Getting the Most Out of Gliding A Guide for Air Cadet Squadrons March 2006
Introduction The purpose of this guide is to provide squadron officers with additional tools when planning and executing a squadron gliding trip. Currently, some squadrons see going to a gliding site as more of a chore than a fun opportunity for the cadets. This feeling is often transferred to the cadets, resulting in them being less motivated to attend, and enjoying their time at the gliding site less. Many squadrons are unaware of the fun and learning opportunities that are available at a gliding site. There is more to going gliding than a single ride in the glider! Gliding is an important part of being an Air Cadet it is one of the few things that sets an Air Cadet apart from Sea and Army Cadets! Why do we Glide? In the 1960 s, opportunities to go flying in military aircraft were diminishing as the CF downsized. In response to this problem, the gliding program was established in order to put the air back into Air Cadets! Gliding is an ideal way of introducing a young person to aviation. To start, gliding is less expensive than flying powered aircraft. More importantly however, a glider is typically a safe and gentle way to provide an Air Cadet one of their first opportunities to fly in a small aircraft. Air Cadets will frequently have a chance to fly the glider themselves while air born, and their pilot will often be a fellow cadet only a few years older than themselves! Gliding is a practical application of the material being taught each week at the squadron aerodromes, meteorology and theory of flight! Gliding can be Boring Yes, you heard it here first! A poorly planned gliding trip can be boring! Gliding can be boring if all a visiting Air Cadet does is sit on the sidelines for several hours waiting for a short trip in a glider. This is where squadron planning can make a big difference! A chance to go gliding should be viewed as a chance to learn and practice some of the following skills taught at the squadron, such as: Aeronautical Facilities Aircraft Identification Air Frame Structures Meteorology Theory of Flight Physical Fitness Leadership
Surprised by the last two? As you are aware, one of the main goals of the Air Cadet program is physical fitness. Outside for several hours, the cadets should be highly involved in moving the gliders on the ground. This is an excellent opportunity to support the goal of physical fitness! Leadership is another goal of the Air Cadet program, and the gliding field is an excellent place for Air Cadets to put into practice what they have learned in the classroom. The supervision of 25 young cadets will be a challenge for a few Corporals and Sergeants, especially if you set them the goal of ensuring each of their charges has fun! A Flight Sergeant can practice leading the whole group, through delegation to the Sergeants. Planning a Great Gliding Day A fun gliding adventure starts at the squadron. Put up posters advertising the upcoming gliding date about a month in advance. A sample poster is included at the end of this guide just fill in the details at the bottom! Also, have the glider pilots from your squadron spend a few minutes of an instructional period telling the cadets in each level a little bit about gliding what types of aircraft are used, and how much fun it is to go flying. If your squadron doesn t have any pilots, a senior cadet or an officer could do this job. Younger Air Cadets will often enjoy a class on how to fly a glider, taught by a cadet or officer who has their glider pilot s license. This can be very motivational, as it allows an Air Cadet to imagine oneself accomplishing similar goals. It is worthwhile to address the apprehension that some cadets may have towards flying by reassuring them as a group that the air cadet gliding program is amongst the safest flying programs in the world. It is much safer to go gliding than it is to drive to the corner store in a car! If anyone seems especially worried, this should be quietly mentioned to the senior staff member at the gliding site they can often arrange for a pilot experienced with encouraging nervous cadets to speak with and later fly with the cadet. Be sure to put a sign up list near the poster display, and keep the cadets informed of who will be going gliding. Most squadrons give priority to junior cadets who haven t yet been gliding. Remember that supervision is important on the airfield, so reserve a few spots for senior cadets. If needed, plan transportation and meals well in advance of your gliding date. You should also call or email the Wing Operations Officer (Wing Ops O) for your area (the officer who is in charge of your local gliding site). They will be able to help you with your planning. Cadets should be advised to dress in layers, as temperatures can vary through the course of a day, and everyone will be kept busy helping with the gliders. Running shoes, a waterproof jacket and a hat are recommended even during warm periods. Small snacks or a lunch, and plenty of water are suggested too. Cadets should not bring portable music players, sports equipment or homework out onto the airfield.
If you are scheduled for a full gliding day, you should plan to bring about 30 cadets to the gliding field. If you are scheduled for a half-day, plan to bring 15 cadets. There are some minor exceptions, so you should consult your Wing Ops O. Because you may be taking a bus early in the morning to drive to the airfield, you should normally anticipate that a few cadets who signed up may not show up. Some squadrons have a few cadets on standby as spares. Other squadrons plan to bring two or three extra cadets, knowing that two or three will probably not show up. Even if you end up with a few extra cadets once you arrive at the airfield, all the cadets will be flown if weather allows. As there are some exceptions, you should contact your Wing Ops O to discuss this option. Don t forget to have someone call all the cadets the day before and remind them about gliding! Some or all of the planning and preparation can be assigned to senior cadets as a learning opportunity! Most of all, build a feeling of anticipation and excitement leading up to the big gliding day! At the Airfield Once you arrive at the airport, the cadets will receive a briefing from the gliding site staff. At this point, the air cadets will begin helping to move gliders around the airfield. The senior cadets from your squadron are key in supervising the younger cadets. In many cases the cadets can be split into two smaller groups and supervised by the more senior cadets. The gliding field is an excellent place for them to practice the leadership and supervision techniques learned in a classroom. Give them some goals, such as increasing their group s moral, and provide feedback as they work to achieve them. Encourage everyone to enjoy the day, and to learn as much about all aspects of aviation as possible. Before the end of the day, the air cadets should have learned some basic knowledge. Good questions to ask include: -what kind of glider and tow plane are used? -how does a glider turn? -what is a circuit and why is it used? -how does a wind sock work? -how does one use an altimeter? an airspeed indicator? a vertical speed indicator? -what is it like to fly solo? -how do I get my glider pilot s license?
Most cadets should also have an opportunity to do more than just push the glider around. Other important skills to learn include hooking up the glider (under close supervision), steering the glider, signalling for the take-off, and acting as the relay signaller for the tow aircraft. Rotating through these jobs is an excellent way to see the various aspects of running a gliding site! Some squadrons plan short five-minute lessons about aviation that can be taught in between launching and recovering the gliders. Air Cadets who are learning about instructional techniques can practice delivering a lesson right at the airfield be sure to give them a few weeks notice, and challenge them to use a unique method of instruction (game, song, etc). You might choose to have them teach short topics such as: -runway numbering -runway lights -parts of an aerodrome -cumulus and stratus clouds -the difference between conventional and tricycle gear airplanes -phonetic alphabet -the axes of an aircraft Gliding is a great chance to take some spectacular pictures that can later be used for the squadron website, annual ceremonial parade static displays and recruiting presentations. Be sure to take lots of pictures! The Flight The air cadet will be helped into the glider, and introduced to the pilot. The air cadet should know that the first part of the flight might be slightly noisy, and that they may need to speak loudly to be heard. They can take any extra time while on the ground to ask about how the glider controls operate, and while on tow they can learn how to understand the instruments. After release, the glider pilot will manoeuvre the glider and explain in basic terms how it flies. Usually they will offer the air cadet a chance to try flying. Some air cadets are nervous, but they should know that it is practically impossible for them to do anything dangerous. If they aren t offered the chance to fly, they should ask, right after release. Many cadets find flying the glider themselves to be the highlight of the trip and it sure makes for a great story at school the next week! As the glider gets lower, the pilot will take control again in order to fly the circuit and land. The air cadet can continue to ask questions about the circuit and the instruments, and may be allowed to follow along on the controls (keep their hands and feet lightly on the controls).
After Gliding On the way home, review the day as a group, and share stories or interesting facts learned that day. Be sure to contact the Wing Ops O, RCSU or Regional Cadet Air Operations (RCAOPs) if you would like to pass on any comments or suggestions. Some squadrons post pictures on a prominent bulletin board, or post them on the squadron website for everyone to enjoy. Other squadrons encourage their cadets to create artwork based on their gliding experience, or to write a short paragraph for use in a newsletter or on the website. Conclusion Gliding can be more than just a short ride in a glider and hours of boredom. With planning and motivation, gliding is an opportunity for fun, learning, aviation, leadership and physical fitness. A gliding trip can significantly increase the esprit-des-corps of your group! Try incorporating some the ideas in your next gliding trip, and remember - have fun!
Do you want your chance to fly a glider? Sign up today! DATE: TIME:
Gliding Sign Up Sheet GLIDING DATE: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Rank Name Phone #