Day 3 – Vic Group 2025 Gliding Camp

Day 3 of the 2025 Victoria Group April gliding camp began with Daily Inspections (known as DIs) on the gliders to get them ready for flight. Sqn Sgt Willow Plenty and Group Lt. Bryan McGrath split the new students into two groups and went through the process of completing a DI check. Once completed, cadets assisted with taking the gliders out onto the airfield flight line.

The day started off a little patchy, with some light rain before flying could start. Once this cleared, the cadets were able to take to the skies for their final flights of the camp and they were able to complete all of their five flights for the camp. The cadets again assisted with Ground Crew work and helped the Melbourne Gliding Club launch their glider on the day.

Once the day’s flights were completed, the cadets assisted with packing up the gliders and housing them back in their parking spaces in the hanger before a final debriefing with the instructors back at the club house. The day concluded with a final parade where Group Lt. Bryan McGrath congratulated the cadets for their behaviour and enthusiasm towards learning to fly as they began their journey to become glider pilots. Mr McGrath also thanked the Geelong Gliding Club (GGC) for once again providing the cadets this opportunity and enable us to get more youth flying and Mrs Baker for once again assisting with the camp and her fantastic catering abilities.

Victoria Group Gliding Camp – April 2025

Over the weekend, cadets from Victoria Group traveled to Bacchus Marsh aerodrome, home of the Geelong Gliding Club for the April 2025 gliding camp.

Day 2 - Launch

Day 1 kicked off with a quick briefing and run down of Ground Crew operations for Cadets – once completed Cadets headed out to the flight line to commence Gliding instruction.

Day 2 was a little more challenging for Cadets and instructors due to the windy conditions. Majority of Cadets were able to get a flight. Once conditions became untenable, flight operations were closed and Cadets assisted with putting the Gliders away and returned to the Clubhouse to complete theory lessons.

A great time was had by everyone!

Federal Orders April 2025

The latest Federal Orders are available to download from the links below.

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FAAI #21 – 01/25 868.96 KB 63 downloads

Federal Air Activities Instruction 21 (01/2025) – National Agreement with the Gliding…
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FAI #90 – 01/25 135.45 KB 77 downloads

Federal Administration Instruction #90 – Funds Received for New and Renewed Membership …
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FOI #6 – 01/25 121.37 KB 68 downloads

Federal Operations Instruction No 6 FOI 1/25 – Suspension or Termination of Membership …
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FAC 01/25 93.56 KB 52 downloads

Federal Administration Circular No 01/2025 – Annual Squadron/Wing Financial Returns …
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FEC 01/25 126.09 KB 82 downloads

Federal Education Circular (01/25) – Education Curriculum Updates …

Engineering Scholarships

Aviation engineering isn’t just about keeping planes in the sky; it’s about helping to shape the future of the aviation industry.

Following the continued success of the aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) scholarship program, CASA will again offer 3 grants of $5,000 each to help AMEs take the next step in their career.

The financial scholarships are aimed at helping up-and-coming engineers achieve their CASR Part 66 aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) licence.

The scholarships are open to people who have worked for a minimum of 2 years in aviation, have started structured training towards a maintenance licence or are doing on the job training, have demonstrated a high level of engineering aptitude and are committed to aviation safety.

If you would like to learn more this exciting career, check the CASA website here!

Federal Cadet of the Year 2025

Cadet of the Year

The Federal Cadet of the Year assessments were held online again this year.

This occurred today, Sunday, 23rd February 2025, and the following candidates are congratulated for being nominated by their respective Groups and for all putting in an impressive performance on the day, and all can be considered winners.

The candidates were:
Candidates for the Female Award

  • Leading Cadet Amelia Leong of Victoria Group
  • Leading Cadet Chirathi Lokupitiya of Queensland Group
  • Sergeant Kit Yi Lee of South Australia Group
  • Leading Cadet Aura Bhatti of New South Wales Group

Candidates for the Male Award

  • Corporal Jay Quinlan of Victoria Group
  • Corporal Jamison Dustin of New South Wales Group
  • Corporal Elijah Grant of Queensland Group

A similar rigorous process was used as in previous years, again using the capabilities of MS Teams and from the comfort of the candidates’ (and assessors’) homes.

The selection process included the following contributing components which were weighed to produce a result.

  • Knowledge Test 15%
  • Inspection 10%
  • Presentation 30%
  • Interview 35%

For the presentation, each candidate prepared a fifteen-minute audio-visual presentation delivered to the activity coordinator (Federal Education Commissioner, Gp Comr. Brendan Willard) a week before the event and marked by members of Federal Staff. The presentations were all well done, and candidates were congratulated on the quality of the preparation and execution of that task.

As usual, it was a tough decision for the selection panel, with all the candidates impressing in one way or another. They represented both their Squadrons and Groups very well.

At the end of the afternoon, the results were announced:

Federal Cadet of the Year (Female)

  • Leading Cadet Chirathi Lokupitiya of Queensland Group.

Federal Cadet of the Year (Male)

  • Corporal Jamison Dustin of New South Wales Group.

Chief Commissioner Ian Rickards OAM, LM., DSA and Bar, MSA congratulated all the candidates and especially the winners and runners-up on their significant efforts and achievements. He further congratulated Commissioners Brendan Willard, Brian Grinter, DSA, MSA, Ray King, MSA and Joel Mortimer on the organisation of the day, he also thanked everyone who assisted with the assessments.

As, for obvious reasons, no presentation could take place on the day – certificates, badges and trophies will be presented at an appropriate opportunity in the not-too-distant future.

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