"....... a pair of Vikings have been completed and await transport back to Syerston,"


Why are they 'awaiting transport'? Why not just stick them in their trailers and tow them back to Syerston? How hard can it be for goodness sake, or is an 18-month 'pause' not enough?
Genuine question. When I ran the BMGC, as soon as a glider was ready for collection, we collected it!

ACCGS Staff
 

What has become of all the ACCGS instructors? Are they still there during the pause waiting for aircraft to fly? I suspect many I knew years ago have retired in any event, but wondering what 'human infrastructure' is left?

Probably waiting for someone to sign off the risk...maybe the trailers have no servicing records either.

As I wrote that I meant it in jest but on reflection I'm not so sure.

Lots of records on the new trailers, mostly for breaking gliders when used!!

Dieselise the winches?
 

They may want to reconsider that option in light of the current Volkswagen revelations :D I wonder whether the MOD have asked Skylaunch for the results of their diesel emission tests?

Don't want to put anybody at risk from diesel fumes :ugh::ugh::ugh:

OK., times up EnigmAviation!

The announcement is....









...there are still no gliders!

An announcement........
 

Ooops, sorry I was working on my idea of 7 days ! They've probably found that it's too dangerous to fly without CO detectors in Vikings !

I heard a rumour about the CO detectors in Vigilants the other day? The rumour was that the sticky CO detectors (fitted to just about every light aircraft in the country) were not to be affixed to the instrument panel as this was not a cleared modification; but it's OK if you carry them in your pocket (where they probably won't work due to location, enclosure and pocket lint!).

Please tell me this is not true, otherwise there is something badly wrong with our risk-based culture in Air Cadet gliding land! If so, is it time to canx Air Cadet gliding and start again, from scratch. If they can currently teach a dozen or so service personnel to glide at RAF Halton a week in civvy gliders using service personnel and civil servants under the Adventurous Training lot, then why can't the guys at Syerston do something similar. It smacks of poor leadership to me...

CPL Clott

It's the starting again I think they are trying to avoid...

What about binning the aircraft and teaching the course on the simulators, you then have a pool of recruits to become Reaper Pilots which is where the RAF is heading anyway.

Practical aviating
 

The first aim of the Air Cadets is to: 'Promote and encourage a practical interest in aviation and the Royal Air Force among young people'. 'Practical' used to mean regular trips in AEF and VGS aircraft, and training to first solo and beyond with the VGS. I would welcome a statement from HQAC on the actual impact on the Corps of current 2 FTS task delivery.

Back in August I went to a national conference for ATC Civilian Instructors at HQAC. One subject that came up pretty quickly was lack of flying. When I asked what plan b was when the aircraft broke, there was a short pause then an embarrassed statement there was no plan B.....

The people there are trying, but it's like trying to move the sahara ten miles south using a teaspoon.

Cpl Clott - re CO detectors
 

Correct - 10 out of 10.

Meanwhile, rumour has it indicates that Wittering should have enough controllers to be open at weekends....... by Feb 2016. :rolleyes:

Are Wittering offering a LARS service now they have the new radar kit installed? Haven't spoken to them since it was MATZ only. I'm usually going down the bit between East Mids and Wittering so tend to stay with East Mids.

ATC cover at Wittering
 

Why the absolute link between ATC cover and the Wittering AEF flying? Many airfields, including military ones, operate civilian and military reg aircraft under a 'radio' callsign. What make the AEF at Wittering special or unusually risky?

That story about the CO2 detectors really is beyond parody! I don't suppose if anyone knows if that pair of Vikings that were awaiting collection have actually been er collected?

When is the next "air commodore" board?............hat......coat...................

ACW VGL - I might be missing something here, but you need ATC cover to operate. The problem, so I've heard, is no ATC cover over the weekend; something that would be needed to operate an AEF.