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CONGRATULATIONS - To Off Cdt James Phillips who has successfully gained his B Category Instructor Qualification at Central Gliding School, RAF Syerston. James is now qualified to instruct trainees on the Gliding Induction, Gliding Scholarship and Advanced Glider Training syllabus as well as conducting Staff Continuation Training sorties with staff of all categories. In addition he is also able to send subsequent solo's and act as the Gliding Squadron Duty Executive and Duty Instructor.

CONGRATULATIONS - To Flight Staff Cadet Richard Matthews who has successfully completed his Advanced Glider Training. FSC Matthews had the privilege of being sent on his solo flight by the Officer Commanding Central Flying School during a recent Coaching and Categorisation Weekend.

CADET 150 TAKES OFF! - The Squadron is pleased to confirm that the recent Cadet 150 'Gliding Induction Course' Weekend was a success with a total of 150 Gliding Induction Course flights being conducted for cadets of Devon & Somerset Wing, Plymouth & Cornwall Wing and the Combined Cadet Force. Throughout the weekend cadets were also able to take part in a host of other activities including Section Visits to 22 Squadron Royal Air Force (Search & Rescue) Flight, the Defence Fire Section, trips in the 722 (Chivenor) Squadron Flight Simulator and the South West Region Climbing Wall. Full details of the event can be found under the Cadet 150 page with full photographic coverage in the Gallery.

CONGRATULATIONS - To CGI 'Jack' Russell who has successfully completed his Grade 1 Pilot Qualification. Jack is now qualified to fly with trainees and teach the Gliding Induction Course syllabus.

CONGRATULATIONS - In recognition of his long service to the Air Training Corps, Squadron Leader Ches Ledster RAF VR(T) Rt'd has been presented with the Commandant's Certificate of Meritorious Service. Sqn Ldr Ledster spent many years as a pilot and instructor with 624 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, ten of which were as the Squadron's Commanding Officer. He is still very much activly involved on the Squadron as a Ground Instructor and also holds an appointment as Treasurer of 722 (Chivenor) Squadron Air Training Corps.

CHANGE OF CALLSIGNS - With effect 03 June 2010 all Volunteer Gliding Squadrons throughout the country will be changing callsigns. The historic Alpha Charlie Whiskey (ACW) trigraph is to be withdrawn from service on midnight 02 June 2010 and replaced by new trigraphs depending upon the aircraft operated at each Squadron. All Viking Squadrons will adopt the trigraph Golf Lima Sierra (GLS) while Vigilant Squadrons (including Chivenor) will adopt the trigraph Victor Golf Lima (VGL). Central Gliding School at RAF Syerston will adopt the trigraph Sierra Yankee Sierra (SYS).

As a result Chivenor Alpha Charlie Base, the Air to Ground Station operating at RMB Chivenor will adopt the callsign Chivenor Victor Base. Callsigns at Chivenor range from VGL 255 - 305 and are allocated to individual instructors and pilots by OC 624 VGS.

MAKING THE FRONT COVER - Details of the upcoming Cadet 150 Gliding Induction Course Weekend at RMB Chivenor were released in the Spring Edition of Air Cadet Magazine this week. A photograph of one of the Squadron's aircraft made the front cover. More details including a full list of Press Articles to date can be found on the Cadet 150 Pages.

REGIONAL CLIMBING WALL - In collaboration with Devon & Somerset Wing the Squadron has booked the South West Region Climbing Wall for use during the upcoming Cadet 150 Gliding Induction Course Weekend on 26 - 27 June 2010. All cadets attending during the weekend will be able to use the Climbing Wall around their scheduled gliding sorties.

SQUADRON CLOSURE - Evidence of ash dust over the UK is now being detected by Met Office observations. Icelandic Volcano Eruptions are still occuring in pulses and ash dust has been detected in Scotland, South-East England and as far south as Exeter, Devon. It must be noted that particles are unlikely to be visible to the human eye, unless they fall to the ground, however such particles could cause a major safety risk to aircraft. As such and following guidance from the National Air Traffic Service (NATS) and Met Office, Headquarters Air Cadets have closed all Vigilant and Viking Gliding Squadrons for the weekend of 17 - 18 April 2010.

FAREWELL - This month sees the departure of one of the Squadrons most dedicated young members of staff. Civilian Gliding Instructor Craig Whyatt originally joined the Squadron as a Flight Staff Cadet from 1079 (Tiverton) Sqn and went on to become a C Category Instructor flying many of the Squadrons Gliding Scholarship trainees over the last few years. Craig is leaving the Squadron after successfully gaining a First Class Honours Degree in Mathematics with Computer Science from the University of Exeter, Devon. In February Craig heard that he had successfully passed the Officer Aircrew & Selection Centre at RAF College Cranwell and has been successful in his application for a Commission and Pilot Training. We wish him the very best of luck for his future aviation career in the Royal Air Force.

STAFF TRANSFER - This month the Squadron is pleased to welcome the arrival of a new pilot. AET Adam Steventon RN is a Grade 1 Pilot who joins the Squadron from 633 VGS RAF Cosford. Adam is an Air Engineering Technician based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton.

CONGRATULATIONS - To Potential Flight Staff Cadets Jesse Coombs and Richard Matthews who both successfully completed their first solo's on type this weekend. Jesse and Richard will now progress towards their Gold Wings.

BREITLING TROPHY - The Squadron is pleased to announce that it has won the Breitling Trophy, awarded by Headquarters Air Cadets to the Volunteer Gliding Squadron which has contributed most to youth development during the last year. This is an unprecedented fourth consecutive award to 624 VGS who have now won the award in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010. Congratulations to all involved, in particular the Flight Staff Cadets who have worked so hard both on and off the Squadron during the last twelve months.

CONGRATULATIONS - To CGI Daryl Mansbridge who has successfully completed his Grade 1 Pilot Qualification. Daryl is now qualified to fly with trainees and teach the Gliding Induction Course syllabus.

CONGRATULATIONS - To CGI Anthony Russell who has successfully completed his Grade 2 Pilot Qualification. Anthony will now progress towards Grade 1 Status.

CONGRATULATIONS - To CGI Craig Whyatt who has successfully passed the Officer Aircrew & Selection Centre at RAF College Cranwell. Craig has been successful in his application for a Commission and Pilot Training. We wish him the very best of luck for his future aviation career in the Royal Air Force.

CONGRATULATIONS - To CGI Daryl Mansbridge who has successfully completed his Grade 2 Pilot Qualification. Daryl will now progress towards Grade 1 Status.

CONGRATULATIONS - To CGI Daryl Mansbridge and CGI Anthony Russell who both successfully completed their Advanced Glider Training this weekend. Both will now progress towards Graded Pilot status.

CONGRATULATIONS - To CGI Konrad Paszkiewicz who successfully completed his first solo on type this weekend. Konrad will now progress towards Graded Pilot status.

STAFF RESIGNATIONS - This month see's the departure of two more members of staff from the Squadron. CGI Alex Dacre, a G1 Pilot who leaves the Squadron to pursue his aviation career and CGI Mikey Holmes, a G1 Pilot who is also leaving the Squadron. We wish both of them the best of luck for the future.

CONGRATULATIONS - To CGI Daryl Mansbridge and CGI Anthony Russell who both successfully completed their first solo's on type this weekend. Both will now progress towards Graded Pilot status.

STAFF TRANSFER - This month the Squadron is pleased to welcome the arrival of a new instructor. CGI Roger Bufton is a current C Category Instructor who joins the Squadron from 613 VGS RAF Halton.

STAFF RESIGNATIONS - This month see's the departure of three members of staff from the Squadron. Fg Off Dan Reece, an A2 Category Instructor who leaves the Squadron to pursue his aviation career, Cpl Chris Gorton, a Grade 1 Pilot who leaves the Squadron due to overseas deployment with the Royal Air Force Police and CGI Jon Crane who leaves the Squadron to work overseas. We wish all of them the best of luck for the future.