Air Cadets grounded?
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Selection and Maintenance of the Aim
You can't knock success. As a tax payer, ex-Vigi instructor and a member of one of the 14 ex-VGS, I would like to complement the Commandant of 2 FTS on his new HQ and the fortitude he has shown in carefully selecting and sticking to his aim in his version of improving the ACO gliding movement. Complaints and petitions are pointless, as it is a done deal. I will not look for a new school, will not re-roll as a ground instructor, and will not take up a VR(T) commission - I did 20 years as a regular. One fewer volunteer civi flying service aircraft - aim achieved.
Join Date: Jan 2003
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This will have been sold on cost savings - flavour of the month as we all know............
Then it will have been sold on 'Improved efficiency' - flavour of the month as we all know.................
Then it will have been sold on 'doing more with less' - flavour of the month as we all know..................
The flaw of course is that there is no continuity in Government or the Military model. By the time it's realised in 5 years time that the costs are higher (including relocation, additional travel and facilities build), that the number of hours and launches are way down on what they used to be, and the actual flying per head is reduced over what it used to be, and actually we have no less than we used to have, it's all too late and those who made the decision are either retired or long gone on the political merry-go-round.................
Losers = Cadets and Staff (and UK Plc)
Winners = Bean Counters and Politicians who 'can see no further than their next full belly................'
Arc
Then it will have been sold on 'Improved efficiency' - flavour of the month as we all know.................
Then it will have been sold on 'doing more with less' - flavour of the month as we all know..................
The flaw of course is that there is no continuity in Government or the Military model. By the time it's realised in 5 years time that the costs are higher (including relocation, additional travel and facilities build), that the number of hours and launches are way down on what they used to be, and the actual flying per head is reduced over what it used to be, and actually we have no less than we used to have, it's all too late and those who made the decision are either retired or long gone on the political merry-go-round.................
Losers = Cadets and Staff (and UK Plc)
Winners = Bean Counters and Politicians who 'can see no further than their next full belly................'
Arc
Staff no longer required
ACW VGL
Do not despair; write to Bear Grylls and offer your services and experience (with others) to expand the Air Scouts. I would be surprised if the idea was ignored and with so many qualified and 'cleared' people out there i bet the Scouts will be pleased to use them. Nothing to loose as the ATC as we know it is doomed anyway,as apart from anything else is has no LEADERSHIP to speak of but lots of youth motivated staff that can easily adapt to making fires and camping.Chief Scouts are always 'doer's' so B........s to Sleaford control and Syerston and help the Scouts (under the BGA GSA)
Better to use all that experience and tradition towards promoting Air Mindness to the future youth,rather than let it die.The Cadet organisation will go nowhere under its present leadership so why not give another organisation the chance to benefit. Scout Motto BE PREPARED easy to remember for cable breaks. Dib Dib Dib
Do not despair; write to Bear Grylls and offer your services and experience (with others) to expand the Air Scouts. I would be surprised if the idea was ignored and with so many qualified and 'cleared' people out there i bet the Scouts will be pleased to use them. Nothing to loose as the ATC as we know it is doomed anyway,as apart from anything else is has no LEADERSHIP to speak of but lots of youth motivated staff that can easily adapt to making fires and camping.Chief Scouts are always 'doer's' so B........s to Sleaford control and Syerston and help the Scouts (under the BGA GSA)
Better to use all that experience and tradition towards promoting Air Mindness to the future youth,rather than let it die.The Cadet organisation will go nowhere under its present leadership so why not give another organisation the chance to benefit. Scout Motto BE PREPARED easy to remember for cable breaks. Dib Dib Dib
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Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
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I've kept quiet about this so far but what a total wasteful farce this has turned out to be. As a cadet some forty five years ago I was lucky enough to be allowed a gliding scholarship course and went solo at a very young age. That set me on my way to becoming a professional pilot. At one time I was also the Air Cadet Liaison Officer at a certain helicopter base. Later, my daughter became a senior ATC cadet. Unfortunately, in her four years with the organisation she only had the opportunity to fly once (let's not forget other problems with propellers coming off Tutor aircraft, also seat harness problems). Thinking I could give something back, I volunteered my services as an erstwhile gliding instructor. However, It quickly became obvious to me how things were rapidly going downhill with the organisation. I spoke to some other instructors (other professional pilots) who were already very disillusioned and sadly decided it really had little future for me. How right I was. What a shame for the organisation and for the kids who no longer have the same opportunities we had years ago in what was then a supposedly impoverished Great Britain.
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There is no doubt that Air Cadet gliding has been damaged to such a point that it will only ever be a shadow of its former self and I understand why people feel the need for petitions and protests. There is however still an ATC gliding organisation in the UK and if the recovery plan goes ahead in something similar to its current form many cadets will still get the chance to experience gliding. I do however worry that raising the general public's awareness of what has gone on in the past, how much has already been spent and how much more will be required in the future is only likely to lead to more financial scrutiny and even tighter purse strings.
@thepaused
I disagree; proper oversight may well have prevented this shambles from ever occurring.
I do however worry that raising the general public's awareness of what has gone on in the past, how much has already been spent and how much more will be required in the future is only likely to lead to more financial scrutiny and even tighter purse strings.
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How on earth the initial problem with the poor governance of the ACO gliding fleet happened in the first place must raise a question about the oversight of private companies working on military contracts. Secondly how did HQAC get caught with its admin trousers down given its fetishistic preoccupation of getting volunteers to risk assess everything from expeditions to the use of kettles on squadrons?
How does a member of the public contact the RAF Police to ask if the 'loss' of the aircraft records has been properly investigated?
Twenty five years of Form 700 sheets from over a hundred aircraft must be several four drawer cabinets worth of paper which would be difficult for the most incompetent to accidentally lose. Their 'destruction' must therefore have been a deliberate act and as such someone is personally responsible to the crown for these aircraft being taken out of service.
Twenty five years of Form 700 sheets from over a hundred aircraft must be several four drawer cabinets worth of paper which would be difficult for the most incompetent to accidentally lose. Their 'destruction' must therefore have been a deliberate act and as such someone is personally responsible to the crown for these aircraft being taken out of service.
Join Date: Dec 2015
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VX275
You need to get off your high horse and acquaint yourself with current military documentation.
As I posted earlier there is NO requirement under military engineering to maintain every item of documentation. Major plus 6 months suffices. Repetitive minor out of phase servicing may be disposed of one servicing superceeded And on a Viking VGS which I flew at that would mean the maximum duration kept would be 36 months plus 6 months.
As I posted earlier there is NO requirement under military engineering to maintain every item of documentation. Major plus 6 months suffices. Repetitive minor out of phase servicing may be disposed of one servicing superceeded And on a Viking VGS which I flew at that would mean the maximum duration kept would be 36 months plus 6 months.
How does a member of the public contact the RAF Police to ask if the 'loss' of the aircraft records has been properly investigated?
Twenty five years of Form 700 sheets from over a hundred aircraft must be several four drawer cabinets worth of paper which would be difficult for the most incompetent to accidentally lose. Their 'destruction' must therefore have been a deliberate act and as such someone is personally responsible to the crown for these aircraft being taken out of service.
Twenty five years of Form 700 sheets from over a hundred aircraft must be several four drawer cabinets worth of paper which would be difficult for the most incompetent to accidentally lose. Their 'destruction' must therefore have been a deliberate act and as such someone is personally responsible to the crown for these aircraft being taken out of service.
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Petition signed. ATC provided my first flight, first solo, first powered solo, and began a 40+ year flying career. Tragic how few opportunities are left for youth of today.
Ray
Ray
You need to get off your high horse and acquaint yourself with current military documentation.
As I posted earlier there is NO requirement under military engineering to maintain every item of documentation. Major plus 6 months suffices. Repetitive minor out of phase servicing may be disposed of one servicing superceeded And on a Viking VGS which I flew at that would mean the maximum duration kept would be 36 months plus 6 months.
As I posted earlier there is NO requirement under military engineering to maintain every item of documentation. Major plus 6 months suffices. Repetitive minor out of phase servicing may be disposed of one servicing superceeded And on a Viking VGS which I flew at that would mean the maximum duration kept would be 36 months plus 6 months.
Can I refer the gentleman to the requirements of MAA RA4813(3) and CAE4000 - MAP-01 Chapter 7.6.
"Retain for the life of the individual aircraft or equipment in MOD service, plus 5 years"
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Vx275
Indeed you may.
Maintenance records should be retained until the work it records has been
invalidated by documented work carried out subsequently (for example, Scheduled
Base Maintenance (SBM), Major maintenance, or equivalent); RA4311 and MAP-01
Chapter 7.6 provides further regulation and guidance in this respect.
Maintenance records should be retained until the work it records has been
invalidated by documented work carried out subsequently (for example, Scheduled
Base Maintenance (SBM), Major maintenance, or equivalent); RA4311 and MAP-01
Chapter 7.6 provides further regulation and guidance in this respect.
Join Date: May 2006
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You bet they will be snapped up
The Vultures are circling! I know from persons in know, that there are some individuals and organisations looking to snap up the vigilants as since as they are released for disposal. No doubt, they will be sold off at a low price - given they are not "airworthy". And guess how long those who buy them will get them back in the air! Doubt it will be 2 years! What will that say for the organisation that has said the situation is unrecoverable....
