an opinion, though...