Do you live near Skelmersdale in Lancashire?
Then here's your chance to help your local ATC
Alan Jones tells us more..
Our squadron is 1439 (Skelmersdale) Squadron ATC, Daniels Lane, Skelmersdale,
Lancashire. We parade on Monday and Friday nights between 19:30 - 21:30,
and currently have about 40 cadets.
We have 8 new UHF motorola GP320 sets and a base station (can't remember
the model). The Cadets have a syllabus to follow - which is provided by
the Air Cadet Organisation.
Should we be able to get the aerials / HF sets up - we can make contact
with many other squadrons, aircraft etc.
Some squadrons have already managed to make some interesting links, including
one with the 'last Concorde flight'
We can apply for National Lottery grants for further radio equipment.
It was the National Lottery that gave us the £4,000 to get the radios
in the first place. I have got some contacts where I work with the police
and, as they migrate over to the new digital radio systems, the radio
engineers will be off-loading lots of UHF radios which will need to be
re-crystalled for the Air Cadet frequencies.
We have our own operating license, callsign and a very small room set
up with the radio equipment. Cadets get communications badges for passing
a series of exams on radio and other communications including the internet
etc.
I would like to engage the cadets regarding the benefits of operating
radios and first-line servicing, but I do not have the technical knowledge
to fully maintain the radios.
Cadets in the past have had the opportunity to vist the police and fire
control rooms, and use the radios during field exercises, airshows and
Duke of Edinburgh expeditions. The cadets have to learn military procedures
(hence asking for your assistance).
I am ex RAF Communications and can train basic radio procedures - but
had to give up teaching cadets some 7 years ago due to commitments. (I
work full time - shifts and I have other voluntary commitments.)
There are opportunities for staff to attend summer camps at RAF bases
and even the opportunity to become a uniformed member of staff. (SNCO
or commissioned officer)
Anyone interested should contact the C.O.
Flt Lt Joanne Henderson
Squadron telephone number - 01695 51603
or they can email Joanne at dd1439@yahoo.co.uk
or myself at alanjones@modoracle.com
We look forward to hearing from you
Thanks in advance - Alan Jones
Tel: 0151 520 0905
Any volunteers to the staff will be subject to a Police
and Criminal Records Bureau check, as they will be in contact with cadets
aged from 13 - 18 years.
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