Castlegar Air Cadets reach for the skies
By Castlegar Source
On May 13, the cadets of 581 City of Castlegar Air Cadet squadron went flying from the West Kootenay Regional Airport.
The cadets were flown in the bright blue and yellow Cessna 182s that are usually used for towing the Air Cadet Glider aircraft.
The cadets explored the Castlegar area from the air and were taught the basics of aircraft control. This fall, the cadets will be flying again, this time in the air cadet Schweitzer 2-33A gliders.
The Cadet Program is a community-based organization that requires the support of dedicated adult leaders to be successful. Adult leaders are needed to train, administer and supervise the youth involved in the Cadet Program. Training, pay and uniforms are provided for those that choose to join the Canadian Armed Forces as a Cadet Instructors Cadre (CIC) officer.
CIC Officers work with cadets an average of one night and one weekend day per week, with additional time devoted to organizing and planning activities. Many of them also spend their summers instructing cadets at one of the 22 cadet summer training centres or accompany cadets on competitions, expeditions or foreign exchange visits. CIC officers instruct cadets on the wide variety of skills and knowledge that is contained in the Cadet Program. They also provide coaching and mentorship and become role models for our youth.
The Castlegar squadron meets every Tuesday from 6:15 pm to 9:00 pm in the Castlegar Cadet Hall at 216 8th Ave.
The squadron always welcome new cadets who are between the ages of 12 and 18.
Quick Facts
The British Columbia Committee of the Air Cadet League of Canada owns 6 Cessna
182 Tow Aircraft and 14 Schweitzer 2-33A Gliders which are used by cadets throughout the province.
Each year, approximately 30 cadets from BC earn their pilots licence thru the Air Cadet Program and another 45 earn their Glider’s Pilot’s Licence
