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54-27 - Power Pilot Scholarship Program

Cadet Administrative and Training Orders (CATOs)

General

1. The Power Pilot Scholarship (PPS) is a seven-week course of flying and ground school training intended to qualify approximately 255 Air cadets annually for a Transport Canada (TC) Private Pilot Licence in accordance with criteria stated in Canadian Air Regulations (CARs). These courses are given by Flight Training Units (FTUs) members of either the Air Transport Association of Canada (ATAC) or “l’Association québécoise du transport aérien (AQTA)”.

Authority

2. Director General Reserves and Cadets (DGRC) has been delegated the authority to negotiate and enter into contracts with ATAC and AQTA for the PPS. Director Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers (D Cdts & JCR) has been delegated the management responsibility for the PPS. In accordance with normal centralized control and decentralized execution procedures, Regional Cadet Support Units (RCSUs) are responsible for the conduct of the PPS.

3. The National Cadet Air Operations Officer (NCA Ops O) is the national OPI responsible for the day-to-day management and administration of the PPS and he is responsible to D Cdts & JCR. The DNCA Ops O is responsible for the supervision of the contracts with respect to compliance and payment. RCSUs have delegated the responsibility for the conduct of the regional PPS to the Region Cadet Air Operations Officer (RCA Ops O). Successful management, supervision and execution of the PPS are contingent upon effective liaison between the national and regional OPIs.

Selection of Flight Training Units

4. The selection process of FTUs comprises the following steps:

  1. no later than 15 October each year, ATAC and AQTA must forward to the DNCA Ops O a list of FTUs from their own association who wish to be considered to conduct training in regards to the PPS for the next summer;
  2. upon receipt of the list of FTUs from ATAC and AQTA, the DNCA Ops O shall forward to each RCA Ops O a list of FTUs located within their own region who have submitted an application;
  3. upon receipt of the list of FTUs from the DNCA Ops O, RCA Ops O shall carry out an on-site inspection of each FTU and shall subsequently conduct a comparative evaluation of all FTUs in accordance with the "Flying Training Unit Inspection and Comparative Evaluation Guide". The result of the comparative evaluation shall be a regional merit list of all FTUs applying. RCA Ops personnel responsible for conducting the inspections and comparative evaluations shall be familiar with CARs, Part IV, subparts 5 and 6 dealing with flight training and FTUs;
  4. in November at the annual Air Cadet Flying Training Conference, the regional merit lists of FTUs are reviewed. For those FTUs not recommended, a detailed written explanation of the reasons why they are rejected is required;
  5. from the regional merit lists, D Cdts & JCR approves the list of selected FTUs based on regional recommendations and national considerations. The DNCA Ops O shall then advise ATAC, AQTA, the Air Cadet League (ACL) National Headquarters and RCSUs; and
  6. in January the contract between DND and ATAC and also the contract between DND and AQTA are finalized and distributed to the RCA Ops O.

CF qualifying exam

5. Each candidate for the PPS is required to pass a CF Qualifying Exam; this is a written exam on aviation subject material. A study guide is listed at Annex A.

6. Each year, the DNCA Ops O shall produce the CF Qualifying Exam and be responsible for its distribution to RCSUs no later than 30 November.

7. RCSUs are responsible for all aspects of the CF Qualifying Exam in their own region; distribution, timings, invigilation and marking. Also RCSUs shall collect and secure all copies immediately following the writing of the exam.

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Assignment of cadets to flight training units

8. Upon receipt of the final list of selected cadets for the PPS, RCA Ops Os shall assign their cadets to FTUs in their own region and notify the DNCA Ops O and the ACL National Headquarters.

Joining instructions

9. RCSUs shall issue Joining Instructions to each cadet selected for the PPS. The Joining Instructions shall emphasize the demanding study time required to become a pilot, the cease training (CT) policy and also the documents and funds required.

Course duration and dates

10. The course shall be conducted over a seven-week period, normally during the months of July and August. However, each region may have different starting dates for the PPS due to differences in start and end dates for provincial educational institutions. RCSUs shall determine course start and end dates and advises D Cdts & JCR as soon as possible.

11. If it is determined that circumstances may preclude the completion of the course as scheduled, e.g. poor weather conditions, aircraft un-serviceability, etc., the RCA Ops O shall immediately notify the NCA Ops O in order that alternative plans may be arranged. Simultaneously, the Chief Flying Instructor (CFI)/Manager of the FTU shall notify the parent association. D Cdts & JCR is the sole authority to approve course extensions.

Supervisory officers

12. At least one supervisory officer (SO) shall be appointed by the RCA Ops O for each FTU within the region to ensure effective supervision of the cadets undergoing training at each individual location.

13. The SOs shall be selected on the basis of demonstrated personal attributes of leadership, supervisory and communication skills, aviation qualifications and interest, initiative, motivation and reliability.

14. Before the SOs report to their designated locations, they shall receive a comprehensive RCSU/RCA Ops O briefing covering their duties and responsibilities, and details of the FTU. SO responsibilities shall include:

  1. a welcome/initial briefing to the cadets and the staff of the FTU; emphasize the demanding study time required to become a pilot, the CT policy and the importance of an effective ground school study program including the regularly scheduled study periods managed by the SO;
  2. the supervision of cadets with respect to dress, discipline, fraternization, medical problems, recreational activities, off-duty rules and procedures, rations and quarters, transportation, etc.;
  3. the preparation and distribution of weekly routine orders which shall specify working hours, supervised study periods, cadet duty rosters, dress regulations, off-limit areas, local regulations, etc.;
  4. a comprehensive knowledge of the published occurrence response plan, aircraft accident response plan and medical response plan;
  5. establishing and maintaining effective liaison with the CFI/Manager of the FTU with respect to flying and ground training programs, aircraft maintenance and flight safety; and
  6. a thorough understanding of the conditions and responsibilities of both parties as detailed in the DND/ATAC and/or DND/AQTA contracts.

15. RCA Ops Os shall establish procedures that will allow the SOs temporary relief from duties at regular intervals throughout the seven weeks.

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Cease training

16. Both the CFI/Manager of the FTU and the SO are responsible for initiating CT action. The CFI/Manager is the authority when the reason concerns flying or ground training such as aptitude, airsickness, etc. The SO is the authority for reasons such as motivation, application, misconduct, etc. Notwithstanding these individual authorities, the SO and the CFI/Manager shall discuss all CT recommendations before a decision is made. The final authority on CT action is the RCA Ops O.

17. The CFI/Manager of the FTU and/or the SO shall initiate CT action in accordance with the following:

  1. does not meet the physical limitation as specified at Annex B;
  2. lack of aptitude, motivation and/or application;
  3. misconduct;
  4. repeated air sickness;
  5. poor academic performance;
  6. failure on the initial trial of the TC written examination (the pass mark is 60%). However, provided that academic performance leading up to the TC written examination has been acceptable, the CFI may allow the student to rewrite this examination;
  7. failure on the rewrite of any of the four sections of the TC written examination (the pass mark for every section is 60%);
  8. failure to flying solo after 14 hours of dual flying instruction, except upon the written recommendation of the CFI to extend the dual flying instruction a maximum of an additional 2 hours; and
  9. failure to pass the final flight test. However, provided that student is eligible, the CFI may allow a repeat to a final flight test item.

18. An early decision on CT action is necessary to permit a replacement cadet to arrive in time to complete the course. Replacement cadets will not be loaded on the course after the completion of the first week of training. At that point, there will not be sufficient time to complete the course.

19. When a cadet is RTU’d, the SO shall notify the RCA Ops O.

TC written examination timing

20. Considering the mandatory 45 hours of ground school provided under contract by the FTU, considering the TC rule that a failed section of the TC written examination can only be rewritten after a 14-day waiting period and considering that the course is only seven weeks long, the TC written examination shall normally be scheduled during the fourth week of the course. This way, the examination timing will then ensure that at least three and one-half weeks of ground school and study are available, and that the TC waiting period can be accommodated. Rewrites of a failed section must be accomplished no later than the sixth week of the course.

Rations and quarters

21. RCSUs shall arrange rations and quarters for cadets and staff.

Clothing

22. RCSUs shall equip the student pilots, staff cadets and staff in accordance with scale D08-113. Flight line dress shall be consistent with this approved scale such that the military character of the training program is maintained.

Pilot log books

23. RCSUs shall ensure that sufficient quantities of the Pilot Log Book (A-CR-CCP-261/PT-001) are ordered early enough to ensure availability for the course. The DNCA Ops O is responsible for distribution.

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Power pilot wings

24. RCSUs shall ensure that sufficient quantities of Power Pilot Wings (NSN 8455-21-907-9248) are ordered early enough to ensure availability for the graduation parade. The DNCA Ops O is responsible for distribution.

Training manuals

25. RCSUs are to make sure the following manuals are available at the RGS. The DNCA Ops O is responsible for distribution:

  1. From The Ground Up (A-CR-CCP-263/PT-001), one copy per cadet undergoing training in English; and
  2. "Entre Ciel et Terre", one copy per cadet undergoing training in French.

26. RCSUs shall also provide the following additional course material:

  1. one current issue of the Canadian Flight Supplement, GPH 205;
  2. one air navigation computer E6B;
  3. one Douglas protractor; and
  4. one navigation scale ruler.

27. The following additional course material, will be provided by the FTU:

  1. one Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM);
  2. one TC Flight Training Manual;
  3. two aeronautical charts of the applicable flying training areas as determined by the FTU;
  4. one aircraft manual as per training aircraft; and
  5. one Pilot Training Record.

Required documents and funds

28. Cadets shall have in their possession the following upon arrival at the FTU:

  1. a valid Medical Certificate (MC) from TC (a MC based on a self-declaration by the cadet shall not be acceptable);
  2. proof of age in accordance with CARs;
  3. valid photo ID to present to the TC examiner if required;
  4. a passport photo or aviation document booklet; and
  5. personal funds to pay for both the TC examination fee and the Private Pilot Licence application fee.

Supervisory officer’s report

29. The contents of the SO Report shall include an analysis of the course in comparison to that proposed by the flying school/club in the Assessment Guide. The analysis must identify shortcomings and problem areas. For each finding, a recommendation for improvement shall be identified by the SO.

Annexes

Annex A

Study Guide to the CF Qualifying Exam for Power Pilot Scholarship Candidates

Annex B

Height and Weight Form

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OPI: NCA Ops O

Date: Jun 13

Amendment: Ch 4/13

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