Things are looking up
Cadets earn wing badges, pilot licences in Debert
A group of Air Cadets can look skyward after receiving their wings at a special ceremony held at the Debert Cadet Flying Training Centre.
A group of air cadets will be able to take to the sky after they received their wings during a special ceremony in Debert.
A parade and medal ceremony was held at the Debert Cadet Flying Training Centre Aug. 18, to award graduates of the glider pilot course with their wing badges and pilot’s licences.
More than 40 cadets from Atlantic Canada travelled to Debert to complete the summer-long glider pilot course, which provides them with their gliders licence, allowing them to fly with clubs and at other cadet flying centres.
“It is such a unique experience,” said Cadet Madeline Coleman, 16, on her experience in the course.
“We got to go flying every day and also had ground school classes as well. This was my first time on the east coast, so everything was so interesting and new, especially being from out of region.”
Coleman travelled from Hamilton, Ont., to participate in the course, and hopes to turn her flying experience into a career in the future.
“I have a goal to become a power pilot as well, so this is a great first step to becoming a pilot,” she said.
A power pilot is a pilot who can fly motorized personal planes such as a Cessna.
“The course not only taught us how to fly, it also taught us quickthinking skills. When you are in a dangerous situation, you need to know what to do and how to do it fast,” said Coleman.
Each summer, the course offers flight training for Canadian cadets interested in getting their glider pilot licence, which includes a minimum of 49 flights, and 10 hours of combined flying time.
“Cadets go through flight lessons and training to help them pass the Transport Canada licence exam, as the course complies with Transport Canada’s rules and regulations,” said Capt. Karina Smith of the Cadet Flying Training Centre.
The course gives Cadets the opportunity to obtain their civilian private pilot’s licence or to teach what they’ve learned to their own squadron.
“After the course, they can teach the principle of flying to their squadron. Some cadets also move towards their private pilot licence as a civilian, and others choose to take the power pilot course offered through cadets,” said Smith.
During the course, cadets have 32 flight days where they either fly with an instructor, or by themselves once they have completed enough training.
“Soloing for the first time was kind of terrifying,” said Coleman about her first solo flight.
“There is no instructor in the back in case you mess up, but it was still lots of fun. Flying every day, there is no experience like it, its just super fun. We could see the Bay of Fundy from where we flew.”
For others, the experience of flying was more surreal, and reality took a backseat during the flight.
“It felt really good, but not real,” said Cadet Dawson Fraser, 17, about his first flight.
“It didn’t really sink in at first that I was flying. It took a few more flights for it to sink in before it hit me that I had accomplished something. It was very surreal.”
Fraser said being part of the course and learning how to fly has not only been an exciting experience for the Trenton native, but also helped him figure out what he wants to do in the future.
“Before I joined the cadets, I had no idea what I wanted to do for a career. Since going through the cadets for a couple of years, I want to join the Air Force.”
“The course not only taught us how to fly, it also taught us quick-thinking skills. When you are in a dangerous situation, you need to know what to do and how to do it fast.”
Cadet Madeline Coleman