We have had notification from our Wing Aviation Officer, who has only been told today, that HQ RAFAC/North Region has cancelled all planned AEFs at 9&11 AEF at RAF Leeming for the entirety of August, so these slots can be given to cadets attending the Regional MACs happening at Leeming.
Bare in mind August’s allocations have already been out, SMS applications made, and cadets chosen to fly (and we all know how much of a rarity it can be). The fact this is also in the summer holidays when the weather is on the better side for flying conditions is especially annoying.
These MACs have been planned in advance, so very frustrating that we are only receiving word now.
Has a similar thing happened with 7 AEF at RAF Cranwell for the Waddington MACs, or other AEFs across the country that are hosting Summer Camps?
For 7 AEF they gave my sqn all the allocated slots for the year in one week because they knew we were not going to be able to get slots later in the year because of the MACs
On the one hand, it’s also a pain because you’re already lucky if you get a camp, and you could have been really lucky and already been flying too.
But on the other hand, it eases a significant burden on volunteer staff because those supporting that mid-week flying are already on site and won’t be wasting time if there are last-minute cancellations etc. it’ll also be significantly more time efficient.
On balance, I’d say it’s probably a good thing, but I can see strong arguments both ways on this one.
Staff may well have already put in AL requests to cover the mid-week sessions though.
I get that it is more efficient, but this really feels a bit wrong. The cadets who’s local AEFs are 9 and 11 are arguably now missing out as cadets from a much wider area are taking up those allocations.
Possible unpopular opinion, but I don’t think we should even do Tutor AEFs from camps. It confuses allocations in terms of keeping things ‘fair’. Wing AvOs should know what units have had what allocations which keeps things relatively simple. Not that it is always fair, but you know what I mean.
The focus should be trying to get AEFs in other service aircraft if possible. Certainly cancelling allocations that already existed just to support a camp is really wrong.
In terms of the cancellation, I agree with you. The work had already been done and I don’t think it should have been changed. It’s the same as when AEF is cancelled late — often that annual leave is lost and that’s that. Been there, so I hear you.
In terms of the fairness of AEF for those on camp, I’m also quite happy to agree with you. I think it’s a really strong reason to not go that route and to try and make such a rare opportunity as equitable as possible.
if an allocation has already been placed, then it should stand. as @Eeh_Bah_Gum indicates - it is about prior planning.
but i guess this is the “no-fail” approach - HQAC event trumps all and so takes priority. it is wrong.
if the situation was all Aug AEF slots go to those on Camps, then fine - but that isn’t the situation.
it is that at the cost of cancelling what is already committed to. it is deceitful and shows a degree of “i’m more important than you just because” approach.
Many years ago the directive from 6FTS was to facilitate local squadrons rather than annual camps as the cadets on camps may have already flown at their parent AEFs. I haven’t seen anything to say things have changed but there has been a change of OCs at 9 & 11 so maybe that guidance has been lost over time.
Too right. There’s the problem. Slots go to a MAC, almost certain that the cadets on these have flown before, whereas if at squadron level the slots would go to first-timers in the main.
Leave AEF allocations as they are and arrange additional flying in additional types for the camps!
I wonder what the results of a poll would be it cadets attending the camps were asked if they’d like to go for a potter about in a Tutor or go for a low level thrash in a Chinook with the back ramp open?
my understand that this was once upon a time the intention for these “super camps”
time wise is it more efficient to fly 30 Cadets in the back of a Chinook or 60 on a Voyager tanker sortie than it is getting them all through a 20 minute AEF
Been over 10 years now since I was directly involved with ATC. Is it still a thing that the Best NCO on certain camps eg. RAF Valley got a flight in a fast jet eg. Hawk, or is that a long gone opportunity?
Remember thinking they were the luckiest Cadet I’d ever met!
When I was the senior cadet as a cdt sgt for a camp at RAF Shawbury, I got a considerable amount of time learning the basics of flying a Griffin and being flown all over doing various drills.
But that was about 2005 or something, so while I’m confirming it did happen, I’m not sure about whether it still happens.
A couple of mine really impressed last year and got a very cool and in-depth simulator experience, plus gizzits. So the desire to reward great cadets still exists.
To give you an idea of where the AEFs sit, we are also struggling with getting new pilot applicants through the medical system. As many are airline pilots and fly on a class 1 waiver, they only need to be reviewed by the Medics at Cranwell however, as they are also undermanned, OCMED are reviewing AEF pilot medicals at the rate of 1 a week. I have 4 new pilots awaiting medical clearance. We then have to put them through the Light Aircraft Conversion. The time it takes to complete is dependant on when the individual can attend which is usually on their days off.
Folks, you need to understand that most AEF pilots are volunteers and give up their spare time to fly cadets. At the moment it’s bucket and spade season and most of our pilots will be working their socks off until September. They have lives as well. Just be a little mindful when having a go that there isn’t enough flying. As an example, I have 16 pilots (of which 12 are airline pilots) and we look after roughly 5500 cadets. Unfortunately gone are the days of having a fleet of 10 aircraft and 10 retired pilots who come to fly every day.
I don’t think anyone is having a go at volunteer pilots, or the AEF’s. My beef is with a system that won’t let cadets take advantage of other (civvy) flying opportunities, when the trend for the number of flying slots has been on a downward slope for a number of years.
I’ve got a cadet who has been on squadron for three and a half years now. I have been unable to send her flying even once. She has also been a member of the local Air Scouts group for the same period of time and has been gliding 4 times and powered flying 3 times with them.
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