I’ve said before, it would be interesting what the ACAS thinks as she sits on the CAA board. I know they you @MikeJenvey have spoken to the DCAS in the past.
Well, worth a go…
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Trying to be the Devil’s Advocate here - I understand that @Cab is “restricted” by mandates, rules and regs etc - but - he IS the person who ought to be able to not only recognise the problem and need for a solution.
That being said - let’s be real - Cabbis responsible for overseeing ALL training within the RAF.
Although flying within RAFAC is a “relatively” small but if his workload - it is something that affects something like half of all the personnel under his governance.
What’s more - although I keep driving home the need for change / improvement - I’m not expecting him to be the Officer delivering that change - but I would like to see him “allowing” a solution to be found and implemented.
This is symptomatic across lots of activity within RAFAC - “unless you do it THIS way - you CAN’T do it”.
On the one hand, sticking to proven safe standards of operation is a great way forward - but only if all other factors are manageable and affordable.
Trust the staff that have been appointed to their positions - if you have the wrong person in the wrong role; move them.
Solutions that would work for RAFAC; would benefit UAS too.
Thinking bigger picture the RAF are frustrated that they’re not getting a “better calibre” of applicants - but it is losing thousands of potential applicants each year beicse they’ve already become dis-incentivised as cadets. Want you to focus together.
It is very short sighted to think “if they’re this easily put off, we don’t want them”, but these are young people that ARE looking for a “home” and a place to feel valued in exchange for their commitment to a career that would otherwise probably pay double the money in Civvie street.
Trying to move the conversation on - what I am trying to do, is look at what changes CAN be implemented Corps wide, to make it easier for CFAVs to deliver activities and to enrich cadet’s experience, education and development.
In my experience, HQAC are too locked in to the mindset that volunteers are “unpaid employees”.
Just because a process is inefficient, it doesn’t matter, because CFAVs aren’t being paid - so it doesn’t cost RAFAC any more - so efficiency savings are not the priority.
Reducing admin burden; standardising Risk Assessments; reducing costs etc…
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Agreed with this entirely - If a solution of Flying or Gliding at least once a year was put out there, I don’t think that is an unreasonable request. I do wonder could AEF or VGS (in particular) have more capacity for school holidays flying/gliding. I understand some will be limited due to people and runway capacity but a mini “flying/gliding” camp could be a good option even if it was just 2 full days to give window of opportunity to get everyone up at least once.
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We should be aiming for 1 flight aper year per cadet as a minimum. The same as we should be aiming for 1 annual camp space per year per cadet minimum.
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Assuring spaces on camps and flying slots is definitely a lovely ideal - if you read everything I’ve written, you’ll see I would love to see such… but being realistic, I think we have to be mindful of availability of resources - and, to my mind, the most invaluable of which are the wonderful volunteers of VGS, AEF and RAFAC.
To “help” improve availability of volunteers, to deliver activity, there needs to be more done to “help” make it easier for CFAVs to volunteer their time…
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according to policy, which if you read “policy” as the “minimum” requirements we should adhere to then 1 flight a year is already the minimum
source: ACTO11 Annex A - link > ACTO 011.DOCX
the point being, this is already an expectation laid down by HQAC so it shouldn’t be for the CFAV to be beating the drum when it is already in black and white
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Except the organisational KPIs for flying were reduced from 10k flights per year to 7.5k flights per year… Easier to say you’re performing well if you just reduce the target.
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RAF & RAFAC: Making the minimum an aspiration!
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There is already an organisation set up specifically to help the RAFAC support, young air-minded people and at the same time get them flying experiences.
The Air Scout organisation was set up in January 1941 to support young people who wanted to join the Air Cadets but were too young (16 was then the minimum age).
Air Scouts can fly from the age of 10.5, provided the pilot, flying club, and aircraft meet the required standards.
We have Air Scouts (10.5 - 14) and Air Explorer Units (14 - 18).
Many of our Scouts & Explorers then go on to join the RAFAC - but they can do both.
Some units are ‘RAF Recognised’ and are inspected by an RAFAC Senior Officer to ensure they meet the agreed standards in GAI 1011. This also allows Air Explorers to take up any spare capacity of AEF flights—this never happens as there is never spare capacity, so AEF should never have empty slots or seats.
The RAF/Air Recognition scheme celebrates its 75th Anniversary in October of next year.
My point is this - Air Scouts and the RAF recognition scheme were set up directly to support the RAF by having a junior air minded section to feed into the Cadets.
The RAF Recognition scheme shows what the RAF is willing to offer the Scouts as part of the ‘Deal’ - but it does not have to be a one-way arrangement - Air Scouting could support local RAFAC squadrons by taking any younger children on the waiting lists and supporting their aviation STEM education.
Air Scouts are covered by Scout and flying club insurance flying and fly at subsidised rates.
In my unit in Northamptonshire, every Air Scout and Explorer (and the Leaders) got the opportunity to fly about 8 times last year.
Also whilst the RAF Recognition scheme allows Air Scouts to be accommodated at RAF Stations (a rarity) - a reciprocal deal could see RAFAC cadets able to use 100’s of Scout Activity centres and Camping grounds at Scouting.
Maybe closer ties with Air Scouting could help both the RAF & RAFAC?
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Do you link up with any local ATC units or do they just keep themselves to themselves?
Currently, we meet up at local events but hoping for closer links and reciprocal visits.
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Got any around the Hull / Humberside area?
I have good links with our local scouting movement, but I’ve not yet heard of any air scouts.
You do have to wonder - casually - that if you had a clean sheet of paper, and put on all the cadets, scouts, guides, and all the resources - adult volunteers, locations, cash, service support from all of them together, what kind of organisation/network/opportunities you would achieve…
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I can see an opportunity for DofE volunteering. I don’t know if all Scout districts have it but local to us they had ‘DofE only Young Leaders’ helping with Cubs & Scouts (depending on their age and DofE level). They had quite a few army cadets do it and it seemed to work well for all.
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… just checking I read that correctly… EVERY AIR SCOUT and EXPLORER and the LEADERS got the opportunity to fly about EIGHT times last year…
Can I confirm that meant they actually got in to an aircraft and flew… or, they were told there’s a flying slot, then had it cancelled due to poor weather / bad viz, lack of serviceable aircraft / teaching aircraft retasked, pause on any activity beyond their unit…? (Did I miss anything…?)
Also… might I enquire as to who signs off on the suitability of the training aircraft / flying schools / pilots…? (Asking for - ahem - a friend)
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I’m aware of this having been done on a very small scale back in the day - mainly because there were more volunteers about…
I’m sure that similar things still happen at a smaller / community level - at least… I would have thought so. As you point out @angus - this would be a brilliant move
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