Air Cadets Training contract

[mmm...bacon]

Anyone heard which schools have been awarded the contract for the Air Cadets power training this summer?

[Ruger Princess]

Not sure if it's out yet?! My kids just got their summer camp requests on Wed.

Maybe look on the Govt Cadet site?

[Ruger Princess]

Yeah it's not out yet.

Everything else is though!

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-nat ... urses.html

[overratedbadelynge]

It's not out yet!

[shamrock104]

Seems a little late in coming out.

[‘Bob’]

Seems a little late in coming out.

It’s at the speed of government.

I feel sorry for the glider scholarship candidates who often have to sit on the ground all summer because nobody can meet the Air Force requirements to be a tug pilot.

[Tbayer2021]

Seems a little late in coming out.

It’s at the speed of government.

I feel sorry for the glider scholarship candidates who often have to sit on the ground all summer because nobody can meet the Air Force requirements to be a tug pilot.

What are their requirements? I probably meet them and would love to do it.

[goingnowherefast]

They came through my town a couple years ago recruiting ex-cadets into the adult volunteer program. Tug pilots and whatever. When it came time to actually say hello in person and for me to ask "how can I help?" Nothing. They wouldn't answer the phone. I've been out of the cadet system or a long time, I dunno how to get back in as an adult volunteer. I was looking forward to speaking with this recruiting drive and sorting some of this out.

I guess they can't be that short.

[CaptDukeNukem]

Seems a little late in coming out.

It’s at the speed of government.

I feel sorry for the glider scholarship candidates who often have to sit on the ground all summer because nobody can meet the Air Force requirements to be a tug pilot.

What are their requirements? I probably meet them and would love to do it.

Since it’s TC, I’m gonna guess:
1000 PIC; and
- knowledge test of fixed card ADF or NDB circling approaches even though all flying is VFR
- knowledge test of magnetic compass errors especially north/south turning errors.
- knowledge test of every type of flaps/slats system that exists since 1903.

[Tbayer2021]

It’s at the speed of government.

I feel sorry for the glider scholarship candidates who often have to sit on the ground all summer because nobody can meet the Air Force requirements to be a tug pilot.

What are their requirements? I probably meet them and would love to do it.

Since it’s TC, I’m gonna guess:
1000 PIC; and
- knowledge test of fixed card ADF or NDB circling approaches even though all flying is VFR
- knowledge test of magnetic compass errors especially north/south turning errors.
- knowledge test of every type of flaps/slats system that exists since 1903.

This is too funny, but sadly, it is probably not far from the truth. 

[goldeneagle]

Since it’s TC, I’m gonna guess:

It's not tc tho, it's the forces

TC != CAF

[Me262]

Seems a little late in coming out.

It’s at the speed of government.

I feel sorry for the glider scholarship candidates who often have to sit on the ground all summer because nobody can meet the Air Force requirements to be a tug pilot.

What are their requirements? I probably meet them and would love to do it.

100 PIC but you will not be starting on the 182. You have to dedicate a year or two being involved in the cadets before (if) you will get assigned tug pilot. As with everything in the forces, this is not guaranteed, there is no "seniority" and it's up to the needs of the force (even if CIC is separate from the actual RCAF/CAF)

[‘Bob’]

And then they wonder why they have a recruiting problem (both the Air Cadets and the RCAF).

Nobody wants to join, nobody wants to stay.

[CaptDukeNukem]

Since it’s TC, I’m gonna guess:

It's not tc tho, it's the forces

TC != CAF

Potato, POH-TAH-DO.

[Tbayer2021]

It’s at the speed of government.

I feel sorry for the glider scholarship candidates who often have to sit on the ground all summer because nobody can meet the Air Force requirements to be a tug pilot.

What are their requirements? I probably meet them and would love to do it.

100 PIC but you will not be starting on the 182. You have to dedicate a year or two being involved in the cadets before (if) you will get assigned tug pilot. As with everything in the forces, this is not guaranteed, there is no "seniority" and it's up to the needs of the force (even if CIC is separate from the actual RCAF/CAF)

Oh, doesn't sound like an onerous requirement. I thought it may have had something to do with a high tailwheel requirement, I didn't know they had switched to 182s. We used Scouts when I was in cadets.

[goingnowherefast]

It’s at the speed of government.

I feel sorry for the glider scholarship candidates who often have to sit on the ground all summer because nobody can meet the Air Force requirements to be a tug pilot.

What are their requirements? I probably meet them and would love to do it.

100 PIC but you will not be starting on the 182. You have to dedicate a year or two being involved in the cadets before (if) you will get assigned tug pilot. As with everything in the forces, this is not guaranteed, there is no "seniority" and it's up to the needs of the force (even if CIC is separate from the actual RCAF/CAF)

Something isn't adding up here. If it's "up to the needs of the force", and they're short tow pilots to the point of sitting cadets, seems like the "needs of the force" aren't being met.

[Me262]

What are their requirements? I probably meet them and would love to do it.

100 PIC but you will not be starting on the 182. You have to dedicate a year or two being involved in the cadets before (if) you will get assigned tug pilot. As with everything in the forces, this is not guaranteed, there is no "seniority" and it's up to the needs of the force (even if CIC is separate from the actual RCAF/CAF)

Something isn't adding up here. If it's "up to the needs of the force", and they're short tow pilots to the point of sitting cadets, seems like the "needs of the force" aren't being met.

You obviously haven't kept up with CAF and their "we did nothing and we are out of ideas" when it comes to attrition and just letting people go because they are unwilling to work with the members concerns. Tow pilot "shortage" is the least of their concerns (if they had any concerns, they are just letting the institution implode).

[goingnowherefast]

That's sad to hear. The cadet program is fantastic and a great opportunity for our youth.

[Big Pistons Forever]

Awarding a contract is not rocket science it is a routine administrative process. The Air Cadets have a historically high number of CIC officers on full time Class B contracts and yet they cannot manage to deliver on a core mandate, Really ?

[mmm...bacon]

I’m thinking that it might well be a shortage of schools with available instructors and aeroplanes to do the job? And that, co-located with a suitable barracks for the cadets to be billeted at…

[kevind]

The gliding program for the cadet program does not need pilots. It need adults who are willing to be adult leaders, supervisors and instructors, who can also fly. The requirements for training in the aircraft is not that much when it comes to actual flying hours, but you will be expected to be more than just a pilot. Many pilots are not keen to stand on a field for 10 hours, making sure cadets are safe and get a quality experience and maybe do a few glider flights or a tow shift. That is were the nonpilot stuff comes in.

BC uses highly modified 182's, the prairies and Ontario use Scouts and Quebec an Maritimes use Super Dogs (upgraded L-19s).

The Power training is all contracted out to Flight Training Units and adult supervisor may or not be a pilot. Those supervisors are needed too.

If you want to to use your aircraft to fly your local cadets at the expense of your local squadron, you can do that, but you need to jump thru a few hoops including proof of insurance and maintenance, attend an annual briefing and do an annual instructor ride. It is amazing how many people will not do some or all of that. "I haven't been with an instructor in 20 years, why do I have to have one for you, and trust me I have done 100hr"

If you want to help, join your local air cadet squadron as a Civilian Instructor and then the flying staff will look at you and do their best to get you into an airplane.

[Big Pistons Forever]

The power courses are supposed to start in 2 weeks and FTU’e are still waiting for a formal contract. That is just bad management

[tsgarp]

The power courses are supposed to start in 2 weeks and FTU’e are still waiting for a formal contract. That is just bad management

True, however let’s place responsibility where it belongs. This contract, like all military and government contracts, is handled by Public Services Procurement Canada. These are the same people who brought us the ArriveCan scandal, which resulted in so many rule changes that they are now extremely behind because they had to redo a significant amount of their contracts. At the best of times they move at the speed of bureaucracy. If the military, and by extension the Cadet Leagues, where allowed to contract for themselves things would be different…

[fish4life]

I wonder how much of it is a result of schools being unsure if they will have the instructors required so they waited longer to ensure “xxxx” staffing levels

[shamrock104]

I am guessing more to do with the earlier assumptions of the government handling agencies dragging their feet rather than schools trying to work on staffing levels.