I have a C1/D1 driving licence that allows me to drive a minibus.
Someone at Wing was looking for a volunteer to drive a minibus with him and cadets for a road marching trip.
I told the the CO that I regularly drive a 5 ton tag axle towing a car so have not just the licence but the experience.
After the usual comment about bureaucracy etc I tried to read up on how to do it!
There are documents full of drivers hours, how you can become personally liable, should follow the Highway Code etc etc there is nothing as far as I can see that is a simple straightforward process to get on an approved list of drivers, who needs to check my licence and how to go about it!
There seems to be loads of stuff generally about protecting RAFAC and little towards anything that could be construed as help to getting things done so the cadets can have a great experience.
Perhaps this should have been on the Grinding my gears thread!
And presumably apply for a FMT600 - and specifically mention MINIBUS. At the time of booking, I would also make a point of asking to do your 50/50 - it’s a crewcab van - essentially a long wheel base Ford Transit.
I don’t think there’s such things as F/MT 600s anymore. All your driving currencies go on MyDrive / Campbell.
If you still have an F/MT 600 you can upload a photo of it into MyDrive and ask MT to map your qualifications over. They took minibus and 4x4 off one of mine that was over a decade old and from another service.
I read that when it came out. It’s basically pants. It mentions the word SOV in the first paragraph and then at no point references anything about SOVs or their difference again.
A proper step by step guide would be useful. This document isn’t.
And no mention either of the use of private cars to transport cadets on authorised RAFAC activities… which is also a legit thing - but not mentioned AT ALL within a document entitled “Want to drive on authorised activities for RAFAC?”
It’s almost like our biggest risk and focus is minibuses and white fleet, without recognising that there are substantially more journey’s made in personal vehicles on authorised activities!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who is finding this hard work.
It never dawned on me that I have to do something special before I can take cadets in my car as I was already required to increase my comprehensive car insurance from personal to business use!
When and where I worked we had a staff manual which gave any new member of staff an insight into the the firm, its history, the partners and everything a staff member needs like when and how you got paid, how to claim expenses, motor mileage allowances, holiday rules, sickness etc etc.
Not strictly true. It is depending on your insurer. Motability which insure Motability cars will cover carrying of cadets under their normal insurance policy.
Sorry but it was a direct requirement of the papers I was required to sign to become a volunteer, not specifically for the purpose of carrying cadets although I assumed at the time that it was.
I’ve questioned these exact documents before. Some wording requires business insureance, other wording requires suitable insureance to cover the activities you’ll be doing. The former is wrong, as many insurers will cover voluntary work.
Given what you’ve said, I’m guessing the wording is still wrong.
