A sad day in Canadian Aviation...

[Sidebar]

The document is in the DOCS section of the Save Air Cadet Gliding facebook page. It is official.

Give us a link. I've been searching for this FB page and can't find it.

No results found for "save air cadet gliding" site:facebook.com.

[Scout44]

Does anyone know what the Air Cadets Annual budget is for flying and I wonder if their assets could be purchased from the Government by a not-for-profit organization?

If by assets you're referring to the aircraft, the government doesn't own them. The Air Cadet League of Canada (a private entity) and its respective provincial committees own the aircraft. An MOU between the leagues and CF/DND confers legal care and custody to CF/DND to operate the aircraft.

[xiz]

The document is in the DOCS section of the Save Air Cadet Gliding facebook page. It is official.

Give us a link. I've been searching for this FB page and can't find it.

No results found for "save air cadet gliding" site:facebook.com.

It's a secret group .. however over 3500 members so far ... the document posted looks legit.

[xiz]

One of the students I teach at work is in an Intermediate Communications class. He has social shortcomings and a learning disability. The other day he told me about his gliding experience a week earlier and I've never seen him so excited to share a story.

He was looking forward to doing it again!

The program has been life-changing for so many kids. I went through cadets with a guy who'd already failed a grade and was heading for a life of dead-end jobs and misery. The gliding program inspired him, and he buckled down, got his licence, became an instructor and later a tow pilot. Now .. he's doing okay. Flying 767s for Air Canada .. I think if you ask him the ACGP changed his life in countless ways.

[xiz]

Probably the biggest irony of this is that Peter Mackay's wife was a graduate from the Pacific Region RGS

[teacher]

https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/gro ... 8/?fref=ts

Sorry, I was using a tablet and couldn't get a web page. Here it is. If I read it correctly they're thinking of maybe moving everything to civie street. More cost effective maybe but with a loss of most things "cadet" if you do that.

[Moose47]

G'day Teacher

I just tried going to the site and it said that the content was unavilable.

Cheers...Chris

[CD]

As xiz noted, the group has been designated secret by the group creator - you need an invite to gain access... 3900+ members so far.

[teacher]

Sorry guys, can't help you with that. I tried. Latest word is that it may go civie or the funds put towards powered flight although I bet not at the same amount or butts in the seats. I don't think this was supposed to be released so early or in this viral kinda way. Sounds like the powers might be a little taken a back by the response.

By the way, the group had under 1800 this morning and now over 3900.

[CPLMike89]

Hoping for a better outcome for a great group of people! the ACGP gave me my start as well as many other experiences I would never have been able to do on the civie side.

[YQLRookie]

As a current ACGP pilot, I can say with ease that this will have huge negative effects on the Air Cadets as a whole. This news was circulating at the Southern Alberta Gliding Center today, and needless to say was not well taken. I truly hope this is not confirmed, for the sake of all involved.

[CanadianEh]

What an absolute shame. I didn't vote Conservative last election and I definitely will not be voting them in 2015. Very sad to watch this shameful totalitarian dictatorship excuse of a "government" destroying years of tradition, research & hard work across many different industries in such a short period of time.

[Shiny Side Up]

Someone should make sure Rick Mercer knows about this.



If he can spread nets, maybe he can save air cadets.

[North Shore]

"That was one of the best landings I've had...and I've flown Porter!"

[Sidebar]

... the group has been designated secret by the group creator - you need an invite to gain access... 3900+ members so far.

A secret group? With 3900 members? Better call CSIS!

Seriously, though, who do I contact for an invite? I spent 5 years in Air Cadets at 568 Sqn, and it was a major influence in my life.

[Old Dog Flying]

I learned to fly as an Air Cadet, 13 Sqn Windsor, On, then joined the RCAF and from the ranks was commissioned and became the Chief Tower Controller at YMJ before retiring. The RCAC programs did not hurt my career

In the 1980s I instructed the flying scolarship program for 746 Sqn Cloverdale, BC and my kids were some of the best in the province. These young people were a lot better as citizens than the average.

We cannot allow this program to die by a thousand slashes . The Sqeeky wheel gets the grease so lets all start sqeeking.

Barney

[mcrit]

https://www.facebook.com/steve.thompson ... 3017252073

[teacher]

Civilians may run new glider program.....

http://www.trurodaily.com/News/Local/20 ... r-cadets/1

[ahramin]

Civilians may run new glider program.....

http://www.trurodaily.com/News/Local/20 ... r-cadets/1

Very interesting. If they continue to run the program, but with a volunteer force rather than the paid officers and having cadets do more of the work, it could work out to be a change for the better in the end.

The thing to keep in mind here is who is this program for and what is it supposed to accomplish? How do we keep doing that?

[CFR]

I suspect that the "unaffordable" part is the bloated leadership. It would be interesting to have the actual numbers of full time regular and reserve force members who man the HQ's.

[Beaver Driver]

There is this Facebook Page too:

https://www.facebook.com/SaveTheAirCadetGlidingProgram

And one of the online petitions:

http://www.causes.com/actions/1749278-s ... _source=fb

[Slappy the Squirrel]

I was lucky enough to obtain my glider license with air cadets, and was very involved in cadets throughout my teenage years. It is definately a worthwhile program for the adolescents involved. I have many friends who are still employed with the gliding school and to whom the program is a significant part of their life. This announcement will no doubt significantly impact them.

However... This program is funded for the benefit of the cadets themselves, not the staff. As Ahramin pointed out, it may work out better in the end if the program is able to become more efficient. I do find it interesting that they would release this statement without being able to provide a plan, all it has done is create rampant speculation.

In any case, in it's current format the program doesn't use money very wisely. While I do hope they figure out an alternative way to obtain glider training for the cadets, I can understand why programs like this are under scrutiny when we are running huge deficits. Just my two cents...

[MrWings]

How much money are we talking here?

If the Federal government is cutting support, can't fundraising or a corporate sponsor pick up the slack?

[Beaver Driver]

For what it's worth, from Perer MacKay's Facebook page.....

Peter MacKay

Cadets organizations across Canada play an important role in promoting good citizenship, leadership, community service and physical fitness among young Canadians. I believe in the merits of this program and the benefits it provides to Canadian communities are unparalled. In fact, the Cadet program is the best youth development program in Canada. It is regrettable that some oppostion members attempt to misinform canadians scare our fine young cadets, and their parents. As I informed the House of Commons, "I can assure the House that the cadet program will continue to enjoy the important use of gliders." There are to be no reductions in resources allocated to the Cadet glider program or any Cadet program. The Cadet program is here to stay.

[ahramin]

So if they aren't getting rid of the glider program ... what are they doing? The head of the program in BC says they are shutting down September 1st. Maybe he means he's loosing his job September 1st. I'll be interested to hear the plan for the program.