Air Scout



Air Scouts are members of the international Scouting movement 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 they 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
There are claims that Major Baden Fletcher Smyth Baden-Powell, youngest brother of the founder of The Boy Scouts Association of the United Kingdom, Robert Baden-Powell and an aviator, first brought flying-based activities into Scouting. However, as late as July, 1932, Baden Baden-Powell wrote, in the Scouter:


 * "...it has been suggested that Air Scouts should be organised in the same way as Sea Scouts."


 * "Though the air is 'ever with us', access to aerodromes is not common and though Sea Scouts can mess about 'in any old boat', a Scout is unlikely to be able to get access to an aeroplane, and even if he did he would not be able to fly it. ...it seems hardly feasible to have special 'Air Scouts', yet a great deal may be accomplished by troops specialising in air-work... I shall always be pleased to give what advice I can."

An Airman's badge was introduced by The Boy Scouts Association in December 1911. However, these did not introduce Air Scouts.

Suggestions to have an Air Scout Branch within The Boy Scouts Association were first put forward in May 1927. They were not accepted for fear the Branch might be 'led away by attractive non-essentials' and there was insufficient manpower in the Movement to maintain it. However, by the late 1930s, Scout Troops in the vicinity of airfields and gliding clubs were encouraged to include air activities in their programmes and an 'Air Patrols' pamphlet was produced. In the Scouter of December 1937 there was an announcement about 'Air Patrols' by L A Impey, Headquarters Commissioner for Scouts:


 * "From time to time rumours reach me of troops that are co-operating with ground staff at certain aerodromes, but with the exception of the 30th Plymouth Troop, I have received no definite information."


 * "Let me add here quickly that there is no intention of starting a new branch of Scouting, namely Air Scouts..."

The Boy Scouts Association eventually introduced Air Scouts in 1941. The 4th World Scout Jamboree in 1933 was the first international gathering where Air Scouts were represented. On 9 August Robert Baden-Powell 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.

Australia
Scouts Australia has a few active Air Scout groups. Air Scouts Canberra is located in Deakin, Australian Capital Territory. There are two Air Scouts Groups in Western Australia, Bullsbrook and Morley Groups. There is one Air Scout Group in Victoria, 3rd Chelsea Air Scouts, located in Melbourne bayside suburb of Chelsea. There are also Air Scouts in individual Scout Groups.

Bangladesh
Bangladesh Scouts has an Air Scouts programme and is a branch of Scouting for their Rover section, not a separate organisation. Organisationally there is a separate region for Air Scout among its 11 regions There are two Air Rover Units in Bangladesh. All Scouting sections in Bangladesh follow the same programme for their section but Air Rover Scouts sections then add an aeronautical flavour to the programme and activities. I

Barbados
In March 2014 members of the newly formed 160th Barbados Deighton Griffiths Air Scout Troop where invested by the Chief Commissioner of the Barbados Boy Scout Association at the Barbados Concorde Experience. These are the only Air Scouts in Barbados.

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

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".

The first Air Scout Group in Brazil, named 'Captain Ricardo Kirk' was founded on 28 April 1938, and hosted by the local Brazilian 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 Army Aviator Lt. Col Vasco Alves Secco.

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.

Cambodia
Although only a recent member of WOSM, The National Association of Cambodian Scouts is reported to have some Air Scout Groups.

Chile
Brazil and Chile vie for the first officially recorded Air Scout Groups in South America. The first Air Scout Group in Chile, "Rodolfo Marsh", was established on 17 September 1936 at the Chilean Air Force base at Quinteros. The founder and first Scoutmaster was Don Leopoldo Sánchez

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 Kyprou 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 February 1954.

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 and demonstrated as well as activities such as aeromodelling.

Currently only two practising Air Scout Troops are known – one based in southeast France and one of the smaller French Associations

Greece
Air Scouting in Greece is an active specialist branch of the Soma Hellinon Proskopon (Scouts of Greece) program. Air Scouts are called Aeroproskopoi. There is a Region for Air Scouts of approximately 57 Air Scout groups. The Greek Air Scouting branch was founded in 1945.

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 Wah Yan College, Kowloon during the 5-year expansion plan of the Scout Association of Hong Kong. The 11th Kowloon Group (Wah Yan College, Kowloon) 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 1974, a Venture Air Scout Unit was added to the Group.

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 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.

Hungary
Magyar Cserkészszövetség (Hungarian Scout Association), a WOSM member, has not yet officially started an Air Scouting program, but recently an Air Scout Group – Repülőcserkész – has been formed in Gyor in the western region of Hungary, and is believed to be the only one in Hungary (as of October 2014). The local flying organisations around Gyor regional Airport are supported them with access to appropriate activities. The Group is adapting their Air Scouting Program from a wide variety of sources including Poland, Ireland, Spain and UK.

India
The Bharat Scout and Guide organisation of India have Air Scouting and Air Guiding branches.

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: Air Scouting in Indonesia is supported by the Indonesian Air Force TNI AU and other aero club organisations.
 * Aero Sport: Motorized Flight, Non Motorized Flight, Aeromodelling, Sky Diving, Hang Gliding
 * Aero Knowledge: Aerodynamics, Air Traffic Control (ATC), Meteorology, Flight Supporting Facility, Air Navigation
 * Aero Service: Aircraft Mechanical engineering, Flight Communication, Aerial SAR, Aero Structure

Ireland
Air Scouting was a branch of Scouting Ireland which combines the normal Scouting activities such as camping and hiking with an interest in aviation and space. Since the re-launch of their "One" Scouting program, a separate Air Scout branch has been absorbed, but with a strengthening of an Air Activities program.

Italy
In 1949 CNGEI started activities with Air Scout, which were followed by the organization of a first course in aeronautical culture, organized at the Air War School in Florence-Cascine, but, at the end of the sixties, clear material and logistics difficulties blocked the development and the activities of the Scouts of the air inside the institution.

Kenya
Air Scouting program in Kenya is currently being renewed and with the 'Young Aviators Air Scouts Open Troop' in Langata District operating successfully.

Malaysia
The first Air Scout patrol was established in the Victoria Institution in 1951 and ceased to exist in 1955. The 10th Kuala Lumpur Group in the Methodist Boys School was established in 1915, converted to Air Scouts in 1952 and remains active. Air Scouts Troops exist in Kuala Lumpur and Johore.

In the Sultanate of Brunei, a successful and unique Air Scout Group has been running since 2008 and is affiliated with SOAS College where members of the group are students.The Sultan of Brunei is a supporter of the Group.

Malta
The island of Malta currently only has one Air Scout Group who run an adapted Air Scouting Program, which was originally based on the UK scheme. The Air Scout Group is attached to St Augustine's College. The group has for a number of years participated in JOTA/JOTI. Malta previously had a number of other Air Scout Groups which are now defunct.

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.

Nigeria
The Airscout Wing of The Scout Association of Nigeria [formally Boys Scouts of Nigeria] was established in 1978 by an aeronautical engineer working for Nigerian Airways. The initial objectives where to cater for the young people in the science and art of airmanship/aviation trades, discipline and citizenship. However, the Air Scouts made their first national appearance at Makurdi in 1987, with the very first Rover Air Crew led by Segun Ige [of the Nigerian Airforce].

Their Air Scout Training Methods are published here:

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
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.

Singapore
The city/state of Singapore has a vibrant Air Scout Group, the Soaring Eagles Air Scout Wing, originally started in 1998 as Cub Pack attached to Woodlands Ring Primary School but has expanded over the years and moved its base location to Endeavour Primary School. The Group now has over 100 members including Cub Scouts, Scouts and Ventures and involves itself in a wide range of community and Scouting activities.

In 2012 the group "piloted" the first Young Aviator Course for Cub Scouts in Singapore as part of a revamp of the Air Scouting Program, supported by an educational donation from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. This event led to an additional aviation focused Cub Pack to start up.

South Africa
Air Scouting in South Africa is an active part of the South African Scout Association program. Since 2005 Air Scouting has expanded, especially in Gauteng, where the first Airjamborally since the 1980s was held during August 2005. The Gauteng Area Air Scouts has 5 of the 8 Air Scout Groups.

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 active in Barcelona belonging to the Associació Catalana de Scouts (Catalonian Association of Scouts, WFIS)

Sri Lanka
Supported by the Sri Lankan Air Force, the 57th Colombo is a member of the Sri Lanka Scouts Association and has over 90 members. The group, which was originally started in 1972, holds its meetings at three Sri Lankan Air Force bases but is classed an 'Open Group'. As well as providing a standard Scouting Program, they additionally have aviation based activities. (The sections are Junior Air Scouts aged 11 to 15 years and 15 to 18 years for Senior Air Scouts)

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.

Thailand
Air Scouting in Thailand was established on 21 July 1965.

Trinidad and Tobago
The Trinidad & Tobago Scout Association states that there are two Air Scout Groups in their membership, the 2nd Guaico Air Scouts based at Guaico Secondary School and the 1st Arouca Air Scouts based at the Anglican Church. Currently not much else is known about their Air Scouting program.

United Kingdom
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. The first National Air Scout camp took place in Avington Park in July 1942 and in December 1942 a National Air Scout exhibition was held in Dorland Hall, London. The Scout Association bought their first glider in 1959, and operated an Air Activity Centre at Lasham, near Alton in Hampshire, until 1978.

Currently around 10% of all Scouts in the Scout Association 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. 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
 * Auster J/1N Alpha, G-AGYH, owned Scout Association between 1968 and 1971
 * 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
 * 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
 * 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'.

On 1 March 1985, the Boy Scouts of America officially ended powered aircraft flight in its Aviation Exploring program, citing difficulties with maintaining insurance coverage in the event of an aircraft accident. 450 Explorer Posts and over 10,000 Explorer Scouts were affected.

It still exists today as part of the BSA's Learning for Life Explorer program.