Well, when Wyton was our AEF location, I didn’t mind that all on the occasional basis; we were probably one of the closest sqns & could always fill additional slots. I always would pre-plan at least 2 - 4 reserves to cover sqn drop-outs + last minute slot options.
Not so easy now 5AEF are at Wittering, but we are still “relatively” close & depending on am / pm allocation, wouldn’t have a “stupid o’clock” departure from the sqn - unlike those coming from Lowestoft or similar!
With us I think it was because lots of contingents were not interested in travelling sometimes significant distances for a short sit in a static simulator whereas we were.
Right, some insight from 2FTS.
Replacement for ACTO35, don’t hold your breath.
In short, issues cross CAA/LAA/BGA & MAA boundaries. Not only these factors, but this requires agreement between RAF Legal Advisors, the Senior Operator & Chief Air Eng to the Operational Duty Holder, AOC 22 Gp, & CAS . So, this is obviously outwith HQ RAFAC / 2FTS, & throwing in complications from Covid19, no timeline can be given. Roll on 2021 or beyond?? 
I have asked that the IBN is re-issued, so at least all RAFAC personnel get an up-date - even if it is a “don’t know” situation.
Jesus wept.
Throwing my weight behind calling for a scrapping of VGS and let the BGA do it all.
Thanks mike for the update.
@anon9987823 I have been saying this for years.
Close down the nepotistic flyboys clubs and spend the money with the BGA. We could double or treble the gliding we get once all the costs of staffing and maintaining VGSs is gone.
Elliminatingall those staff posts and syreston would save a fortune also.
Every cadet could have £100 of glider time every year for the cost of the VGSs, equipment, syreston and staff costs.
Let alone the budget we normally attatch to gliding.
Great solution, apart from the BGA showing no appetite for doing the task.
No brainer.
I must say I sent a rather, erm, messy(!?) log book off for award of civilian wings (it was a state, but it made sense)… 2FTS replied that they’d issue the wings, but the log book was a mess… took every ounce of my being to not ask what about the state of their maintenance logs!
Ok, so now it’s the small job of infiltrating hqac to affect positive change.
Let’s see where we are in 25 years.
You got civi wings as staff?
They soon would if there was a contract attached that wasn’t totally stupid.
No for a cadet!
Until we flash the cash.
Ahhh ok!
My ppl still unrecognised! Did I tell you I’m a pilot 
They didn’t last time they were asked, they want club members not to be doing air ex flights
I spoke (some years ago now!) with the BGA Chairman - on the contrary, they wanted to help.
I visited, with our R Av O, our local BGA site; a workable plan was there.
My ATPL Comms (HF + Morse + whatever) not recognised by Wg Radio peeps - you wonder why I don’t hold some people in high esteem?
As ACTO35 did not (originally) have gliding included, I liaised with the BGA Chairman to see what the best plan of action would be. We agreed a status / experience level in the expectation that 2FTS would “double it” - that is what more or less happened after I cajoled 2FTS to incorporate gliding in ACTO35, but it still permitted a “basic” instructor (or whatever the category was) to conduct experience flights.
I’m sure they are happy to help with some packages for the odd squadron here and there, sure they might get some members out of it. Did you request them to fly air ex day in day out every time they flew?
#goodegg giving away valuable persec info there 
The whole idea was to get as many BGA sites pre-approved to avoid the ACTO35 d*ick dance of requiring the various cadet / instructor/ airframe approval for each visit.
Each BGA site would then plan in advance to have the appropriate instructor(s) available (& in the required recency, etc) with a dedicated airframe to fit in with sqn bookings.
It was looking as if it was all going to work, then got canned. 
If my work job would permit, I would consider it.
However, at the moment, it doesn’t - & I’m afraid I don’t agree with some of the policies so would find it rather hard to toe the line!
As it is, I often go direct to source - I have never had any problem of justifying doing so - but in a formal position, it would be much harder to get away with it. 