633 VGS TASKING
633 VGS TASKING
GLIDING INDUCTION COURSE (GIC)
This is often the first experience an Air Cadet has in the world of hands-on aviation.
The GIC has been designed to give cadets a taste of Air Cadet gliding and it consists of 3 different levels of instruction. Cadets are re-introduced to the various aspects of aerodynamics which are covered at Sqn level, before being taught the ”effects of the controls” in the air. They will then have the opportunity to take control of the aircraft and practice what they have learnt. On the first visit they cover the GIC 1 syllabus, and on subsequent visits they will progress to GIC 2 and 3.
After a cadet has completed the course, they are awarded a GIC certificate.
COURSE CONTENT
GIC 1 - Pitch (20 mins)
GIC 2 - Roll (25 mins)
GIC 3 - Yaw and the stall (30 mins)
GLIDING SCHOLARSHIP
(GS) 
Gliding Scholarship (GS) courses are an opportunity for cadets to undergo further training and achieve Gliding Scholarship Wings. A course consists of up to 40 launches in a Viking or 8 hours in a Vigilant to achieve GS wings. Cadets showing the necessary aptitude are invited to progress to 'solo' standard, and hopefully achieve the GS Solo Wings.
If you want to be nominated for a Gliding Scholarship, let your Squadron or Unit training officer know. Ideally you should have completed a GIC 1, 2 or 3, but it is not mandatory. You must be 16 years of age when you start the course and you will need a medical form (RAF Form 6424), which is available upon request from your unit. When you are accepted for a course, take this form to your local doctor and ask them to complete it (you must retain the form because you will have to present it to the VGS on commencement of a GS Course). Once completed the Form is valid for 2 years, as long as nothing medically untoward happens to you.
After you have completed the medical (no examination required – it is completed by reference to your medical notes), and your doctor has signed the form to confirm that you are fit to undergo glider pilot training, you are ready for a course. It is then a matter of waiting for a course place to become available. Courses are attended in two formats, either over successive weekends until you have completed the course, or a continuous week-long course. You must have the commitment to attend for the full GS course, as it can be difficult to predict the exact time it will take to complete. This very much depends on your own progress and the weather. Typically in summer a course will take 3 to 4 weekends to complete. Successful completion of the course will entitle you to wear the Blue GS wings. You will have done well to get this far.
For cadets showing the required aptitude there may be the opportunity to progress further and hopefully reach solo standard. Following successfully completion of a solo circuit you will be entitled to wear the Silver GS wings. For some cadets, if they are invited or apply and are accepted to become Flight Staff Cadets (FSC), there will be further training.
ADVANCED GLIDER TRAINING (AGT)
Cadets who are accepted as FSCs will be trained to a higher level and again, on completion, will be entitled to wear the Gold wings, denoting AGT or Advanced Glider Training. The course includes some upper air work and after that is complete then it's back into the circuit. When you have obtained the required standard you will fly 5 more solo circuits and, once completed, you will be awarded the Gold Wings.
As well as cadet tasking the school also undertakes Staff Continuation Training (SCT). This may be training a new instructor or teaching a G2 how to instruct the GIC syllabus. It may also be senior instructors flying with each other to keep current.
UNGRADED PILOTS
Persons appointed to a VGS, including flight staff cadets, are known as ‘U/T Instructors’ until a Qualified Gliding Instructor (QGI) category has been awarded. The U/T instructors are split into the following designations:
U/T instructors play a crucial role within the VGS movement by ensuring that the ground duties are performed both efficiently and safely to allow the flying operation to continue. Without the U/T instructors, VGS QGIs would have to perform these ground duties thereby impacting on the productivity of flying operations.
Flying training, post GS, is focused on increasing accuracy, skill and judgement, with safety at all times being the key consideration. Training consists of dual consolidation flying with a B Category or above Instructor, as well as building up solo time. When a U/T has completes a minimum of 15 hrs, incl 3:30 hrs solo, post 1st solo on type, they are eligible to take the Grade Two Pilot test to become a Graded Pilot.
GRADED PILOTS
Grade 2
A Grade 2 Pilot's (G2) training is geared around building up the pilot's experience of different runways and different conditions. The pilot will, after a period of time, start right hand seat conversion training. Previously all the flying will have been conducted from the Left Hand Seat. Conversion is necessary as later on in a VGS staff members career they may elect to become a QGI and all Gliding Scholarship instructional flying is conducted from the right hand seat.
Grade 1
Grade 1 Pilots are able to be authorised to take up their first passengers. It is also the point at which U/T Instructors are permitted to wear Air Cadet Glider Pilot Wings (without crown) and flown as captain with a passenger. The main task for G1s is to deliver the Gliding Induction Course to cadets who are visiting the VGS from there ATC or CCF(RAF) unit.
Grade 1 Pilots are only permitted to allow passengers have control of the aircraft when above 500 feet. This allows G1's to gain plenty of experience in varying conditions, allowing them to polish their flying to a very high standard. The next step for a U/T Instructor is the transition to a Qualified Gliding Instructor. For this, U/T Instructors spend a week at the Air Cadets Central Gliding School learning how to deliver the Gliding Scholarship Syllabus.