Regional Gliding School (Pacific)
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Regional Gliding School (Pacific) (RGS(P)) is one of five Glider Pilot Training Schools that are part of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets Program. The primary task is to run the annual summer camps to train Air Cadets to the level of a Transport Canada Glider Pilot Licence. RGS(P) operates in British Columbia and trains cadets from BC and the Yukon region.
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[edit] History
[edit] Nanaimo (???-1976)
The gliding school was based out of the Nanaimo Military Camp and flew from the Nanaimo Airport at Cassidy (CYCD).
[edit] Princeton (1977-1992)
The school moved to Princeton (CYDC) and used civilian facilities there and the local airport. Princeton Airport was quiet and so provided little chance of conflict with other traffic. The large grass area beside the hard surface runway provided the glider landing area.
The school operated from the local high school. This was originally located in the town but in 1981 a new school was built on the plateau above the town adjacent to the airport. In addition to the school, local motels were used for Staff housing.
The summer of 1989 was marred by the fatal crash of an Cessna L-19 Bird Dog tow plane which killed the Commanding Officer - Major K C Schmidt.
The school added the three-week Air Studies Course to the six-week Glider Pilot Training Course while at Princeton.
[edit] Chilliwack (1993-1996)
The school moved to Chilliwack and was hosted at CFB Chilliwack and flew from Chilliwack Airport (CYCW). The size of the base at Chilliwack provided excellent support including barracks, classrooms, and mess facilities. The airport was located 8 km away from the base. Chilliwack is a busy general aviation airport so the gliding had to integrate with more air traffic than was the case in Princeton.
The move to Chilliwack of the Gliding Scholarship Course also brought the Power Scholarship Course from Cadet Training Centre Pat Bay (Victoria) which was being closed. The Power Scholarship Course trained at civilian flight schools at Abbotsford International Airport (CYXX) approximately 50 km away and Boundary Bay Airport (CZBB)approximately 95 km away.
The closure of CFB Chilliwack forced another move of the school.
[edit] Comox (1997-Present)
The three summer courses relocated from CFB Chilliwack to CFB Comox for the summer of 1996. This was the year round home of the Pacific Region Gliding Operations and took advantage of the base infrastructure at Comox. While still operating as a military airfield the Comox Airport (CYQQ) also has some civilian traffic. Flying and ground training for the Glider Scholarship Course takes place at CFB Comox. However, the Power Scholarship Course is still contracted to civilian flying schools in the area surrounding Comox. Currently, two schools share the work, with half of the 34 cadet group attending each school. Courtenay Flight Center in Courtenay and Qualicum Flight Centre in Qualicum Beach are the two schools. Courtenay Flight Center is conveniently located about 5-10 minutes from CFB Comox. The trip to Qualicum beach is considerably longer, lasting around 45 minutes. Qualicum Flight Centre took over for the summer of 2006 from Parallel Aviation, which ceased Private Pilot training after the summer of 2005. The Courtenay Flight Center flies out of Courtenay Airpark (CAH3), and the Qualicum Flight Centre uses Qualicum Beach Airport (CAT4).
[edit] Staff
[edit] Commanding Officers
- Lt Col JM Sorfleet ??-1983
- Maj DM Norrie 1984-1988
- Maj KC Schmidt 1988-1989
- Lt Col TR Byrne 1989-2005
- Lt Col VV Kippel 2005-Present
[edit] See also
- Royal Canadian Air Cadets
- Department of National Defence (Canada)
- List of Canadian organizations with royal patronage
