Our wing circulated information which pre-timed the above. The communication issue is much more local to homeo than everyone things sometimes.
Lucky you.
Most others have to rely on whispers, rumours and ACC for their information.
There have been sporadic & inconsistent communications; for a core activity & the associated ramifications for the curtailment, this is not acceptable. It should have (& still needs) a much higher communication profile.
As to the rest, we are still in the same position from when this fiasco started. The options were the same then:
Repair (& if so, how many).
Scrap (& if so, how many)
Purchase new (& if so how many).
We are not considering huge commercial aircraft; we are looking at basic airframes/engineering.
As I see it, the “system” has failed the ACO. How you define “system” is very variable, but if we see any gliding*** after 2 years, I shall be very much surprised. Outstanding flight safety record, appalling “get things fixed” record.
[[** I discount the political “propaganda” based around the Aerospace Camp]*
For info.
The military aviation forum about cadet gliding on Pprune.org.uk is worth a look .
It gives other perspectives from both within and without the AC organisation.
Direct link to the latest on PPRuNe. One poster has written to CAS, Cmdt ACO & his MP to register his disgust…
If you look at this link, you will see the Serco contract information for glider maintenance:
£9.4M - Feb 2008 to Mar 2015.
I wonder what the case (if any) is against Serco for the issues…?
Of some interest, there was a PQ about the number/value/length of Serco contracts to MOD.
Found some guideline refurbishment costs from the ACO Flying Review, Jan 2013.
Finally, some interesting information concerning possible use of BGA facilities (& also some other interesting background information) in the Flying & Gliding Study, Dec 2012.
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The over-ridng concern is that for a couple of these reports their publish dates pre-date the problems we have encountered by at least 18 months, which means they had been identified several months prior to the publish dates.
Yet it seems there was a mindset / attitude of carry on regardless.
The proposed updated gliding syllabus looks good, I had heard that a change was on its way prior to the pause, I wonder if it will be followed through once we resume.
It appears that the 2012 study was very well thought out, it’s just disappointing that these options do not appear to have been progressed.
I hope that this is not a theme that will reoccur with the recent and forthcoming reviews into Camps & Shooting.
Another e-mail from OC 2FTS
Dear All
Following on from my note last week I wish to provide you with some additional information explaining the glider activity that will take place between now and Christmas.
First at the outset let me remind each of you that Gliders have the highest visibility with our Senior Leadership both in Air Command and the MOD, and we retain their total support to sustain gliding well into the next decade.
Viking
So turning first to Viking. Commercial are actively engaged in outsourcing a comprehensive Viking recovery program. Once the details are agreed I can provided you with further information. We also continue to recover the Vikings with Southern Sailplanes.
Vigilant
22 Trg Gp and 2FTS are :
-
Continuing with Vigilant recovery at RAF Syerston -
Undertaking a quick review of the merits of powered and unpowered gliding and powered flight
Reviewing the relative merits of Tutor vs Vigilant
-
Producing a generic definition of the gliding (powered/ conventional) requirement for cadets
Once the above work is completed a second piece of work will follow to:
-
Review Options (cost, time , risk) -
Mixes of fleets -
Basing -
Sqn attribution -
This work is to be completed before Christmas.
RAF Syerston Activity
Supplementary to this we anticipate Vikings at RAF Syerston soon and once we have refreshed our QGIs we will be inviting some of the Viking Community to RAF Syerston to undertake flying to FAT standard.
We continue to fly our Vigilant alternating between cadets and VGS staff. We soon anticipate inviting some G1/2 Vigilant staff to fly at RAF Syerston. We have secured additional funding (RAFCT) for more staff motivational flying. Details to follow soon from John Bradbury. Finally we are working on a program to deliver a formal part task trainer syllabus to cadets. I am minded some of you are already doing this but we intend to make it a formal element of the VGS training package to cadets in the future. I anticipate having this to you in the New Year.
Personal Note
On a personal note I am well aware of your frustrations regarding recovery of gliders; they are no different to mine. From afar it must seem quite an easy problem to solve. But I can assure you, glider recovery is most probably the most challenging task I and my supporting staffs have had to deal with. Yes we have glitches, mistakes are made, assured deadlines move to the right to name a few. But let me reassure you, some individuals are all working many long hours to solve the problems as quickly as possible.
And from myself, I am personally committed to getting this sorted. My maturity tells me some of you are unhappy with decisions, timing of information etc- I can only do my best which I do with passion and total commitment. That said, whilst I remain on watch, I intend to leave a legacy for ACO gliding that is fun, safe, sustainable and demonstrates we are worthy as a community of the significant investment and confidence placed in us by wider Defence. There are still many hard decisions to come and some of you, most likely, will be disappointed. I sense the future “glider space” is most likely to change, just like the RAF has changed over the years. That said, I encourage each and every one of you to work to the future alongside me and 2 FTS staffs. Moreover, encourage your VGS members to follow and contribute to it success. We must not lose sight we are all in this for the betterment of the air cadet - nothing more nothing less.
Thank you
Comdt 2FTS
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Which has taken how long to coordinate…???
Do we know why he is “Cmdt 2FTS” now rather than “OC 2FTS”?
Otherwise a spectacular update that tells us nothing we don’t already know, and that hasn’t been sent Corps-wide. Nice one.
Posted elsewhere, someone else’s thoughts:
'Dear All <You Vocal moaners>
Following on from my note last week I wish to provide you with some additional information explaining the glider activity that will take place between now and Christmas. <I am giving myself a big time window>
First at the outset let me remind each of you that Gliders have the highest visibility with our Senior Leadership both in Air Command and the MOD, <I have done my utmost to stifle and camouflage the fiasco with senior management so they have no idea> and we retain their total support <They have no idea of the mess this is> to sustain gliding well into the next decade <Only 4 years away really and it’ll take at least 2 to sort this mess out>.
Viking
So turning first to Viking. Commercial are actively engaged in outsourcing a comprehensive Viking recovery program. Once the details are agreed I can provided you with further information. We also continue to recover the Vikings with Southern Sailplanes. <Nothing to report of any substance so we’ll submerge it in ‘Commercials’>
Vigilant
22 Trg Gp and 2FTS are:
Continuing with Vigilant recovery at RAF Syerston
Undertaking a quick review of the merits of powered and unpowered gliding and powered flight <I am keeping the staff busy generating meaningless paper studies, the output of which I’ll ignore but at least I can confuse Senior Management by making Activity look like output>
Reviewing the relative merits of Tutor vs Vigilant <Why ? the Tutor wasn’t a glider of any shape or form last time I looked>
Producing a generic definition of the gliding (powered/ conventional) requirement for cadets <Management drivel that no one will understand and has no definable output that can be associated with me>
Once the above work is completed a second piece of work will follow to:
Review Options (cost, time , risk) <I hope no one asks what we have been doing for the last 18 months>
Mixes of fleets
Basing <I can slide some cuts through here looking good>
Sqn attribution <I need to look like I understand my customer requirement and that I care>
This work is to be completed before Christmas. <No one will look at it until February at the earliest>
RAF Syerston Activity
Supplementary to this we anticipate Vikings at RAF Syerston soon <no idea of date> and once we have refreshed our QGIs we will be inviting some <not the vocal troublemakers> of the Viking Community to RAF Syerston to undertake flying to FAT standard.
We continue to fly our Vigilant alternating between cadets and VGS staff. We soon <no idea of date> anticipate <no concrete commitment so we are safe here…> inviting some G1/2 Vigilant staff to fly at RAF Syerston. We have secured additional funding (RAFCT) for more staff motivational flying <no commitment to SCT whatever happens so we are safe here…>. Details to follow soon <no idea of date> from John Bradbury <pass the buck - I am Teflon WRT this>. Finally we are working on a program to deliver a formal part task trainer syllabus to cadets <another pointless hoop introduced and a few more people kept busy generating meaningless shelfware but hey-ho>. I am minded some of you are already doing this but we intend to make it a formal <That is another hurdle to slow down the line queuing at the checkout> element of the VGS training package to cadets in the future. I anticipate having this to you in the New Year <no idea of actual date>.
Personal Note
On a personal note I am well aware of your frustrations regarding recovery of gliders; they are no different to mine. From afar it must seem quite an easy problem to solve. But I can assure you, glider recovery is most probably the most challenging task I and my supporting staffs have had to deal with. Yes we have glitches, mistakes are made, assured deadlines move to the right to name a few <I will hide all this in the blurb>. But let me reassure you, some individuals are all working many long hours to solve the problems as quickly as possible.
And from myself, I am personally committed to getting this sorted. My maturity <?> tells me some of you are unhappy with decisions, timing of information etc - I can only do my best which I do with passion and total commitment. That said, whilst I remain on watch <until I leave>, I intend to leave a legacy for ACO gliding that is fun, safe, sustainable and demonstrates we are worthy as a community of the significant investment and confidence placed in us by wider Defence. There are still many hard decisions to come and some of you, most likely, will be disappointed <I know you will and don’t care>. I sense the future “glider space” is most likely to change <I already know>, just like the RAF has changed over the years. That said, I encourage each and every one of you to work to the future alongside me and 2 FTS staffs. Moreover, encourage your VGS members to follow and contribute to it success. We must not lose sight we are all in this for the betterment of the air cadet - nothing more nothing less.
Thank you
Comdt 2FTS’
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The burglar alarm by itself cost £25K.
Yep, noted that - it must be a top of the range, anti-ninja laser system at that price!! 
I can feel a FoI request coming on, to ask for copies of all minutes of “Gliding Paused” meetings, copies of all executive decisions (have there been any!!! 
) with associated reasoning, financial spreadsheets, associated time flow considerations. contractual issues with Serco/any other involved contractor (to include linked aspects for any planned claim for sub-standard maintenance aspects), number/type of airframes affected & specific issues (itemised), planned/rejected proposals (with associated reasoning), planned involvement with BGA, etc…
What have I missed??
Anyone got any images of the building?
Well, ivory doesn’t come cheap!
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There’s a link on that PPRUNE site.
is this a building “inside the wire”…?
I am guessing not if it has an alarm fitted???
It is interesting reading that link above by Mike Jenvey on the flying and gliding review 2012 I find the following points caught my attention
Para 7 (page 4)
The author does acknowledge that the flying and gliding does set the ACO apart from the ACF and Scouts
Para 11a (page5)
Even in 2012 there was still the belief that AEFs are to provide the “provision” of one flight per Cadet per annum.
This quarter, we have 8 places. So lets say that is 32 a year. For a Squadron “Strength” (BADER figures) of 52 is doesn’t take Grp Capt Vorderman’s mental arithmetic skills to work out that is not enough.
Based on our numbers and each detail consisting of 4 Cadets , we need to have one slot per month to match that “provision” – that simply isn’t going to happen”
Para 12a (page 6)
“One gliding slot every three years.”
Well based on the Gliding requirements I guess we have another 12-18months of pause before they have missed their own target right?
Para 14 (Page6)
Highlights there was been a STEADY decline in 4 years of the number of Cadets flown for various reasons listed.
Interesting the stats are offered in ANNEX C
94% of Cadets were flown in 2008-2009 with 105% of the allocated hours used, yet only a third (34%) in 2011-2012 with 50% of the allocated hours used
It is disappointing that there is only excuses for this decline (grounded ac, operational limitations, age restrictions on pilots and snow(!)) with little to indicate this trend, which was significant and clear in 2009-2010 (only 64% Cadets flown) and only continued, was not rectified, combated or reversed. “adapt and overcome”…hmmm adapt to the new limitations but nothing was “overcome” to maintain output.
Skipping forward a long way to Enclosure 2
This whole section I find interesting, the forward thinking plan in 2012 of the shape of gliding after 2015/2016 with regard to new or refurbished ac.
Para 4 (page 36) lists the EIGHT options surrounding the gliding fleet, from “no nothing” to replacement
The interesting option is number 3
“link with the British Gliding Association to deliver all or part of ACO gliding”
Now this was dismissed in the report it does conclude with
[quote]
"…a pilot study be run in partnership the BGA to assess the potential for delivering GIC courses where there are no ACO VGSs or where they have insufficient capacity to meet the local training requirements" [/quote]
The word of significance there is GICs. I understand the ACO have created links with the BGA about GS style courses in light of our “pause” but nothing about GICs.
Ok I admit the recommendation may not have happened, it was only a recommendation. And it may well have happened, but deemed not suitable….but I am curious, was this revisited following the pause? If it was worth considering for those with no access to or limited capacity for GICs back then would it not be prudent to consider it again on a wider scale given ALL are now without access and NO training requirements could be met?
Option 5 – replacement of the Vigilant
Now these boards as well as many others have said that the Viking is by far the easier of the two aircraft, it has no engine it is a GRP body and some cables so why have these been “paused” for so long? The report indicates there a 81 ac in the fleet, if it took a whole working week, 40 hrs per aircraft say for a nose to tail, wingtip to wingtip inspection and fix, that would be 20months for one man….don’t tell me they have only one technician working on the fleet, the words used indicate the “team are dedicated and working hard around the clock” imply a sizable ground crew…
A three man team could turn the fleet around in a little over 6 months, yet we’re here three times that duration without a single operating ac at a VGS….
However the Vigilant is accepted to be a more complex ac.
The provision as I read it was the future of the Vigilant was only expected until 2016, an aging aircraft which needs an overhaul, either by direct replacement of new ac (20+ years’ service life) or a new engine (10 years’ service life).
If the Vigilant had only 2 years “life” let in her (at the start of the pause) would it not be worth bringing forward the change process than spend ££££ doing erm….er….anyone know what they have been doing to the ac in the last 18 months?
(serious point, how many ac have been deemed airworthy in 18 months….?)
Perhaps that is what they are doing…so why not tell us? Why claim the glider “recovery” is going well when in fact the fleet is being replaced entirely?
There appears to be sound logic in the report in 2012, particularly looking forward 5, 10, 20 years, yet only two years later in 2014/2015 it has either fallen on deaf ears or simply been ignored…
”through adversity to the stars” – through maximum risk avoidance to retirement
“Venture Adventure” – cautiously stagnant
CAC’s will have two legacies:
- breaking down the barriers between the CAC role and Cadets, by getting involved, visiting as many events and Units as practical and engaging in social media.
-and the output of this pause…
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