Flying

The likelihood is being an Air Cadet you already have some interest in flying. The opportunities open to you within the ATC are dependent on your efforts on the squadron, and your attempts to reach the required standards of training. You must be a minimum of 13 years and 3 months to conduct Air Experience Flying.

Flying with the ATC is free, so take advantage of it. There is no other organisation that gives you an opportunity like this! It is also a chance to put into practice some of the skills and knowledge you have learnt at your squadron.

Before you can get airborne, there are two very important documents that you have to have signed and completed; the Parent or Guardian’s Consent to Fly form (found in your 3822) and an AV1 Medical form (which will be provided to you a week or so before you fly).

In the following paragraphs, we will set out some of the opportunities to fly within the Corps, from your first AEF through to a Flying Scholarship. 

Battle of Britain Pilot - Wing Commander Bob Doe in his Spitfire DAZ

AIR EXPERIENCE FLYING

Opportunities for cadets to fly were provided from 1958 to encourage an interest in aviation. These flights are available at many different locations within the RAF. Air Experience Flights (AEF) are commanded by RAF pilots, assisted by staff pilots who are members of the RAF and RAF Volunteer Reserve, with previous experience as full-time pilots.

They fly the Grob 115e, known in the RAF as the Tutor T1. It is a two-seat, single-engine aircraft with dual controls. Usually, the pilot sits in the left seat and you will sit in the right seat. The aircraft is fully aerobatic, so as well as learning standard manoeuvres, you may be invited to experience some aerobatic flight.

The Tutor has side-by-side seating with dual controls, which enables you to take control of the aircraft when asked, so as to put into practice what you have learnt.

You can expect to fly at least once a year with the local AEF, as well as on annual camps to other RAF stations. 

Before you fly, try to think about what you would like to learn from each flight, as the pilot will probably ask if you have any specific requests.

FLIGHT SAFETY

Before you are allowed to fly in the Tutor, you will be given a full safety brief. This includes what to do in an emergency. You will get the brief every time you attend the AEF, and you must have full attention. The brief may have changed from your last visit, and you won’t remember everything anyway. The brief will tell you the following information:

a. Donning of your parachute and LSJ (Life Saving Jacket) if needed

b. How to enter the aircraft, and where it is safe to tread

c. Where to sit in the aircraft, with assistance from ground crew

d. How to fasten your harness

e. Use of the radio communication equipment

EQUIPMENT

You will be provided with a flying suit, parachute, LSJ if flying near water, helmet, gloves, boots and a sick bag.  A safety equipment fitter, or “Skipper” for short, will assist the fitting of your parachute, and adjust your helmet accordingly. Your sick bag is important - if you are sick you must tell your pilot immediately, who will fly straight and level and provide ventilation to help. If you think you will be sick, get your sick bag out immediately. If you make a mess of the aircraft, it may be rendered unserviceable for a day or two. Many people feel airsick when they fly, even very experienced pilots, so don’t feel embarrassed if you do feel unwell. 

ENTERING THE AIRCRAFT

You will be escorted to the aircraft, and approach from the rear of the aircraft, to enter the left-hand side of it. The wings of a Tutor are glass-reinforced plastic (GRP), and therefore are very fragile. Marked in grey are the areas where it is safe to tread on.

Your escort will also help you get strapped into the aircraft.

The seat harness is fitted securely to the aircraft and ensures you won’t fall out of the seat if inverted. It consists of two waist straps, which should be connected first, two shoulder straps and one “g” strap which go between your legs. The harness straps all connect to one Quick Release Box or QRB. Your headset lead will be plugged into the aircraft’s communication system. 

YOUR FLIGHT

When the pilot is ready he will taxi the aircraft away from the dispersal, and get permission from Air Traffic Control to take off. On average, you should get 30 minutes flying, with some hands-on experience. When the pilot is not busy talking to Air Traffic Control or other aircraft, make sure you talk to them and try to observe as much as possible in flight. On returning to the airfield, you should ensure your 3822 is updated with your flight details. 

The TUTOR entered RAF service in 1999 and serves the RAF’s Elementary Flying Training Schools (EFTS), University Air Squadrons (UAS), and Air Experience Flights (AEF). It replaced the Scottish Aviation Bulldog T1, itself successor to the long-serving de Havilland Chipmunk. It is a side-by-side, single-engine aircraft with dual controls. It offers superb visibility and is fully aerobatic.

Technical Details: 

Wingspan    10m

Length   7.4m 

Crew   2

Normal Operating Speed 100kts ASL 

Engine   1 Avro Lycoming   

               4-cylinder piston engine 

 

LIFE PRESERVER (OR MAE WEST)

If you are liable to fly over water, you will be supplied with a life preserver waistcoat. If you need to use it, will be inflated by a carbon monoxide cylinder when the beaded handle is pulled downwards.  It will enable you to float in a safe and comfortable position in the water.

HEADSET AND MICROPHONE

You will be provided with a headset and a safety helmet.  The headset plugs into the aircraft communications system by means of a jack plug.  There is an on-off switch on the microphone which should be kept in the ‘off’ position except when you are speaking in order to minimise the level of engine noise for the pilot. 

LOOSE ARTICLES

Ensure that you remove everything from your pockets before a flight since loose articles can lead to jammed controls which could be disastrous.

AIR SICKNESS

You will be provided with a sick bag in case you feel unwell at any stage during the flight.  Should this occur, tell the pilot you feel unwell, he will then fly the aircraft straight and level and open the cockpit slightly to give you some fresh air.  If you are sick, remember to catch it all in the sick bag otherwise if you make a mess of the aircraft no one else will be able to fly today. 

In order to avoid the possibility of air sickness, you should tell the pilot if it is your first flight and he will fly accordingly.  Remember, you do not have to do aerobatics unless you wish to and if these should cause you to become unwell, tell the pilot immediately.

ACTION IN AN EMERGENCY

Emergencies in the Tudor T1 are extremely rare.  However, accidents can happen. 

If an emergency arises: 

a. Do not panic.   

b. Do as you are told.

If an emergency arises the pilot will tell you about it and give the order “Check parachutes” - do so by ensuring that the parachute straps are tightened. 

The pilot will then, at the appropriate time, open the cockpit by sliding the canopy back as far as he can. 

You must slide it back to its full extent by grabbing the handle marked with black and yellow stripes and sliding the canopy right back.

When the pilot decides that the aircraft must be abandoned, he will give the order “Jump, Jump” upon which you will:

a. release the aircraft safety harness (this is the blue one - do not release the parachute harness)

b. unplug your headset and microphone

c. stand up in the cockpit d. jump head first over the side of the aircraft aiming to clear the trailing edge of the wing. It is vital that you do this immediately the pilot has ordered “Jump, Jump”.

e. when clear of the aircraft, look at and pull the metal rip chord handle as far as you can - it comes out a l-o-n-g way. (the rip cord handle is known as the "D" Ring)

This releases the parachute which will allow you to float safely to the ground with an impact rather like jumping off a wall 3 - 4 metres high.

OPPORTUNITY FLIGHTS

When on summer camp or a station visit, it is very common for cadets to receive flights in multi-engine or rotary-wing aircraft with an operational or training squadron. 

THE AIR CADET PILOT SCHEME

The award has three "streams", AEF, Civil Powered and Civil Microlight.

AEF - On an AEF, flying the Tutor, you will undertake a residential course, usually a couple of weeks long. You will complete a course of around 12 hours, covering a syllabus similar to the RAF’s EFT course up to solo standard (but due to safety regulations, Air Cadets cannot fly the Tutor solo). 

Civil - At a selected flying school, you will learn to fly a single-engine light aircraft, and if you are competent, fly solo. These courses are usually residential. Both of these courses when successfully completed, will gain your Flying Scholarship wings, with a “P” in the centre.

Microlight - This course offers 12 hours instruction on a microlight aircraft at a civilian school, with the chance to fly solo. On completion, you will receive microlight wings with an “M” in the centre

THE AIR CADET PILOT NAVIGATION SCHEME (ACPNS)

This course provides you with flying and ground instruction in navigation techniques for pilots. It is only available at certain AEFs. On completion you are awarded an Air Cadet Navigator’s Brevet.

CIVILIAN FLYING SCHOLARSHIPS

ROYAL AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION -

The RAFA offers four scholarships a year, one for a full NPPL and three smaller awards of 12-15 hours. The scheme is open to all cadets of the ACO aged 17 and over, subject to academic and medical requirements. The scholarships are provided as a thank you for support given in past Wings Appeal campaigns, and will go to the cadets who they feel deserve it most. Selection is usually through a short aptitude test and interview. Application forms and up to date details can be found at:  www.rafa.org.uk

THE AIR LEAGUE EDUCATION TRUST -

The ALET offers about 50 scholarships a year of about 12 hours each, with one winner deemed to have made the most progress awarded funding for a full NPPL the following year. These scholarships are advertised late in the year, to be flown the following summer. All are gifts from members of the Air League or sponsored by outside bodies. The scheme is open to Air League members over 17 and under 26.The selection includes an interview and a short aptitude test.

The ALET also offers a bursary scheme for young PPL holders, as well as one full balloon PPL scholarship. Details can be found on their website: www.airleague.co.uk 

HONOURABLE COMPANY OF AIR PILOTS AND AIR NAVIGATORS -

These scholarships cover all aspects of training up to licence issue for a candidate who is prepared to dedicate a considerable part of the summer to gaining their PPL.  Providing up to 45 hours of flying, these scholarships can take a candidate with little or no experience to completion of their flying licence during the course of the summer, alternatively, they can "finish off" someone who is already partially trained.  The scholarships are awarded entirely on merit as evidenced on the completed application form and as assessed by a selection committee appointed by the Company.  Candidates must be 17 or over on 1 June of the year of application and the course must be completed by the beginning of October - website: www.gapan.org