Helping out cadets with a bonus of time building:
First of all what I would suggest is to get established with an Air Cadet squadron first. To approach a squadron asking them for money to fly their cadets looks like use and abuse of the system. No sponsoring committee will sign a fat cheque to someone they don’t know and any commanding officer of a squadron would likely agree with me. I would suggest approaching your local Air Cadet squadron offering your assistance and your qualifications as a pilot. If you don’t mind a bit of leg work, this can be very rewarding and a little time builder.
Find your local squadron and ask to volunteer your time as “Adult staff” or you can get on a paid role as a “Civilian Instructor”. Another option would be to join the Canadian Forces for the Cadet Instructor Cadre and become an Officer within the Squadron. Again … as an Officer you are entitled to pay. Both CI’s and Officers will have a max pay of 22 days per year at a rate around $100/day, paid out twice a year. Or something in that range. Cadets parade one night a week for a couple hours. Summers off, of course, as cadets have summer courses to attend. They follow the school year pattern. You can get involved as little or as much as you want.
One thing I would suggest helping the squadron out with, is establishing a Ground School if they do not have one. You don’t have to be a flight instructor, or an aviation guru for this ground school. It’s prepping them for their entrance exam for the Glider and Power Scholarship.
So that’s 2 nights a week … 4-6 hrs of your time. And could possibly be paid to volunteer your time.
A great thing about the cadet program is that flying is a part of their mandatory training. Each and every level one cadet (entry cadet) must partake in a familiarization flight. The Air Cadet Program has a Gliding Program that offers familiarization flights, but the only time a cadet might get into a power plane is if the weather is too bad on a date they were scheduled to go gliding and they must be tossed up in the tow plane.
The cadet program allows Power Familiarization Flying in rented or private aircraft. This is the program that you will present when you initially discuss joining the squadron. Now that you’re established and recognized, the sponsoring committee will likely sign a fat cheque with ease.
The pilot requirements for power familiarization flying are as such:
- PPL or higher (if you want to fly at night you will require a CPL)
- Min 30hrs PIC on class and type
- Have flown one hrs PIC in the preceding 60 days including at least one hour on type. If this has lapsed a flight check with a valid flight instructor will suffice.
- Have flown an annual proficiency flight including normal and emergency procedures with a valid flight instructor
Ref:
http://cadets.ca/_docs/cato-oaic/5207_b.pdf
The sponsoring committee told me I had $1500.00 to play with. I sat down at my local Flight Training Unit and said I have 1500 from the cadets what I would like to maximise. What can you do for me? (aka I want a deal). Huron Flight Centre Inc. Donated over $600 in flying expenses and offered 15hrs for $1500.00 … taxes all in. So that’s $100 an hour wet all said and done for a 172. Big thanks to Huron Flight Centre Inc. in Sarnia, Ontario.
Obviously power famil flying is going to rely heavily on a budget and what the sponsoring committee has in surplus. You are dealing with the DND, and the Canadian Cadet Movement. There are hoops to jump through, requests to detachment to be filled out. Approval from Air Ops of your region. Basically the beurocratic/political BS. But if you don’t mind a little bit of leg work then it all pays off for the cadets and you get a little time building yourself. It’s been two weeks since I’ve been with the squadron and I now have a cheque.
However a background on me. I completed the cadet program in full with the squadron I’m volunteering at. I did my glider and power license through cadets. I work within the Air Cadet Gliding Program …. Basically I’m not a stranger is what I’m trying to say.
Just call up your local Air Cadet squadron and ask to have a meeting with the Commanding Officer to discuss your suitability as a volunteer and a power famil pilot.