Being a Staff Cadet

A report on a day in the life of a 624 VGS Flight Staff Cadet by FSC Marcus Adcock

Being a staff cadet is one of the biggest achievements that, I, personally have ever made in my ATC career. I believe strongly that it is one of, if not the highest achievement available to cadets within the ATC and CCF RAF section. It comes as no surprise then, when I say how privileged and extremely fortunate I am, to work within an extremely professional and organised team and next to the most highly skilled and responsible personnel there are within the ATC. A day in the life of a staff cadet follows.

The alarm goes of at 0630 on a Saturday morning. A quick shower soon wakes me up and the day begins. The weather soon sets the mood, is it good? Is it bad? Does it know what it wants to do? (You find that you become a lot more interested in the weather when you become an FSC). Whether it’s good, bad or unsure the routine is the same. Unlock the hangar doors and prepare the aircraft. Canopies need to be cleaned, leading edges cleaned, tyres to be checked and engines prepared for servicing by a G1 Pilot or above holding a F4124 to carry out engineering. Land Rovers also need to be checked as they too, play an important role in the operation of the squadron. The time now about 0745 – 0800, I and the rest of the FSC’s head of to breakfast in the junior ranks mess on station.

After a full English, there are still jobs to be done. The all-important Glider Control Caravan needs to be loaded with the essentials, tea, coffee, biscuits and crisps and of course not forgetting the parachutes, F700’s (aircraft books), aircraft weights, and other important documentation. The aircraft are skilfully taken out of the hangar, with the help of GS cadets on course and instructors and parked according to the wind direction. Once all is set to go the morning brief is sounded. The weather is looked at and the day’s plan is explained. Time to go flying!

A trained Start Marshall monitors the aircraft at start up and others help to drive the Glider Control Caravan up to the flight line. Communication is always ongoing with the aid of radios. 22 Squadron RAF Search & Rescue are notified of the beginning of flying and after power checks etc are complete, the aircraft take to the skies. FSC’s often are lucky enough to fly on the first wave, prior to trainee arrival or briefing.

The logs are maintained, every landing noted and take off and landing times written down. When aircraft need fuel, FSC’s jump to the job. When cadets come for Gliding Induction Courses, GIC’s, FSC’s brief the cadets and the parachute safety video is put on, watched and explained. Parachute tests are also done. When it comes to flying, FSC’s help to strap cadets into their aircraft and nervous cadets are reassured.

Paper work is sorted out efficiently, again helped by FSC’s. Once completed, a game of football, cricket or some form of sport is never to far away, weather permitting. If not, tea and coffee and joking in the caravan offers a welcome alternative. The logs are continually kept up to speed and rotated between FSC’s. At 1230, cadets on course and FSC’s go to lunch in the mess. We are never let down with the selection available.

After lunch, jobs are continued according to what needs doing. Now all being G2 graded pilots, solo flying is never to far away, and staff try their hardest to fit us in when they can. SCT trips are also a big part of a FSC’s career within the Squadron. New skills are learned and our flying is sharpened, with unexpected practice engine failures and other emergencies. On a clear calm evening, all the hard work is more than worth it. On many occasions, the sunset can be watched more than once just by applying more power and climbing to a higher altitude. It certainly is worth it, no questions asked.

At the end of a busy flying day, there are still jobs to be done on the ground. Aircraft are taxied back to the hangar and carefully positioned back where they were found. They are cleaned and polished accordingly and the caravan is unloaded at the same time. A debrief follows and the day comes to a somewhat unfortunate end.

Being an FSC is an extremely rewarding position to hold. Not only do we become responsible, skilled personnel, we get to fly. Flying before being able to drive is something that not many people can boast, which makes the position even more special. Its hard work and exhausting, on week long courses especially, but being able to go home and boast about the flying that you have done, the new skills that you have learned and the people that you have met to your friends and family, makes even the hardest, boring, messiest job, well and truly worth it. Easily!