Air Scouts

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Air Scout
Country Worldwide
Founded 1911 (first Airman's Badge)
Founder Major Baden Fletcher Smyth Baden-Powell

Scouting portal

Air Scouts are members of the international Scouting movement, and as with Sea Scouts, Air Scouts are primarily Scouts with a particular emphasis on aviation-based activities and themes.

They often follow the same basic programme and training as normal Scouts but additionally certain amounts of time are spent focusing on a wide variety of potential air activities that may form part of their local training/programme.

In many countries, Air Scout Groups / Troops are often associated with an Air Force station, a Gliding or Aero Club, where expert instructors are available, and there is suitable facilities and support to assist in any specialised training using standard scouting methodology - i.e 'learning by doing'.

In some countries, such as the Netherlands, it is even possible for a normal Scout Group to have one or more Air Scout Patrols to meet the needs of their young people. If there is enough Air Scout patrols then they may also form an additional Air Scout Troop within the Group.

After basic training the Scouts are given a good deal of specialist knowledge which may lead to them being awarded special skills or interest badges, and helps to stimulate an interest in air activities when they are older.

Many Air Scouts often wear a slightly different variant of their respective standard Scouting movement's uniform or additional uniform badges.

History

Major Baden Fletcher Smyth Baden-Powell, Robert Baden-Powell's youngest brother, was the first who brought flying-based activities into Scouting.

Air Scout Leaders

Many leaders of Air Scout Groups are often aviation enthusiasts or practicioners, or may be existing or retired Air Force members or Pilots or Aviation Instructors who are willing to pass their experience on to the Scouts. Of course they still receive standard and advanced Leadership training - like the Woodbadge.

Official Aviation Support

In many countries, logistical or other support may be provided by the respective countries National Civil Aero Organisation or National Air Forces in providing meeting rooms, access to specialist equipment or other such support.

Some countries even provide a national recognition scheme for those who achieve agreed standards with the Air Scouts in the UK and Brunei as examples.

Air Scouts Worldwide

Australia

Scouts Australia has an active Air Scouting program. The Air Scouts in Western Australia offer a wide range of both flying and ground based activities. The air activities include flights in light aircraft, helicopters, gliders and hot air balloons. Some members who like to "live on the edge" have gone parachuting and have taken aerobatic flights. Ground based activities include visits to airports and air museums, radio controlled model flight, aero modelling and camping on airfields. Organisations such as the Flying Doctor Service, Police Air Wing and the RAC Rescue helicopter assist greatly in air activities. Scouts have progressed to taking flying lessons. One of the most commonly enjoyed days out by Groups is the tour of Jandakot Airport. There are two Air Scout Groups, these are the Bullsbrook and Morley Groups.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh Scouts has an Air Scouts programme and is a branch of Scouting aimed at their Rover Scout section. Organisationally Bangladesh Scouts has a separate region for Air Scouts among its 11 administrative regions.

The only known open Air Rover Units in Bangladesh is the TigerShark Open Scout Group which meets at the BAF Shaheen College, Dhaka and the Rovers of the Samatat Open Scout Group also located in Dhaka.

All Scouting sections in Bangladesh follow the same programme for their section but those Scout Groups with an Air Rover Scouts section then add a aeronautical flavour to the programme and activities.

Many Units meet more than once a week in the summer period and the additional meetings are used to develop aeronautical skills and airmanship training. It is not training for an Air Force career, although Air Scout training can be very useful for young people who are so interested.

Greece

Air Scouting in Greece is an active part of the Soma Hellinon Proskopon (Scouts of Greece) with a vibrant aviation programme and they are organised into their own Administrative Region [1] with approximately 57 Air Scout Groups currently established. The first of these Air Scout Groups was founded in 1937. The Greek word for Air Scouts is Aeroproskopoi.

As in many other countries, Greek Air Scouts add aviation subjects knowledge to their traditional Scouting activities and skills.

Hong Kong

There are also Air Scouts in The Scout Association of Hong Kong. For example the 11th Kowloon Group Venture Air Scout Unit[2] and the 11th Air Scout Troop[3] in Kowloon.


Poland

Air Scouting (Harcerskie Lotnictwo) in the Poland is an active part of the program. There are currently 11 Air Scout groups/troops and some Scouting clubs that practise specific air sports such as ballooning or parachuting.

South Africa

Air Scouting in South Africa is an active part of the South African Scout Association program. Although it has been recently neglected, since 2005 Air Scouting has really started to take to the skies, especially in Gauteng, where the first Airjamborally since the 1980s was held during August 2005.

There are currently 8 Air Scout groups in South Africa:

What distinguishes Air Scouts from Land Scouts, or Sea Scouts is the uniform. Air Scouts do the following badges Advanced Navigation, Air Glider, Air Mechanic, Air Meteorologist, Air Navigator, Air Spotter and Air Traffic Controller The Air Scout uniform is: A sky blue shirt (Short sleeve), Navy blue long pants or shorts, black socks, black shoes, the group scarf and a black beret.

Air Scouts also generally do their Air Explorer (As opposed to Sea Explorer or Explorer badge) advancement badge. The Explorer advancement badge is the last advancement badge before the Top Award (Springbok Badge). Challenge awards differ from Land and Sea Scouts. Whereas Land Scouts can obtain a Bushman's Thong and Sea Scouts the Bosun's cord, Air Scouts wear The Airman's Cord.

The Gauteng Area Air Scouts (With 5 of the 8 Groups) is the most active and largest Air Scouting area in South Africa.

Sudan

Sudanese Air Scout & Girl Guides is a part of the Sudan Boy Scouts Association and The Sudan Girl Guides Association. The Regional Director for the World Scout Bureau - Arab Regional Office, Dr. Atif Abdelmageed has been unstrumental in establishing Air Scouting in sudan.

The first full Air Scout Group was inaugurated on 21 May 1967, with a total of 6 Air Scout & Guide Groups (SAS&GGG) now being active. In 1975 a Air Scout & Guide Branch of Sudanese Scouting was established. Sudanese Air Scouts & Guides train to be able to assist in delivering humanitarian aid & relief.

United Kingdom

Air Scouting in the UK started in the 1930's and became an official branch of Scouting in 1941. The early history of Air Scouting can be found here. Currently around 10% of all Scouts in the UK are in one of the 160 Air Scout Troops or Explorer Units.

An Air Scout Troop can apply to become recognised with the Royal Air Force and thus can receive special opportunities and trips. This RAF Recognition is subject to a regular 18 month inspection by a designated RAF Reserve Officer.

United States of America

Air Scouts is a now-defunct program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). The Air Scouts program had four ranks Apprentice, Observer, Craftsman, and Ace. The Ace cloth knot and medal may still be worn by anyone who earned them before the program was dropped.

The program was established in 1941 and existed under the name Air Scouts until 1949, when it was renamed Air Explorers. With minor changes, this program lasted until 1965, when it was fully merged into the then existing Explorer program of the BSA as a specialty called 'Aviation Explorers'. It still exists today as part of the BSA's Learning for Life Explorer program.

Youth in the United States of America interested in non-profit organizations based around flying should also look into the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program.

External links