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Air Cadets grounded?
Anyone know what's happening with VGSs? Old Viking mate tells me they are all grounded indefinitely for engineering problems?
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A missive was issued by OC 2FTS on 17 Apr stating:
All Air Cadet Gliding is paused for the Easter weekend. To amplify, no gliding will take place over the Easter period. A further update will be published after the Easter holidays. |
A colleague who is a VGS instructor tells me that they will not be flying until at least the 6th May. What is disappointing is the way the grounding happened which was during a week when most Sqns were running an Easter course and then it was towards the end of the week when most Cadets would be nearing solo standard.
A considerable number of people will have given up a weeks annual holiday to run these courses to have it wasted due to politics. I'm sure the grounding could have waited until the end of the courses as the gliders were no different at the end of the week to what they were at the start of the week. There are many identical gliders in civilian use and they are not grounded its seems like MAA politics again. I sat back quietly wondering how long it would take for a thread to appear on this topic. |
as the gliders were no different at the end of the week to what they were at the start of the week. MUCH more important is the loss to the credibility of the organisation if something had happened which would most certainly have been prevented by a grounding. You can't have it both ways. CG |
Granted CG, but what's with all this "paused" crap?
Use of weasel language does not fill me with confidence. |
And, 'to amplify'. Wassat all about!
I was more picturing someone saying on Wednesday, "Sir, I am really not happy with the wear on the-hold-the-wing-on widget, I've never seen it like this before." How do you ignore it? They are kids after all. Wasn't concentrating on the lingo. CG |
If you ground all the VGS over Easter you can save money by not having someone on standby to answer all servicing extension / limitation requests they'd be receiving on Saturday morning from 26 VGSs doing what they do - flying the pants off the aircraft.
<A cynical ex VGS instructor> |
Knowing nothing about this at all other than what's been posted above it reads like a cost saving measure rather than an airworthiness one. :suspect:
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Sorry to stop a good winge, an Airworthiness Directive with regard to rudder control pulleys was issued in effect 'grounding' the Grob Acros, Astirs etc., the engineers no doubt imposed the same restriction to the ATC Vikings. The delay in return them to flying is probably a best guess on aquiring the spares, the programme to fit and flight test the entire fleet.:bored:
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Extract from EASA AD 2014-0067, effective 1 April:
Control cable pulleys made from plastic (white or brown material) in the rudder control unit were reported to develop cracks due to aging. In one case, jamming of the rudder control unit was reported. This condition, if not detected and corrected, could cause cable pulleys to break, potentially jamming the rudder control unit and resulting in loss of control of the sailplane. To address this potential unsafe condition, Fiberglas-Technik issued Technische Mitteilung/Service Bulletin TM-G05/SB-G05 and Anweisung/ Instructions A/I-G05 (one document) to provide instructions for the replacement of plastic cable pulleys with pulleys made from aluminium. |
There was also a problem with the prop hubs on the Vigis that needed inspecting.
I heard that OC 2FTS was flying when the recommendation to pause flying in order to take stock of the situation (read, old fashioned grounding). I'm sure that OC 2 FTS woukd have preferred not to have interrupted his flying! I suspect there are other, more commercially sensitive reasons, why we haven't heard the full story of this 'pause'. LJ |
So in this case, the MAA have acted quickly and decisively in accordance with the EASA AD. Imagine the PR disaster and Pprune meltdown if something bad had happened and they had taken no action. Damned if they do and damned if they don't.
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Well sort off, the AD does give a time limit to comply, so they have actual been stricter than the AD requires.
Table 1: Compliance time for replacement Rudder control unit configuration Compliance time (after the effective date of this AD) Open cable cage Within 1 month Closed cable cage Within 3 months http://ad.easa.europa.eu/blob/easa_a...AD_2014-0067_1 |
Air Cadets grounded?
Many people will be amazed that cadets actually go flying at all. I cannot remember the last time I actually noticed or saw an RAF Air Cadet. I mean it must be fantastic for a kid to be taught to fly etc - they need to raise their profile a bit.
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I left the ACO last June after nearly 30 years service and in the last 18 months, the Air Cadets in the area that I live had pretty much forgotten what an aircraft looked like (unless they happened to get AEF of some description at Annual Camp). The local VGS was grounded for over a year due to the airfield on which they were based being sold to a private landowner and there was a very protracted move to their new base. Combine that with the grounding of the Tutor fleet following the prop problems and it left few flying opportunities; if I'm honest, many, but not all cadets who join do so because of the many other activities that the ACO offers and have little interest in aircraft.
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I'm sure that OC 2 FTS would have preferred not to have interrupted his flying! We tried to get a solo barrel out of him on the Wednesday night at Linton but he wasn't playing.........:( How do you get a drink out of an air defender .........??? |
the AD does give a time limit to comply, so they have actual been stricter than the AD requires. |
Tha MAA does not 'ground' any platforms and has no authority to do so. It is the responsibility of the applicable PT/CAMO/DH to monitor ADs, SBs and any in-service arisings etc and act accordingly.
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No involvement, but it sounds like a sound decision to me.:ok:
Duty of care might be that although the AD says a time limit, there is no grace for these service operated recreational machines? OAP |
Auster Fan wrote:
....if I'm honest, many, but not all cadets who join do so because of the many other activities that the ACO offers and have little interest in aircraft. |
Bring back The Barge. :)
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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..! |
Duplo
How very dare you...pick a window, you're leaving! :ok: http://www.gurusfeet.com/files/blogpics/windows.jpg LJ |
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. Not in the slightest, as a Camo myself I can't quibble with sound judgement |
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.
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Originally Posted by WE992
(Post 8450619)
Something to do with maintenance procedures and paperwork.
Or rather lack of! :hmm: |
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. |
Hope they get airborne asap! From my old atc squadron, at least 3 of us all of a similar age are now flying for a living, no small part to ATC!!
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Originally Posted by BEagle
(Post 8450147)
Auster Fan wrote:
Good grief. Which part of 'Air' in 'Air Cadets' don't they understand? |
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. |
How do you get a drink out of an air defender .........??? |
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 |
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.
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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. |
RB - My thoughts exactly. Or we could go and do Air Recce cos looking at planes is all we will be allowed to do if this goes on much longer!
BL |
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. |
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 boll@cking 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. |
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.....? |
Well I do hope it is quickly sorted out and the kids are soon getting the training and experience which is such a benefit to them
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