Because someone spaffed all the money up the wall
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I just don’t get why anybody thinks that this is needed. Every AEF pilot I have met - from retired Air Marshals, to the new civvy VR(T) pilots have been fantastic with the cadets, and had an infectious love of flying.
That said, I think officers who hold AEF executive positions could benefit from that. A recent OC AEF got into the habit of sending monthly snotograms, which detailed slots that were missed that month - which is fair enough, I guess. However, one of his whinges was that some sqn commanders were sending cadets that were too small for the parachutes, completely failing to appreciate that there is no concrete minimums for sizes, and that a lot of squadrons have small cadets. As an OC, I have to choose between:
a) Filling a slot with a borderline cadet, and risking that they will be refused.
B) Filling a slot with older cadets, who have flown before, and risking the younger cadets binning cadets off because they are being passed over for AEF slots
C) Handing back the slots and hoping someone else can fill them in time.
Having an OC AEF who understands that, and doesn’t try and castigate CFAVs when they get it wrong would be a great start.
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I only have real experience of 2AEF (Boscombe Down) / 622 VGS (Upavon) / 612 (Abingdon) all since 2006 when I joined as a cadet.
Cadet 2006-2012
I was at one of the bigger Squadrons in the Wing, however every time we had an allocation my name was on the list, I managed to get the following opportunities;
- 13 AEF Flights
- 2 VGS Visits (1 was on Camp)
- Gliding Scholarship Solo @ 612 with the Vigilant
A number of times I was the reserve for an AEF slot and would turn up at the sqn in the hope that someone who had been selected and managed to get a slot this way as someone would be a no show!
The only thing that could have improved my aviation experience as a cadet would maybe have been some more basic gliding opportunities, we certainly got more AEF then VGS slots as a sqn. The other thing that was defiantly missing was RAF Experience flights, particularly with our locality to RAF Odiham.
Staff 2012 Onwards
For the majority of this time, I’ve been at a unit that had a particular member of staff self appoint as the flying officer and would take cadets to AEF/VGS, that said I’ve visited both 2 AEF & 622 VGS.
2 AEF - All of the cadets got to fly, while waiting it was standard watch a DVD in the crew room, Desk Officer was friendly enough explaining their limitations with ATC cover and their lunch break alongside the noise limits for the pilots which limits the sortie time. Cadets were super happy on the drive home, it was worth the day from my perspective.
622 VGS - From the start of the day we were made welcome, I think this was helped by the fact there were 2 FSC from units that are within the Sector and it was great to see them delivering the ground school & PTT elements of the day, really well delivered. I don’t think I’d ever seen Principles of Flight delivered so well. All cadets & Staff are included into the daily briefing as well and we are made to be part of the day. There was also effort to get the escorting staff up in the air. The best part about a VGS visit is that the cadets are fully engaged in activity throughout. Again the cadets had a great day, and I really enjoyed myself too so well worth the time from my perspective.
Overall if I can get someone else to take cadets to AEF then that’s a win for me, but I’m more than happy to give up a day to take cadets to a VGS.
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I always have a reserve come to the Squadron in case of a no show and if there is enough space I will take that person to the AEF on the expectation that they aren’t going to fly. (In case another Squadron has a no show).
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Hi @Paracetamol, this is a nice idea and I can only speculate about the AEF. However as has already been indicated there is a reluctance for SQN staff to escort cadets on occasion. I’m sure if the AEF had some volunteers to cover every weekend in the summer they would jump at the offer!
I am genuinely hurt by this comment. As a shift worker I don’t get many weekends, I spend my free ones, as every CFAV does, providing what skills I can for the cadets benefit.
On a nice day I’ll fly 10 sorties. Including 8 cadets (maximum allowed), accompanying staff and/or a currency trip. This generally leaves 30 minutes for lunch. It’s hot, noisy, tiring and cramped. Not to mention repetitive.
I do it because I still remember my first AEF trip.
It really feels like the hatred you spout comes from envy, now that probably isn’t the case but with that starting point is it possible the reception you receive from these individuals is a reflection of your own prejudice?
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I have to admit I couldn’t do what AEF or VGS staff do with the pretty solid weekends, I take my hat off to all of you.
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Yeah this. I did look at joining Kenley back before everything got grounded however the majority of the staff there attend pretty much every weekend.
I already give up the majority of my weekends to cadets anyway (pre-covid) but this would mean all I could really do was VGS stuff and I’d likely lose all my free time completely!
They put in some serious effort. And I can only assume the AEF guys is something similar. None of the issues discussed here are really with the staff on the ground at AEFs or VGSs. They are all likely as annoyed as we all are with the issues at hand.
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Can assure you this isnt the case.
It comes from a goppingly poor service my cadets have recieved.
Not all AEFs are equal and not all volunteers are to blame.
But there are certainly exceedingly poor examples out there. These taint the rest.
We all thank you for your volunteering. Just as I’m sure all AEF and VGS staff thank us on Sqns for ours.
I echo that sentiment. As enthusiastic as I am about aviation, I can only imagine how draining it must be flying 10 sorties, whilst trying provide the same level of service to each cadet.
I agree. That’s why any criticism I have is for the upper levels of management
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One thing that hasn’t been discussed here and I commented on my survey return, is the lip service given to the powered flight PTS sorties.
I have sat as the staff member logging flights and filling in 3822’s numerous times at both 5 and 7 AEF’s and it frustrates the hell out of me when you ask a cadet from a different squadron what sortie they are up to in the syllabus, only to be told, “Sorry Sir, I don’t know what you’re talking about”.
Me “How many times have you flown before?”
Cadet “Twice Sir”
Me “Ok, what sortie numbers have you done? What did you do on the last 2 flights?”
Cadet “Just did aerobatics!”
Me “Ok, well, the first flight was air experience and that is enough for a Blue badge, if you did any of sorties 2, 3 or 4, you’re on your way to a Bronze badge”
Cadet “Sorry Sir, still don’t know what you’re talking about”
It’s almost as though most squadrons don’t track their cadets progress through the powered syllabus and advise them on which sortie they require next when they send them flying.
It’s not just the squadrons fault either. I’ve been at AEF’s with my cadets before and I’ve briefed them before the flight o the sortie number they require to progress through the syllabus.
Me “Tell the pilot you need sortie 3 and 4 if he can squeeze it in”
Cadet returns from flight.
Me “How did you get on?”
Cadet “Pilot didn’t know what sortie 3 and 4 was, so we did some more aerobatics”
The pilots need a sortie profile reminder card in the cockpit with them and the cadets need a card with the 6 sorties listed on them that the pilot can stamp off as and when they are completed.
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Where exactly this the “powered syllabus” found on sharepoint?
ACTO 31
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Ta, not something I’ve ever looked at before 
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A small amendment to 2FTS Form 007, which you should be using to record your PTS progress would make this easier
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And can you imagine if cadets actually printed 2 FTS Form 004, filled it out and physically gave it to their pilot . . .
The syllabus is gash.
Doing aeros with a military pilot isn’t.
Given the choice of a boring sortie profile and a badge, or stall turns and loops, I know which one I’d prefer…
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Mine did. Well I printed it but they filled it in and provided it to the pilot
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Given that the blue and bronze syllabus is pretty much meaningless, AEFs and VGSs tend to just sign it off anyway regardless of what was done in the flight (in my experience).
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Some might, not all.