The intent, if I understand it correctly, is it is hybrid. Hands on if possible but we are not locking out cadets if they can’t use a physical aircraft.
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Once again there is no joined up thinking from HQ. Drones is being looked at as a stand-alone subject - completely separate from other subjects. Why is is not being integrated into DofE, Fieldcraft and AT? Why can we not use drones to take camp photos?
Sure, we’re not locking them out of getting a badge. But if there’s no aircraft to fly then they’re still locked out from actually doing flying…
I’d assume this is because there’s an element of assumed no knowledge by cadets/cfav.
The activity hasn’t been formally delivered within RAFAC so the first stage is to introduce syllabus that starts to build up SQEP.
What it’d be good to see is, for example in fieldcraft or AT, policy introduced to say that cadets or CFAV can operate drones as part of the activity if they hold X, Y or Z qualification and A, B and C is in place.
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As we currently do (or should do) with radio.
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Because we’re taking the first formal steps into this world. Deliver, perfect, expand.
There’s not point talking about what you can do with RPAS in those other areas of we don’t have anyone that can fly RPAS yet.
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I did, but I couldn’t stick through it all. Not to detract from the work, effort, and experience of the group delivering, but I was incredibly bored and struggling to remain attentive.
What should have been engaging and exciting just sounded like a shipping forecast to me.
I picked up some key parts and made it at least to the QnA, but dipped out at that point.
Gotta agree having seen the recording, it was a drab overview of what should be an exciting new activity. I didn’t learn anything about the drones themselves.
The bit about not actually flying a real drone until Silver is crazy really only a few will get to that level. Given how much the drones must have cost every cadet should get to have a go at blue.
Badges is a big surprise to me as like the cadets are going to get the same badges as are used for flying and gliding so they’ll only be on the jumper rather than something new on ten brassard, so if a cadet has like already for wings they won’t get another. Cadets are motivated by new badges so can see some being put off. I’m not sure what this means if like a cadet has Silver for Drones if they can then apply for gold ACPS flying.
Completely incorrect. They will fly one at Blue.
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So Blue isn’t just DMARES?
This part I do remember. Blue can be with indoor flying(?), Bronze synthetic based, Silver and Gold getting to some serious stuff with outdoor personal certs?
I need to got back through the recording to find the slides to pick out the finer points I missed.
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No, that’s the outcome. But there is more to it than that. Indoor drone flying to make it accessible to all units, regardless of location. Potential to be done outdoors with regional support.
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Correct. It could be outdoor but didn’t need to be. Outdoor flying may be impossible for some units due to their location so indoor is preferred but outdoor is a regionally supported option.
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Forgive me then please, but the slides say “preferred where possible locally at squadrons”. I think that means cadets might get to fly a drone at Blue, but that really depends on what the squadron can do - theres no guarantee theyll fly an actual real drone like until Silver is that right @Hercules ?
I think you might be looking at this the wrong way around. @Hercules and his team have tried to make the Blue badge more accessible to sqns in inner cities, etc. This opens the Silver courses and ‘real drone flying’ up to more cadets.
The realistic alternative to “no guarantee … until Silver” would be those cadets not getting to Silver at all, because Blue and Bronze were made too difficult to deliver.
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I think the more of many types of training we want, the more we need to accept and embrace an amount of synthetic.
I don’t hear as much “oh but it’s not real shooting” about DCCT than for parallels in other niches.
If we want high volume, then some of that needs to be synthetic. It’s the way the entire world is going, and better prepares cadets for the real thing when they get there.
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No. The preferred statement refers to site locations where security may prohibit drone flying and not the fact they will not get access to that. We did touch on this albeit briefly as it is a sensitive matter. For blue, everyone will have to fly a drone.
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Exactly this. Blue should be accessible to all and this is just not possible outdoors. Bronze is a bridging course to take those limited skills and expand on them in a safe and controlled way in anticipation of going onto silver.
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Thanks for the clarity, you can see how it could be interpreted from the slide as I did perhaps - I’m sure that the ACTO will be clear.
Will then if a squadron has no indoor drone of there own or a volunteer willing to fly and teach them for blue will they have to work like with a squadron that does. or use a outdoor drone with a 2FTS qualified pilot?
Now seems like the blue syllabus will involve everything that squadrons were delivering years ago with no issue, prior to a blanket ban
Great work RAFAC.