Page 14 - December 2017

THE SALAMANDER | DECEMBER 2017
A 2433 Squadron cadet using the new Part Task Training (Flight Simulator)
The Air Cadet Organisation (ACO) has officially changed its name to the Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC). Another change is the use of electronic media - 2433 Squadron now have a busy Facebook page and Twitter feed. Significant changes have also occurred in aviation training within the ATC. Non-powered flying i.e. gliding, had been “paused” for some 4 years meaning that most currently serving Air Cadets will never have been airborne in a glider. However, airframes are now returning to service. There have also been challenges in powered flying as a shortage of pilots and air traffic control have also reduced the amount of hours on offer. Hopefully this will also be rectified soon to allow more cadets to experience powered flying.
To alleviate some of these shortfalls, 2433 Squadron embarked upon an ambitious plan to build a Flight Simulator called a Part Task Trainer (PTT) in our training centre. Beginning with donated and old equip-ment, staff and cadets began to convert three rooms
of the training centre into an aviation training suite. Initially a single room was converted into a training room with a number of terminals allowing cadets to learn the basic techniques. This also saw the cadets take their first steps towards creating air traffic control, giving them a full range of training options.
It was at this point that the Worshipful Company of Firefighters came to our aid with a generous donation from the Charitable Trust. This donation allowed the purchase of everything from a computer to drive the main training room, through flat screen TVs and a lectern for the briefing room. Finally, painting, power, cabling and all the accessories were connected.
The practical construction of the facility was carried out by both staff and cadets as part of the overall pro-ject, everyone getting their hands dirty painting, sawing and generally getting stuck-in. Although progress- ing well, the cadets and staff received a bit of a shock when they were informed that 2433 Squadron had been nominated
as the top Squadron in Kent as part of the annual Morris Trophy competition for 2017. By the time of the first inspection however, the PTT was up and running. We were all extremely pleased to be confirmed as top sqn out of over 160, and nominated as finalist for the region in the national competition, where the Inspecting Officers were extremely impressed by the PTT and the team who built it. 2433 squadron were particularly pleased to be supported by the presence of members of the Worshipful Company of Fire- fighters during each visit. We were placed in the top three nationally (out of nearly 1000), an achievement of which we are very proud.
The thanks of all ranks at 2433 (Ramsgate and Manston) Squadron go to the Worshipful Company of Firefighters for their ongoing support and we look forward to working with the Company for many years to come.
G R E Hobbs-East
Flight Lieutenant MBIFM RAFVR(T) Officer Commanding
No. 2433 (Ramsgate & Manston) Squadron
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