Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made by the RAF in bringing Volunteer Gliding Squadrons back to fully operational condition.
There are ten Volunteer Gliding Squadrons (VGS) and six Aerospace Ground Schools (AGS).
The following six VGS have returned to flight and are training cadets both in the air and with Ground School elements:
621VGS ,622VGS, 632VGS, 637VGS, 644VGS, 661VGS
In addition 645VGS had returned to flight, but is currently undertaking Instructor Conversion Training to the Viking glider, having previously undertaken cadet training with the Vigilant motor glider.
The remaining three Squadrons, 614VGS, 615VGS and 626VGS are awaiting return to flight. However, along with the six AGS they are continuing to train cadets as they operate ground school elements and Part Task Trainers.