If you or anyone you know is keen to join the ATC in 2018 please bring them and their parent(s) or caregiver(s) along so we can talk to them about what we can offer.

These activities included squad handling, lesson planning and outdoor leadership – all aimed at making us more capable and confident cadets, and ultimately JNCO’s.

From the course I have learnt some valuable skills and plan to utilise them in the future.  Some of these skills are useful in different aspects, for example voice projection (from squad handling) will be useful for addressing large crowds/classes, and presenting skills (lesson planning and delivery) for teaching people and possibly getting a job in the future.

All in all it was a great course and the skills I have picked up are very useful and effective.

The day focused on Drill and leading by example.  All the attending NCO’s inspected each others uniforms and any issues were addressed by a visit to Store.

The cadets were taken through a briefing, pre-flight checks and then took turns to head for the skies.  Some flew along the river whilst others flew up and checked out the windfarm but all had a chance to practice hovering back at the airport before their lesson came to an end.

I went out to the Cessna 152 and hopped into the seat, where I was taken through the controls and what each one does by my pilot/instructor Josh.

After that we taxied down the runway before we turned around and took off into the sky.  It was great!  We went up to and around Kapiti Island and I got to take over some of the controls while I tried to keep the plane level.  It was a rather windy day, so keeping the plane level wasn’t easy.

After we’d circled Kapiti Island we headed back to the airfield and landed.  Once we were back on the ground we went through a debrief of the flight and completed the flight details in my log book.  With “thank you” and “goodbyes” complete we headed home.

Basically I learnt how to fly an aeroplane – a good day overall!

Despite the rather wet weather the cadets were taken through the basics of selecting and setting up a camp before learning about a variety of survival techniques.

At the end of the weekend the Squadron undertook a tramp around the park to test some of the leadership skills of the NCOs.

Photo’s:-

1) Erecting a 14×14 tent, 2) River crossing safely theory, 3) – 6) Shallow river crossing practice, 7) Deeper river crossing practice, Pack floating practice

Over the day the flight sims were kept busy with a constant stream of budding pilots, and a large number of flyers were handed out to potential new recruits to the Squadron for 2014.

Anyone who would like to fly real planes, gliders and helicopters will hopefully join us at TS Taupo on Monday 10th Feb for a ‘New recruits night’ and introduction to the Squadron.

Pictured: 1) The overall setup, 2) Cadets man the simulators, 3) Cdt Eagles takes a young pilot through a flight, 4) Some words of encouragement from Cdt Rose, 5) Warrant Officer Fowler and Cadet Eagles enjoying their roles

All those eligible and interested in joining the unit in 2014 were given a flyer and encouraged to come along to the unit at 6.30pm on Monday 10th February.

A budding young pilot takes to the simulated sky’s!

Recruiting will continue on Waitangi Day with a stall at the Festival of the Elements. Once again come along and have a chat to us, and even try your hand on a flight simulator.

Finally we will be hosting all new or potential recruits on Monday 10 February at the Unit HQ from 1830 hours for a tour of who we are and what we do.