Air cadets in Castlegar, Trail, Nelson test to become pilots
By Castlegar Source
On Jan. 10, members of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets from across Canada wrote their Flying Scholarship Qualification Exams. In Castlegar, three air cadets from Trail, Castlegar and Nelson wrote their exams.
In addition to their regular cadet activities, since September, the local cadets have been taking extra courses through the Selkirk College Aviation Department. The next step for the cadets will be a formal interview conducted by members of the B.C. Provincial Committee of the Air Cadet League Canada and the Canadian Forces.
If selected for the Gliding Flying Scholarship, the cadets will attend a six-week course at CFB Comox. If selected for the Power Flying Scholarship, the cadets will attend a seven-week course at one of several locations in B.C. Approximately 80 cadets from B.C. will receive either their glider or powered civilian pilot licenses in the summer of 2015.
The scholarships are funded by the B.C. Provincial Committee of the Air Cadet League Canada and the training is provided by the Canadian Forces.
These scholarships are two of the more senior courses that Air Cadets can attend. Other Senior Courses include an International Exchange, Advanced Aerospace and Advanced Aviation Technology – Aircraft Maintenance. Junior Cadets can attend summer training courses that are two or three weeks in duration in subjects such as Aviation, Survival, Sports and Fitness, Band and Marksmanship.
The Air Cadet flying scholarship program has graduated some very notable Canadians such as astronauts Chris Hadfield and Jeremy Hansen and several members of the military performance flying team, the Snowbirds, including Maryse Carmichael, their first female commanding officer.
The Air Cadet League of Canada, B.C. Committee owns a fleet of 14 Schweitzer 2-33 gliders and six Cessna 182 tow planes which they use to facilitate familiarization flights for cadets across B.C.
The Royal Canadian Air Cadets, in partnership with the Air Cadet League of Canada and the Department of National Defence has been training youth in Canada for over 70 years. The cadets are the largest government funded youth program in Canada with over 50,000 participants across Canada. The Royal Canadian Air Cadets accepts youth between the ages of 12-18 who have a desire to learn more about the air element of the Canadian Forces, wish to develop the attributes of leadership and good citizenship and who wish to promote physical fitness. While the program is military based, there is no obligation for a cadet to join the Canadian Armed Forces when he or she finishes their cadet career. Cadets are also encouraged to learn more about opportunities within Canada’s Aviation Industry.
Locally, there are Air Cadet Squadrons in Trail, Nelson, Castlegar and Grand Forks.
For more information on the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, please visit www.cadets.ca For more information about the Air Cadet League of Canada, please visit www.aircadetleague.com
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