Central Gliding School

The Central Gliding School (CGS) is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for the training of gliding instructors for the instruction of Royal Air Force and Air Cadet personnel. It is administered under No. 2 Flying Training School and is responsible for the standardisation of the Air Cadet gliding syllabus and its instructors.[1]

Central Gliding School
Viking T1 gliders of the type operated by the Central Gliding School
Active9 August 1971 (1971-August-09) – present
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
TypeFlying training school
RoleGlider instructor training and flying training oversight
Size50 personnel
Part ofNo. 2 Flying Training School
Home stationRAF Syerston, Nottinghamshire
Motto(s)Doctrina nostra incitat
Commanders
CommandantGroup Captain Baz Dale
Insignia
AbbreviationCGS
Aircraft flown
TrainerGrob Viking T1

History

The Central Gliding school was formed on 9 August 1971 at RAF Spitalgate by merging No. 1 and No. 2 Gliding Centres. It was renamed the Air Cadet Central Gliding School in 1984.[2] It delivered gliding instruction and air experience to Air Training Corps cadets. Gliding Instructors from the ACCGS were regulated and examined under direction of the RAF Central Flying School (CFS) at RAF Cranwell. ACCGS and CFS examiners carried out currency and competency checks annually on Volunteer Gliding Schools (VGS) and their instructors.[3]

Current operations

Instruction at CGS includes the delivery of Grade 2 (G2) and Grade 1 (G1) instructor training. The G2 course (approximately 4 months long) includes pilots seat conversion training, enabling the pilots to fly from both the front and back of the Viking T1.[4] The Grade 1 syllabus allows pilots to conduct instructional sorties to cadets, and supervise flying above 500ft AGL (above ground level). G1 instructors are then allocated the ‘QGI’ (Qualified Gliding Instructor) qualification at RAF Syerston and are then able to deliver the Gliding Scholarship syllabus.[4]

References

Citations
  1. "Royal Air Force Syerston". Royal Air Force. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  2. Lake 1999, p. 46.
  3. "TANGMERE'S GLIDING SCHOOL – Tangmere Museum". www.tangmere-museum.org.uk. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  4. "Staff Training". No. 642 Volunteer Gliding Squadron, Royal Air Force Linton on Ouse. Retrieved 14 May 2020.

Bibliography
  • Lake, A (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
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