Air Scout

This article uses bare URLs for citations. Please consider adding full citations so that the article remains verifiable. Several templates and the Reflinks tool are available to assist in formatting. (Reflinks documentation) (January 2012)

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, of their respective Scouting organisations as a branch, similar to Sea Scout branches, with a particular emphasis on an aviation themed programme and/or flying-based activities. Air Scouts follow the same basic Scouting programme as normal Scouts but devote certain amounts of time focused on their air activities.

Air Scouts often wear a slightly different uniform from the rest of the Scouting movement and/or may have additional badges/insignia.

Most air activities are ground based like visits to airports and air museums, radio controlled model flight, aero modelling and camping on airfields. Depending on age group, country and Scout group the activities can also include parachuting or flights in light aircraft, helicopters, gliders or hot air balloons.

History

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

The 4th World Scout Jamboree in 1933 was the first international gathering where Air Scouts were represented. On August 9 Robert Baden-Powell has visited the air scouts, in the company of Pál Teleki Hungarian Chief Scout and László Almásy (known as The English Patient), who was a leader of the Hungarian Air Scouts.^[1]

Worldwide

Australia

Air Scouts Canberra

Scouts Australia has an active Air Scouting program. Air Scouts Canberra, located in Deakin, has a long history in Canberra being formed from the Second Canberra Scout Group formed in 1925. Air Scouts in Western Australia are represented by two Air Scout Groups, the Bullsbrook and Morley Groups. Due to the size of Western Australia and the distances involved there are also Air Scouts in individual Scout Groups.^[2]

Bangladesh

Bangladesh Scouts has an Air Scouts programme and is a branch of Scouting for their Rover section, not a separate organisation. Organisationally Bangladesh Scouts has a separate region for Air Scout among its 11 regions.^[3]

There are two Air Rover Units in Bangladesh. These are Daffodil International University Air Rover Unit & Tiger Shark Open Air Rover Unit which meets at the BAF Base Bashar, Dhaka.^[4]

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

Belgium

Only one Group exists, which is hosted by a Belgian Paragliding Club.

• 1st Belgian Air Scouts & Guides

Brazil

Brazilian Scouting União dos Escoteiros do Brasil has a very active and vibrant Air Scouting program for its Air Scouts (Escoteiros do Ar) known in Portuguese as "Modalidade do Ar".^[5]

The first Air Scout Group was started in Brazil in 1938, and hosted by the 5th Army Aviation Regiment in Curitiba, PR which currently operates the Integrated Air Defense and Air Traffic Control Centre. The original founding was initiated by the Army Aviator - Lt. Col Vasco Alves Secco who founded the Air Scout Group 'Captain Richard Kirk'.

Subsequently recognising the value of Air Scouting, the Brazilian Ministry of Aviation has issued decrees to all its units to provide support to Air Scout Groups at all its bases, as needed.

Besides the standard activities of Scouting, Air Scouts in Brazil have additional air activities and learn suitable technical aviation related skills.

Currently, the National Coordinator is the Scout Chief Fábio Augusto Giunti Ribeiro

Chile

The first Air Scout Group in Chile, "Rodolfo Marsh", was established on 17th Sept 1936 at the Chilean Air Force base at Quinteros. The founder and first Scoutmaster was Don Leopoldo Sánchez ^[6] However no references to "Scouts Aéreos" have been found currently.

Colombia

At present only one Air Scout Group - 'Tigres Del Aire' - is known of in Colombia, which is a member of Asociación Scouts de Colombia.

Cyprus

Air Scouting in Cyprus is an active part of the Soma Proskopon Kyproi program.

Egypt

Egyptian Federation for Scouts and Girl Guides is structured into 4 central associations - Scouts, Sea Scouts, Air Scouts and Guides. The Air Scouts section headed is by the Commissioner for Air Scouts - Mohamed Abdel-Hamid.

Each of these four central associations has a corresponding regional association in the twenty-six governorates of Egypt; a coordination committee in each governorate organizes the activities and the cooperation between the associations.

The first Air Scouts in Egypt where formed early in 1954, and in the same year the executive committee of the Air Scouts was formed and held its first meeting in the office of the Director-General of the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority on 17/2/1954.

Trh most currently active Egyptian Air Scout regions are:

• Air Scouting Association - Helwan
• Air Scouting Association - Red Sea
• Air Scouting Association - Northern Sinai
• Air Scouting Association - Ismailia
• Air Scouting Association - Cairo
• Air Scouting Association - Qena
• Air Scouting Association - Central Eastern

In January 2007 the first Air Scout Festival was held in Ismalia.

France

Air Scouts (Scouts de L'Air) started in the north of France in the mid 1930s. The first documented French Air Scout camp was held at Saint Cyr, 25 August to 1 September 1935. After World War II it was restarted by a few groups and at the 1947 Peace Jamboree many full-sized gliders built by various Air Scouts where shown to participants ^[7] and demonstrated as well as activities such as aeromodelling.^[8]

Currently only two practising Air Scout Troops are known - one based in southeast France ^[9] and one of the smaller French Associations ^[10]

Greece

Air Scouting in Greece is an active specialist branch of the Soma Hellinon Proskopon (Scouts of Greece) program. Air Scouts are called Aeroproskopon. There is a Region for Air Scouts of approximately 57 Air Scout groups. The first of these was founded in 1937.

Hong Kong

Air Scouting in Hong Kong started in 1967 when a Jesuit priest, Father Cunningham formed an Air Scout Troop in the 11th Kowloon Scout Group of Kowloon Wah Yan College during the 5-year expansion plan of the Scout Association of Hong Kong. 11th Kowloon Scout Group (Kowloon Wah Yan College) is a "closed school Scout Group" with Scout membership open only to students of this college in the Kowloon Peninsula of Hong Kong. As a result there was only one Air Scout Unit in the territory from 1967 to 1972. In 1972 the Group added an Venture Air Scout unit.

In 1972, the Chief Scout of Hong Kong appointed Francis Yiu Cheong Chin as the first Air Scout Commissioner to develop and expand Air Scouting. Mr. Chin is a Queen's Scout, a Leader Trainer and a member of the Hong Kong Chin Brothers aviators with the long distance flying record of successfully completed “The First 100 horsepower Single-engine England to Hong Kong Long Distance Cross-Country Flight in History”. As a result Air Scouting spread and flourished after 1972. There are 18 Air Scout Units in 5 Regions of Scout Groups in Hong Kong.^[11]

Indonesia

"Saka Dirgantara" is the Air Scout specialism programme of the Indonesian Scout Association - Gerakan Pramuka aimed at the Rover Scout section (16-20) known as Satuan Karya. This aeronautical skills programme focuses on three different aspects:

• Aero Sport
• Aero Knowledge
• Aero Tourism

Air Scouting in Indonesia is supported by the Indonesian Air Force and other aero club organisations.

Ireland

Air Scouting is a branch of Scouting Ireland which combines the normal scouting activities such as camping and hiking with an interest in aviation and space.

Malaysia

The first Air Scout patrol was established in the Victoria Institution in 1951.^[12] The Air Scout group ceased to exist in 1955.

The 10th Kuala Lumpur Group in the Methodist Boys School ^[13] was established in 1915 and converted to Air Scouts in 1952 and remains active.^[14]

The Kuen Cheng Air Scouts Troop^[15] was established in 2002.

Air scouts in Johore^[16] was established in 2008

Netherlands

Air Scouting (luchtscouting) in the Netherlands is an active part of the program. There are currently 15 Air Scout groups. They wear a gray shirt.

Paraguay

A single member Scout Group of the Confederación Interamericana Scouts Independientes (CISI) in Ascunión, Paraguay has both Sea and Air Scout sections. This is probably due to it being supported by the local Naval Air Force Base.

Peru

A small number of Air Scout Groups exist in Peru as part of the Asociación de Scouts del Perú (ASP, Scout Association of Peru).

Poland

SP-BZP, hot air balloon Scout Balloon Club (Poland)

Air Scouting (harcerskie lotnictwo) in Poland is an active part of the program. There are currently Scout Balloon Club, 1 Air Scout Group and 9 Air Scout Troops.

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 9 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.

Spain

Air Scouting activity had been extremely poor up to date, just a few single troops merged in ASDE (Scouts de España, WOSM) from Valencia and Tenerife (Canary Islands), both experiencing a period of activity of about two or three years during the late 1970s. Today, there's a revival on the way with two active groups in the ASDE Madrid area, one more in the ASDE Castille-Le Manche area (in Albacete) and the older group alive in Barcelona belonging to the Associació Catalana de Scouts (Catalonian Association of Scouts, WFIS)

Sudan

The Sudanese Air Scout and Girl Guides Group is an active part of the Sudan Scouts Association and Girl Guides Association of Sudan. It was founded in 1975 by Isam Kamel and Alladeen Hassan Abas as part of the National Aviation Institute. In 1976, they transferred the Air Scout activities to the Sudanese Air Scout club in Nile Street Khartoum. Sudanese Air Scout members attend local activities, in addition to activities organized outside of the Sudan, such as Arab and International Jamborees. Also, Sudanese Air Scouts send some members to study plane models in the Czech Republic.^{[citation needed]}

United Kingdom

Air Scouts of the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association, July 2008

British Scouts have been involved in aviation since the early days of aviation. The first UK Scout Group known to have built and flown their own glider were East Grinstead who flew for 200 feet at an altitude of 25 feet, in 1912. The first powered aircraft to be owned by UK Scouts was an Airco DH.6 presented to 3rd Hampden (Middlesex) Scouts in 1921.

The idea of Air Scouts as a distinct unit was resisted for many years, becoming an official branch of Scouting in 1941.^[17][18] The first National Air Scout camp took place in Avington Park in July 1942 and in December 1942 a National Air Scout exhibition is held in Dorland Hall, London.^[19] The Scout Association bought their first glider in 1959, and operated an Air Activity Centre at Lasham, near Alton in Hampshire, until 1978.^[20]

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.^[21] Air Scouting is also provided for within the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association.

Aircraft owned by UK Scouts

A number of aircraft have been owned by Scouts in the United Kingdom, including:

• Airco DH.6 - owned by 3rd Hampton Scout Troop, Middlesex in 1921^[22]
• Auster J/1N Alpha, G-AGYH, owned Scout Association between 1968 and 1971 ^[23]
• Slingsby Falke G-AYYK, owned Scout Association, and used at Lasham airfield
• Scheibe Falke, G-BODU - owned by Hertfordshire Scouts, in use at Cambridge Gliding Centre^[24]
• Pegasus Quik GT450 G-CFFN, owned by Kent County Scout Council since 2008.
• Thunder Ax7-77 Hot air balloon G-BCAS, owned Scout Association 1979 to 1981.
• Cameron O-84 Hot air balloon G-STAV, owned by Blenheim Scout Group since 2009.
• Vickers Valetta C2, VX580, formerly owned by Norfolk Scout County - now at the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum^[25]
• Avro York C1, G-ANTK, registered to Dan Air and formerly used as a bunk house by Air Scouts at Lasham - now at the Imperial War Museum
• de Havilland Comet, G-APDK, registered to Dan Air and formerly used as a bunk house by Air Scouts at Lasham - now scrapped

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 (later under the Explorer program the ranks were Apprentice, Bronze, Gold, and Silver Award). The Ace (Silver Award) 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.^[26]

Notes

The name is also used as a derogatory reference to members of the U.S. Air Force, typically used by combat troops of the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps.^{[citation needed]}

External links

• The Early History of Air Scouting
• Air Scouts Canberra, ACT, Australia
• Air Scouting informative website, Spain

v t e Scouting and Guiding topics   The Scouting Movement Scouting Scouting for Boys Scout method Scout Law Scout Promise Scout Motto Wood Badge Girl Guides Ranger Guides Jamboree Scout Leader Non-aligned organisations Scouting controversy and conflict Scouting in popular culture List of Scouts List of highest awards in Scouting   Sections Age groups in Scouting and Guiding Beavers Cub Scout Scout Venture Scout Rover Scout Rainbow Guides Brownie Guides Girl Guides Ranger Guides Air Scouts Extension Scouting Lone Scouts Lone Guides Sea Scout   Founders, pioneers, and notable leaders Robert Baden-Powell Olave Baden-Powell Agnes Baden-Powell Daniel Carter Beard Frederick Russell Burnham William Hillcourt László Nagy Ernest Thompson Seton J. S. Wilson   Prominent places Baden-Powell House Brownsea Island Edith Macy Conference Center Foxlease Gilwell Park Kandersteg Our Cabaña Our Chalet Pax Hill Pax Lodge Philmont Sangam   International Scouting Confédération Européenne de Scoutisme International Scout and Guide Fellowship Order of World Scouts Scouts-in-Exile International Union of Guides and Scouts of Europe World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts World Federation of Independent Scouts World Organization of the Scout Movement   Other Ging Gang Goolie International Scouting Collectors Association Oldest Scout Groups Outdoor education Religion in Scouting Scout handshake Scout Spirit World Scout Emblem World Scout Moot