
Scout Badges: Aviation Skills training activities

Section 1. Practical skills

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Build and fly one of the following:
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a rubber-powered model for at least 15 seconds.
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a glider for at least 15 seconds
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a model airship
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a hovercraft
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a boomerang
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Build a scale model aircraft to a satisfactory standard from:
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plastic kit, plans or photographs. Talk about the aircraft's key points and history; OR
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by modifying a standard kit, produce a different but authentic version of the aircraft.
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Make a solid model where all control surfaces operate and can be used to demonstrate their effect.
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Demonstrate the signals required to launch a manned glider and participate as part of a launch or recovery crew.
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Arrange for a suitably experienced instructor to give training in how a parachute works. Be able to put on a parachute harness and demonstrate the correct landing roll.
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Assist with the launching and recovery of a paraglider. Make two ascents, without release.
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Know the Rules in Policy, Organisation and Rules relating to flying and fly in an aircraft as a passenger.
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Undertake a project to demonstrate a particular aeronautical principle and build a suitable model to illustrate it.
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Build and fly at least five different designs of paper aeroplane, using published plans if desired.
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One other activity of a similar nature and level of achievement as agreed by the Section Leadership Team.
Section 2. Flight safety and airmanship

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Know the dangers posed to aircraft by birds and other wildlife and the methods employed to reduce the problem.
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Understand the working of an airport fire service or emergency team, the equipment employed and main rescue methods.
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Know the reasons for airport security, the main threats and means of counteracting these threats.
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Explain how an aircraft lifejacket works. Demonstrate its use.
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Draw a runway and its circuit patterns indicating:
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climb-out; cross wind; down wind; base leg; final leg;
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runway markings;
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taxi-ways; over-shoot; under-shoot areas.
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Explain and illustrate the purpose and workings of an ejector seat.
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Understand the physical fitness requirements to fly as a pilot or passenger. Be aware of health concerns such as ear blockage, hypoxia and deep vein thrombosis.
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Explain the emergency procedures for a manned glider in flight in the case of:
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cable failure in a winch or aero-tow launch, and engine failure of a motor glider;
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structural failure or collision at altitude;
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inability to release cable in the case of winch launch or aero-tow.
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Altitude loss to the extent that safe soaring is no longer feasible.
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Understand the responsibilities of the commander of an aircraft. Examples include briefings, safety of load and passengers, completing relevant paperwork.
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Demonstrate pre-flight inspection of an aircraft and explain why inspection of each part is important to safe operation.
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One other activity of a similar nature and level of achievement as agreed by the Section Leadership Team.
Section 3. Aerospace operations

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Describe at least six airlines by their names and markings, completing one of the following:
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identify the home countries and main operating bases;
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describe six routes operated by each airline, together with the aircraft used;
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describe the operations of an all-cargo airline. Know the main types of cargo aircraft and their special applications.
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Discuss the design characteristics of a chosen aircraft in relation to its operational role.
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Understand the principles of air launched and ground based anti-aircraft weapons and the systems used to counteract them.
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Demonstrate knowledge of air and space surveillance systems, their types and applications.
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Understand the advantages of mid-air refuelling for military aircraft, the main methods of fuel transfer and the main types of tanker employed.
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Discuss the problem of aerospace flight including acceleration to escape velocity, the reason for weightlessness and re-entry problems.
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Demonstrate a general knowledge of the progress of space exploration, describing in particular one space programme.
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Understand the principles of re-usable space vehicles. Know their advantages and disadvantages over conventional rocket systems/launch vehicles.
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Explain the roles of two recent space probes and two recently launched satellites, giving the main types of instruments used.
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Demonstrate the scale of the solar system with a drawing or model to show the relative positions of the planets.
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Any other one activity of a similar nature and level of achievement as agreed by the Section Leadership Team.
Section 4. Navigation

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Explain the workings and potential errors of an aircraft compass.
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For a cross-country flight of at least 80 kilometres, work out the time of flight from an overhead starting point to an overhead destination for a given airspeed, assuming (i) a given headwind; (ii) a given tailwind.
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Explain the workings of a Global Positioning System (GPS) and be able to demonstrate its usage.
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Explain the workings of aircraft pressure instruments, for example an altimeter or air speed indicator. Explain the sources of errors.
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For a cross-country flight of at least 80 kilometres, determine a heading given a track, wind speed and direction.
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Demonstrate knowledge of conventional symbols used on an aeronautical chart and show how to do simple flight calculations.
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Illustrate latitude and longitude by simple diagrams. Explain the need for different types of map projections.
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Show a basic knowledge of Aeronav aids and equipment. Understand the concept of GPS.
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Any other one activity of a similar nature and level of achievement as agreed by the Section Leadership Team.
Section 5. Meteorology

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Identify the basic clouds and explain how they are formed.
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Explain how wind speed is measured and how weather can affect various air activities.
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Demonstrate how to get a local forecast for an air activity.
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Explain the flight conditions that can be expected in various cloud formations and weather conditions.
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Outline how temperature and pressure are measured, list the units used and demonstrate conversions between different units by use of tables and by calculation.
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Identify the weather conditions associated with the movement of air masses over the United Kingdom for example Polar, Tropical, Maritime, and Continental.
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Explain how readings of upper air conditions are obtained.
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Collect detailed weather maps of the United Kingdom either from the Internet or from a newspaper for a two-week period. Illustrate the development of significant weather features over this period.
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Demonstrate ability to interpret Met Office reports and forecasts for pilots, such as METAR and TAF.
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Any other one activity of a similar nature and level of achievement as agreed by the Section Leadership Team.
Section 6. Aero engines

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Explain how jets or rockets obtain thrust. Explain the principle of the ramjet.
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Explain the principles of a centrifugal or axial compressor type jet engine and identify the main components of such an engine.
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Discuss the relative merits of piston engines, turbojets, turboprops, turbofans, ramjets and rockets.
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Identify the main types of aircraft fuels and fuel systems.
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Demonstrate knowledge of the causes of aircraft noise and disturbance. Know the design methods used to reduce aircraft noise and how the effects on local communities can be reduced.
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Demonstrate knowledge of the effect of aircraft engine emissions on the atmosphere and how these can be reduced.
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Any other one activity of a similar nature and level of achievement as agreed by the Section Leadership Team.
Section 7. Communications and Air Traffic Control

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Identify the signals used on an airfield signals square, together with runway and airfield markings.
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Identify the lamp and pyrotechnic signals used on an airfield.
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Understand why Morse code is still transmitted by navigational beacons and be able to recognise six three-letter sequences either from a recording or written copy.
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Explain the system of air traffic control in use at a small civilian airfield.
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Demonstrate examples of the ground-to-air emergency code.
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Understand the special communications difficulties for activities such as paragliding or hang gliding and the need for clearance in areas of military flying.
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Any other one activity of a similar nature and level of achievement as agreed by the Section Leadership Team.
Section 8. Principles of flight

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Explain the meaning of trim and the importance of weight and balance.
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Explain the purpose and operation of flaps, slots and slats.
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Explain how basic aerobatic manoeuvres are carried out.
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Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of take-off and landing with special reference to light aircraft.
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Explain the methods by which short or vertical take-off can be achieved.
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Describe the airflow around a modern square parachute, explaining how it develops lift and how it is controlled.
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Attain a reasonable standard on a home computer flight simulator programme and understand why the aircraft behaves as it does. The suitability of the programme is to be agreed by the Section Leadership Team.
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Show knowledge of the methods for operating specialised passenger aircraft into city centres such as helicopters, STOL, tilt wing etc and the main drawbacks.
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Any other one activity of a similar nature and level of achievement as agreed by the Section Leadership Team.

















