Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > PPRuNe Worldwide > Canada
Reload this Page >

The RCAF - What's it like?

Canada The great white north. A BIG country with few people and LOTS of aviation.

The RCAF - What's it like?

Old 30th Jul 2009, 15:58
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Canada
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The RCAF - What's it like?

Hey guys, I’ve got a couple of questions related to joining the RCAF. (I already read the other topic about it and was hoping to start a new, more in-depth discussion).

So I just graduated from the University of Waterloo and am looking into career options. I was planning on working with NGOs, but I’ve always wanted to be in the military and never fully considered it until now b/c of my family’s aversion to it. So I’ve done quite a bit of research into the RCAF, such as reading all the information available on the forces.ca site, talking to online recruiters 3 times, and talking to my grandpa who was an RCAF pilot in the late 1950s flying F-86 Sabres (Canadair Sabre).

However, I was hoping to get some opinions from current/former RCAF pilots and friends and family of pilots. I have compiled a list of the main pros and cons of joining the RCAF and most of my questions are regarding the cons:

How intense is the psychological stress of becoming a pilot?

How often do pilots usually move around? How crappy are the airbases? Are they in extremely remote locations? (I’d probably be dragging my long-term girlfriend around with me and was wondering how terrible it would be for her to live near a base).

What happens if you wash out? Are you reassigned against your will or released from the air force? (I wonder this b/c as of right now I don’t want to do anything but pilot and would rather be released than reassigned)

Are most pilots adrenaline junkies that like to live on the edge? Are there copious amounts of alcohol and drugs?

The time commitment for being a pilot is 9 years, what rank do most people reach by the end of this? Captain?

I’m sorry for this awkward question, but is there a high injury or mortality rate in the RCAF? (my family is seriously worried that I’m going to die or develop post-traumatic stress disorder if I join)

Sorry for the long post, but thanks for all the help!
BroVVn is offline  
Old 30th Jul 2009, 16:45
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: North America
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The RCAF is now the CAF and has been for so for 35 years or so. The daughter of a friend was selected last year for pilot training was one of only 19 from across Canada not from RMC good luck. She has a B.Comm and is fully bilingual and has some flying experience. For 2009 she told me only 5 will be taken
ea340 is offline  
Old 30th Jul 2009, 21:00
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Comox, BC
Age: 49
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Lots of questions - I recommend you visit some Canadian web forums that specialize in the CF. Most notably army.ca - they have a complete area dedicated to the Air Force.

I am a CF pilot - not dead yet, or suffering from PTSD.

We drink just like anyone else - drugs are frowned upon, random drug screening is in effect.

If you CT (cease training) from any phase of your 3-4 years of pilot training, you will be given the opportunity to OT (Occupational Transfer) to another job or you can leave.

Wings are located at Comox, BC -Victoria, BC - Edmonton, AB - Cold Lake, AB- Moose Jaw, SK - Southport, MB - Winnipeg, MB - Trenton, ON - Ottawa, ON - Bagotville, PQ - Greenwood, NS - Halifax, NS - Gander, NFLD and Yellowknife, NWT.
SAR_ Zipperhead is offline  
Old 2nd Aug 2009, 14:53
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: CYYZ
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
- The fleet is old, and getting older.
- Under funded
- Training Department still stuck in the 1950's
- After 9 years you will have maybe 2,500 hours
During slow times, that is below most airline application minimums
- They teach you to fly in a manner and mind set that is not
compattable with airline operations.
- There is a very real chance in this day that you will see action
and be shot at or know you had to shoot at someone. This has
long term personal consequences, no matter who you are.

-Oh yes, there's no life like it.
Obbie is offline  
Old 2nd Aug 2009, 22:35
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Comox, BC
Age: 49
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sounds like Obbie's information is dated to when he/she left the CF.

Not so much doom and gloom is the reality. Our fleet is old, but being replaced.

Our training is world class and up to industry standards. I personally instruct Advanced Flight Training on full EFIS, FMS, RNAV machines.

We're not an airline - nor do we ever pretend to be. We do our own flight planning, we are flexible in our routing and we don't have a bottom dollar to maintain. We fly to destination to start our mission, not to accomplish it.
SAR_ Zipperhead is offline  
Old 2nd Aug 2009, 22:56
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If it helps,

The CAF is a safe place for gay members, and visible minorities. The same cannot be said for our friends south of the border.

In any event, good luck!
YYCcrew is offline  
Old 18th Aug 2009, 18:45
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Raincoast
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
How intense is the psychological stress of becoming a pilot?
About the same as an undergrad degree program at Waterloo... if you've the organizational skills for university, you can study well in the CF.

How often do pilots usually move around?
About every 3 to 4 years... at the discretion of the service, although you get a wish list. If you're doing well you'll usually get what you want. If you're a bit less than ideal your choices will be rather more limited


How crappy are the airbases?
They're OK, though it's been a few years... everything is old! I visited some friends a couple of years ago at Air Force HQ in Winnipeg and it was pretty dismal. I'd been gone for many years, when I visited the only thing that had changed was that everybody had desktop computers! Still ****ty old furniture, furnishings, buildings, mess life was non-existant. In the 'kinder gentler' CF there was a lot more casual interaction between the ranks... it was not the airforce I left! When your Grandfather was in the CAF flyin' Sabres, our country's airforce was something real and purposeful. After many successive Liberal governments, (they don't put money in to the military) things have waned significantly, also the airforce had a large role in Cold War doctrine and that threat is pretty much gone. So to is the Norad threat, so things have really shrunk.


Are they in extremely remote locations? (I’d probably be dragging my long-term girlfriend around with me and was wondering how terrible it would be for her to live near a base).
The bases where the Wings are (where the aircraft are) are OK for the most part, I think the only real remote spot is Yellowknife... everything else is pretty reasonable. Cold Lake (fightertown Canada) can get to some folks...

What happens if you wash out? Are you reassigned against your will or released from the air force? (I wonder this b/c as of right now I don’t want to do anything but pilot and would rather be released than reassigned)
I am not sure of the state of play on this issue right now - talk to the recruiter, and of course get it in writing...

Are most pilots adrenaline junkies that like to live on the edge?
I think you'll find most of 'em are level headed professionals. There's a kind of selection process that mostly weeds out the dickheads, and there's always peer review... which was fact of life when I was in the CF.

Are there copious amounts of alcohol and drugs?
Those days are pretty much gone... drugs are almost non-existant and that is a kind of thing that sort of takes care of itself as well. Nobody wants to work in a unit where there's folks on drugs and there are ways in which these folks are weeded out

The time commitment for being a pilot is 9 years, what rank do most people reach by the end of this? Captain?
That's about right. That was happened to all me 'n my classmates/peers


I’m sorry for this awkward question, but is there a high injury or mortality rate in the RCAF? (my family is seriously worried that I’m going to die or develop post-traumatic stress disorder if I join)
Make no mistake: you are putting yourself in harm's way in the service of your country. You may have to pay the ultimate price. If that makes you uncomfortable you may want to look elsewhere. Accidents do happen as well, and aviation is inherently dangerous. Military aviation is more dangerous than civil aviation. Stress is a very subjective thing... some folks handle it better 'n others. I have seen some real tough lookin' guys totally goof out in the military when the **** got a bit heavy an' I've seen guys the tough guys thought were sissies get down to brass tacks 'n come up shinin'. It's all about character, personality, intelligence, integrity, sincerity, determination and teamwork ('specially) an' those kinds a qualities

Suggestion: Perhaps you should take a few lessons in the manner of obtaining a private pilot's licence, in order to assess your desire/affinity for flying? Then you may be able to more carefully gauge your desire.I did a couple of tours in the CF and then went to civil flying and ended up where I wanted to be flyin' heavies around the world. I loved my time in the CF, worked with some fantastic people, and some dickheads. I believe it's fair to say that military flying will prepare you very well for civil aviation later in life if that's what you desire. Military training is different than civil training. You will cut your teeth on flying that most civilians never get close to. It's a lot of fun along the way.
Good luck with yer decision makin'.
kingoftheslipstream is offline  
Old 19th Aug 2009, 21:55
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Start The Process!

BroVVn,

Things are on the mend in this outfit (not sure of Obbie's info source). There were some excellent responses to your questions. I joined 19 yrs ago without a schmeck of military exposure. I have deployed on three different six month tours and have had some fantastic stops.
There is bull**** everywhere, but, I will say the pros far outweigh the cons in the Cdn Air Force. I joined to get free, topnotch flying training with no intent to stay on beyond my minimum committment. I suspect I will stick around til the 25 year mark now.
If you sign on the dotted line, you're in thru the good and the bad. As mentioned earlier, you will not build yourself a gi-normous logbook, however, you'll cherish the great experiences within it.
Family life is great (can't speak for all), job security unchallenged, salary is more than competitive and the flying is challenging no matter which community you end up in. Mess life and Air Force comradery is something that only we can experience. Throw a $50,000 pension on top of it all after 25 years and it becomes a pretty satisfying career.
Don't get me wrong there is always a down side which we all suffer through.
Remember, you can be selected for Rotary, Multi-Engine or Fighter, there are no guarantees of which airframe you may fly.
Give it a shot, if you don't like it, get out after the 9 yr mark.

ANUbound
ANUbound is offline  
Old 20th Aug 2009, 01:16
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Canada
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What an interesting conversation.
magnusiax is offline  
Old 20th Aug 2009, 04:18
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Not a huge sand box but very nice winters anymore
Age: 57
Posts: 548
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The fleet is old, and getting older.
- Under funded
- Training Department still stuck in the 1950's
- After 9 years you will have maybe 2,500 hours
During slow times, that is below most airline application minimums
- They teach you to fly in a manner and mind set that is not
compattable with airline operations.
- There is a very real chance in this day that you will see action
and be shot at or know you had to shoot at someone. This has
long term personal consequences, no matter who you are.

-Oh yes, there's no life like it
To answer
-Yes but there are new aircraft here and new aircraft coming
-Yes but we do quite well with the money we are given
-Horse****! Some of the best flight training in the world Unless you think flying at 250 AGL at 420kts is stuck in the 1950's.
-Yaa! 2500hrs of some of the best flying around rather than 2500hrs of ZZzzzzzz at FL390 straight and level ......Zzzzzz
-So what! Stay in and get another 2500hrs of the best flying around.
-Horse****!
-Horse****! My only personnel consequence is that I cannot send more of those little turds to meet their maker!

BroVVn
Come and join us and have an awesome career. Best flying in the world with some of the best people and best equipment.


Are there copious amounts of alcohol and drugs?
Where the hell did that question come from? If you do drugs don't bother applying we do not want you.
saudipc-9 is offline  
Old 20th Aug 2009, 11:38
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: A Happy Place
Age: 51
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Don't be worried about the hours thing if you want to go to the airlines. I am an Australian ex-mil pilot flying with an airline where I fly with plenty of Canadians - a bunch of which are exCAF. Most airlines will take into account the type of flying you have done. For example, they will give fast jet hours a heavy weighting
Loiter1 is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.