Air Cadets grounded?
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Getting any of the vigilante flying in private hands means the exact same work needs doing, plus it would need transitioning to the g register. Everyone in the gliding world now knows about their lack of documentation, so they will need exactly the same minute inspection
Getting any of the vigilante flying in private hands means the exact same work needs doing, plus it would need transitioning to the g register. Everyone in the gliding world now knows about their lack of documentation, so they will need exactly the same minute inspection
What they won't do is have endless meetings, form committees, working parties or 'recovery teams', throw hundeds of thousands at it, make promises and instantly break them, say they are working 24/7 on it when in reality they are sitting on their hands and arses, and generally do bugger all for 2 years !!!!
Earlier on in the thread, around the post #790, I made the comment that I had seen cadet numbers fall as a result of the 'pause'. This was debate and the comment challenged in some quarters.
Glad this was confirmed in the recent RAF briefing note.
I should also like to add, that it will go on being 'acutely felt' and will continue to see cadet numbers fall.
There are some who have been hanging on, hoping to see a full return to flying with lots of opportunities to get airborne. Now that is not going to happen, they to will leave.
Additionally, there are those who fall for the, 'so many opportunities to fly', li(n)e at open evenings, who then sign up, realise the truth and quit within a couple of months.
Its my guess that squadrons will be closing all over NI and Wales.
Glad this was confirmed in the recent RAF briefing note.
Pause. In Apr 14 substantial airworthiness issues became apparent on both Viking and Vigilant gliders. A fleet check led to a total loss of airworthiness assurance and all glider flying was paused until the scale of the problem could be determined and a recovery plan put into action. As this was being developed more technical failings emerged, which led to a comprehensive overhaul of the whole gliding enterprise; a refresh from origin of every aircraft’s airworthiness certificate and a re-baseline of all maintenance records. A parallel root and branch review of activity led to a redefining of why we glide, how it is organized and controlled, where it happens and how it is managed. This lengthy and unavoidable pause, was acutely felt and resulted in a reduction in cadet numbers and a dispirited adult volunteer cadre.
There are some who have been hanging on, hoping to see a full return to flying with lots of opportunities to get airborne. Now that is not going to happen, they to will leave.
Additionally, there are those who fall for the, 'so many opportunities to fly', li(n)e at open evenings, who then sign up, realise the truth and quit within a couple of months.
Its my guess that squadrons will be closing all over NI and Wales.
Phoenix from the ashes
Sky Sports
I agree; it is time that it was accepted that the ATC Gliding movement has been destroyed and both the Cadets and volunteer staff badly let down.
That the RAF allowed this to happen is a disgrace, and also the reason why those in charge should never be given the chance to oversee another 'reborn' system.
Without capable leadership and strong technical back up the organisation will never be able to repair the self inflicted damage.
However there are hundreds of capable and easily re-qualified adult instructors out there who could provide the backbone of a Gliding service not burdened by the lack of competence from the present clueless staff at the top.
The CO''s of schools that are going or have no future should seek to take the 7 decades of ability and capable operations to another organisation so the future youth can experience the unique opportunity of being part of a system that allows them to build confidence and make decisions.Gliding is a wonderful element in learning about decision making and the lessons learnt in youth are well repaid in later life. The way ahead for the 'lost' units is to grasp the facts and decide if they want to use all that experience to build for the future,rather than let it wither away. They could do worse than 'affiliate' with the GSA movement under the BGA to provide a youth 'feeder' training input that the Clubs can then build on. Nothing to loose as what you have now is lost and/or is run by complete incompetence and is going nowhere fast.
I agree; it is time that it was accepted that the ATC Gliding movement has been destroyed and both the Cadets and volunteer staff badly let down.
That the RAF allowed this to happen is a disgrace, and also the reason why those in charge should never be given the chance to oversee another 'reborn' system.
Without capable leadership and strong technical back up the organisation will never be able to repair the self inflicted damage.
However there are hundreds of capable and easily re-qualified adult instructors out there who could provide the backbone of a Gliding service not burdened by the lack of competence from the present clueless staff at the top.
The CO''s of schools that are going or have no future should seek to take the 7 decades of ability and capable operations to another organisation so the future youth can experience the unique opportunity of being part of a system that allows them to build confidence and make decisions.Gliding is a wonderful element in learning about decision making and the lessons learnt in youth are well repaid in later life. The way ahead for the 'lost' units is to grasp the facts and decide if they want to use all that experience to build for the future,rather than let it wither away. They could do worse than 'affiliate' with the GSA movement under the BGA to provide a youth 'feeder' training input that the Clubs can then build on. Nothing to loose as what you have now is lost and/or is run by complete incompetence and is going nowhere fast.
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It ain't over yet!
I think that the RAF may be realising that the VGSs may not go quietly after all. I hope there will be backlash against the "relaunch". The way the VGS staff have been treated is appalling. Of course change may be inevitable but the lack of anything resembling leadership does no credit to the wider RAF/MOD and no disrespect to those of you who are serving or have done so.
The VGSs have given countless military aircrew, not to mention assorted commissioned and ground trades, their love of aviation and a desire to serve. They deserve much better than this.
Mushers
The VGSs have given countless military aircrew, not to mention assorted commissioned and ground trades, their love of aviation and a desire to serve. They deserve much better than this.
Mushers
Signed, Bill.
What Backlash
Mushroom; the VGS have lost 3 (THREE) Easter Course's and yet i see no real
evidence that it caused any backlash.
Because of its 'military' background the chance of a 'shareholders revolt' is not likely nor the way things are done.
The best way to show your disgust is to remove yourself from the broken system and take the experience somewhere else.Why wait for a system led by useless no-hopers to do a turn-around;its not going to happen,it never does.
You are up against people who think politically and are not do-ers,plus you need hands on aviation staff, not refugees from the LAST CHANCE HOTEL !!!! No disrespect to refugees.Throw off the schackles of dead beats digging bigger graves and rise up to the challenge of doing what you know best for the future of the potential air minded youth.
evidence that it caused any backlash.
Because of its 'military' background the chance of a 'shareholders revolt' is not likely nor the way things are done.
The best way to show your disgust is to remove yourself from the broken system and take the experience somewhere else.Why wait for a system led by useless no-hopers to do a turn-around;its not going to happen,it never does.
You are up against people who think politically and are not do-ers,plus you need hands on aviation staff, not refugees from the LAST CHANCE HOTEL !!!! No disrespect to refugees.Throw off the schackles of dead beats digging bigger graves and rise up to the challenge of doing what you know best for the future of the potential air minded youth.
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Solo Stats
Squawking 7700,
The Air Cadets achieved 1386 1st solos in 2011.
The Olympics in 2012 skewed figures (some VGSs were temporarily closed over the summer) and I don't have the figure for 2013. Someone else might though.
The target for 2014 (pre-grounding) was for 2077 Gliding Scholarships, not all of which would have resulted in 1st solos (Silver Wings). The 'hit rate' is typically around 75-80%.
The Air Cadets achieved 1386 1st solos in 2011.
The Olympics in 2012 skewed figures (some VGSs were temporarily closed over the summer) and I don't have the figure for 2013. Someone else might though.
The target for 2014 (pre-grounding) was for 2077 Gliding Scholarships, not all of which would have resulted in 1st solos (Silver Wings). The 'hit rate' is typically around 75-80%.
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Any ATC instructors out there are welcome to transfer their experience and knowlege to their local civilian gliding club. And we are happy when the youngsters turn up as well.
Just check on the British Gliding Association website, we wear aircraft and parachutes, not uniforms.
Just check on the British Gliding Association website, we wear aircraft and parachutes, not uniforms.
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I believe that Cadet numbers fell by ~4,000 due to the Grob Tutor prop problem, then the harness issue and then the glider issues - however this drop would have been even worse if the Year 8 kids hadn't been allowed to join at an earlier age!
So I think you can safely say that over 1 in 10 have left due to a loss of flying opportunities...
A sad endictment for the 75th Anniversary Year of the Air Cadets
CPL Clott
So I think you can safely say that over 1 in 10 have left due to a loss of flying opportunities...
A sad endictment for the 75th Anniversary Year of the Air Cadets
CPL Clott
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My local Aero Club is also very supportive of the Air Cadets and do everything in their power to make them welcome in uniform or not.
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Signed. For sanity's sake, I'm glad I've not hung around the VGS for the last couple of years and just cracked on with civvy flying instead. I'll hand my kit in and crack on with my hours build. My old VGS is one of the surviving units, but this debacle shows exactly what loyal, long-serving volunteers can expect from an organisation that is as spiteful as it is clueless.
For the last 2 years, the ATC has made its staff and cadets choose between either flying or the ATC - you can't have both. What kind of air-mindedness are we trying to foster here?
My thoughts go out to those regions that have lost their VGS - whether Vigi or Viking, these were priceless national assets that showed the aviation community at its very best.
As for JM, I'm actually starting to develop a grudging respect for him. Downing 5 aircraft makes you an ace, and he's got far more kills than that after this whole admin carnival. Shame they all have RAF roundels on their fuselages.
For the last 2 years, the ATC has made its staff and cadets choose between either flying or the ATC - you can't have both. What kind of air-mindedness are we trying to foster here?
My thoughts go out to those regions that have lost their VGS - whether Vigi or Viking, these were priceless national assets that showed the aviation community at its very best.
As for JM, I'm actually starting to develop a grudging respect for him. Downing 5 aircraft makes you an ace, and he's got far more kills than that after this whole admin carnival. Shame they all have RAF roundels on their fuselages.