Advice needed for aspiring RAF pilot

[Typhoon93]

Hi all,

I am in my early 20's now and am fascinated with aircraft, and wanted to be a fast jet pilot in the RAF. I understand this is a pipe dream for many and a reality for few.

Academia wise, I am working on becoming better at mathematics and once I have re-took that qualification next year I will be going back to college to do my A levels for initial officer training if I am selected. I'll also be hitting the gym to be in a good physical shape.

Unfortunately I wear glasses (but can switch to contacts) - will this be a problem?

Can anybody offer any advice on how to sell myself to the Forces as and when I am ready to stand a better chance of passing the aptitude tests at the Forces recruitment office to get the opportunity to do the flying aptitude test at Cranwell? Activities that are desired? Previous flying experience?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. If the RAF and the possibility of being selected to fly fast jets is a problem, then what about AAC or FAA?

Thank you.

[Hangarshuffle]

Mate I would go along down to RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall, part of England. Go to the door and ask to speak to Commander (Air). That's not his name, by the way, but his rank and also the normal full capacitry of his brain. He will put you straight as regards flying and that. It's a long way but will be worth it.

[Typhoon93]

Lol, thanks.

In the meantime I was wondering if there are any current (or former) serving pilots in the UK Forces on this forum? Any branch, RAF, AAC, FAA... it matters not, you all still had to pass very similar training for your respective roles.

[Canadian Break]

OK, I'll let someone else say it!

[sycamore]

T93,it`s always wise to start at the beginning; in this case there are a couple of `stickys `at the top of the page that you should wade thru`,with a lot of wise counsel from all quarters......Best of luck...

[Bob Viking]

Assuming this is not a wind-up I will get in there before all the standard negative replies are forthcoming.
Read the lengthy OASC thread before proceeding. If you haven't already then you need to get to a recruiting office (AFCO). They will have all the information you need.
It is a very competitive field and you will need to know your stuff. If you still have specific questions once you have read the thread I mentioned and been to an AFCO then this is a good place for extra guidance.
I am a current RAF FJ pilot and could give you loads of useful advice but what I have told you above will help you every bit as much initially.
Just to give you an idea of what you are up against I will use myself as an example. I first decided I wanted to be a FJ pilot when I was 12 (just after watching Top Gun but I knew I didn't want to be in the Navy!) having wanted to do something military for as long as I could remember. I joined Air Cadets, got my GCSEs and A levels, spent four years at University and participated in lots of sporting acitivities (competitive racing cyclist amongst other things). I knew pretty much everything I could about aircraft and the RAF in general. Thankfully I have perfect vision and no health problems. I am also devastatingly handsome and blessed with a sparkling wit.
Self motivation is key but if you feel you have what it takes then go for it. Your vision may be a problem but I believe that Laser surgery is permitted if you are willing.
That is all I will offer for now but be very wary of posting questions on this forum that make you appear to be just a hopeless wannabe. Others less benevolent than myself may be slightly harsher in their criticism.
BV:oh:

[Typhoon93]

Thanks BV. Huge respect to you sir, and thank you for your service.

I am certainly not yet another hopeless wannabe, I love the military and have always been interested in military kit. I grew up in the era of the Tonka and the Harrier and have always loved fast jets. I am intelligent academically, can retain information and I am pretty good at applying it. Although of course that doesn't necessarily mean I have the aptitude to fly aircraft. I have never flown anything before.

I will read through the thread over the next few days.

[Basil]

Our elder son was knocked back from UAS due eyesight. As BV says, that could be a problem BUT check current requirements.
If vision is a stopper, don't forget that, for professional civil pilot, the acuity requirement is less demanding.

[airpolice]

and once I have re-took that qualification


AP
Part time Pilot, Part time Grammar Nazi.

[diginagain]

If the RAF and the possibility of being selected to fly fast jets is a problem, then what about AAC or FAA?
The AAC don't fly fast jets.

[Typhoon93]

DA, I realise that.... the question was more so, "Will the AAC accept people for the helicopter pilot role if their eyesight doesn't meet RAF requirements?"

[airpolice]

I am intelligent academically..... I have never flew anything before.

"have never flown"

[Sun Who]

God they're a negative lot on here.

T93,

You're questions are sensible. Your responses are refreshingly self-effacing.
Take the advice and read the stickies at the top of the forum - and good luck to you.

Sun Who.

[Typhoon93]

Thank you, Sun Who. I am sure after reading all of the sticky threads there will be yet more questions!!! I'm also interested in the technology that the aircraft are equipped with, obviously lots of it is not public knowledge and I would guess would be on a "need to know" basis like many things MOD related are, and quite rightly so.

[BEagle]

Typhoon93 wrote: I grew up in the era of the Tonka and the Harrier and have always loved fast jets.

Mate, if you really have grown up, you'll never be a fast-jet pilot ;) !

Mine was the 'new Elizabethan' era when the skies were full of fast jets wherever you looked; it was far, far easier to join the RAF when I did.

Anyway, best of luck - BV's guidance is spot-on.

[Typhoon93]

Thanks BEagle.

Are you still serving? What did/do you fly?

[BEagle]

Nope, I retired in early 2003.

I flew Chipmunk, Jet Provost, Gnat, Hunter, Buccaneer (briefly...), Vulcan, Hawk, Phantom (until it was realised that I wasn't much of a FJ pilot after all!), Jetstream, VC10, VC10K - plus a UAS tour as a Bulldog QFI.

35 years of flying, with (apart from some 'holding' time) just one 6 week ground tour...:ok:

[Typhoon93]

That is an incredible amount of flying experience with a lot of aircraft.

Do you still fly as a hobby?

[Basil]

"Will the AAC accept people for the helicopter pilot role if their eyesight doesn't meet RAF requirements?"
I believe that the RAF carry out the assessment on behalf of the AAC and that the standard is the same. ISTR that helicopter crewmen require the same eyesight standard.
I, of course, stand to be corrected ;)

[Brian 48nav]

I don't remember you being devastatingly handsome and with sparkling wit ;) ! You'd have been a navigator if that was the case!


Shaun's devastatingly handsome and witty pa!


Best of luck T93!

[brakedwell]

I don't remember you being devastatingly handsome and with sparkling wit ! You'd have been a navigator if that was the case!

Can you be devastatingly handsome and still get lost :E

[Brian 48nav]

Not really - only temporarily uncertain of position:{.

[muppetofthenorth]

I am intelligent academically, can retain information and I am pretty good at applying it.

Forgive the tone of this, but if that quote is true, why is there no mention of a degree in your OP and why are you having to re-take your qualifications - what was wrong with the first lot?

It doesn't matter to me or anyone else on this forum, but if you're going through the selection process you will be asked about it and you will need an answer.

[Typhoon93]

Mental health took over when I was in my mid teens although now I have started to get back on my feet and I want to change my life. It affected me badly in exams and since Maths GCSE's are now 100% exam-based and have been since around 2008-2009, that is why I failed it. Unfortunately I couldn't help my health at that time, it's a struggle but now I am able, I want to go for it.

[Bob Viking]

I commend your openness and honesty. It will get you far in life. Despite what anyone says on here you will never know until you give it a shot. Best of luck.:ok:
B48Nav. Your memory is obviously failing you. It must be your age!
BV;)

[Sun Who]

What Bob Viking said.

T93,

Keep pushing. The system will determine if you've got what it takes.
By way of encouragement, I've flown with a couple of people over the years who have had challenges with mental illness at one time or another. Both overcame their issues and went on to have happy and successful lives and careers, in the RAF.

Good luck to you.

Sun.

[muppetofthenorth]

Mental health took over when I was in my mid teens although now I have started to get back on my feet and I want to change my life. It affected me badly in exams and since Maths GCSE's are now 100% exam-based and have been since around 2008-2009, that is why I failed it. Unfortunately I couldn't help my health at that time, it's a struggle but now I am able, I want to go for it.

Just be aware, then, that certain (as they phrase it) "psychiatric disorders" are considered medical conditions that preclude entry to the RAF.

See this (http://www.raf.mod.uk/careers/rafcms/mediafiles/8AC4A6D0_5056_A318_A8628AA28D2D8DAE.pdf) for more details, but note it's not exhaustive. Your only answer on that can come from OASC.

[Typhoon93]

None of those psychiatric disorders apply to me.

As a very young child, I supposedly had asthma, although I wasn't dependant on medication then and am certainly not now. I don't even need it. So I am not sure where the GPs got that from, although I'll ask OASC.

It looks like I had better get this seen to ASAP as I am 21 now, if I need laser eye surgery then it will have to start ASAP.....

[Typhoon93]

BTW, thanks BV.

It's something that I am going to seriously need to sit down and discuss with my GP, also. Being a GP he is quite well informed about the health issues that may or may not effect flying, for instance he told me that any form of heart problem = flying career over and I didn't know that before then (thankfully that doesn't apply to me).

Asthma barely effected me at all, in fact I can't remember a time that I was seriously ill with it at all as a child. I am being optimistic here and will presume OASC will look at applications on a case-by-case basis as opposed to looking at a script and saying, "you're in" or "off you go sunshine".

[Robert Cooper]

It's not a case of OASC looking at applications, the medical examination you will go through at OASC is exhaustive. Better be prepared for that.

Bob C

[5 Forward 6 Back]

I would discount laser surgery; I'm certain it's now an option for serving pilots, at our own expense and risk, in lieu of contacts or glasses (as long as you go for PRK and not LASIK/LASEK). It's not an option for new joiners; if you've had laser surgery of any type at the first medical, I don't think you'll get in.

Asthma and lack of qualifications are yet other hurdles. Instead of bothering with waiting for replies here, though, start getting in touch with the careers service. The nearest AFCO will give you the definitive answers, it matters not a jot if you get 50 people here saying "go for it lad!" if they've got no idea about the current medical and academic requirements, as positive encouragement isn't enough to get you to a first interview!

Contact the experts. Prepare for disappointment. There are still hundreds of applicants for every space; wanting it isn't enough. Good luck regardless.

[Typhoon93]

Thanks 5F6B.

I will definitely crack on with that. As far as academic requirements, I had a look on the RAF website and it just mentions 5 GCSE's or equivalent and a minimum of 2 A levels (but Critical Thinking and General Studies aren't accepted by the RAF) or equivalent (? IIRC re. A levels), which seems to be the case for all other Officer roles so I am assuming they are the minimum qualifications for Officer training.

[3 bladed beast]

Air police - I love your grammar Nazi ways!

T93 - good luck!