Failed my FAT. Advice needed.
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Failed my FAT. Advice needed.
So recently I failed my Flying Aptitude Test for the Royal Navy at RAF Cranwell, achieving only 92 out of a minimum of 112 for pilot.
I'm seriously gutted because I've gone from being on track for a career in the Royal Navy, doing well on all previous tests and interviews etc to being absolutely nowhere.
I'm also angry at myself because I feel I could have done a lot better but couldn't sleep the night before (got less than 2 hours in the end) and gave up hope towards the latter parts of the test because I could feel I wasn't producing as good a performance as I could have.
Here's my dilemma: I'm only 17 years old and the careers officer at Cranwell said I'd be invited back to retake the tests due to aptitude peaking at 19-21. In addition to this I feel if I did the tests again I'd perform better overall.
However I really do not want to spend a year waiting to potentially fail again and was informed that the Army Air Corps only require a score of 80 due to the certainty of rotary whereas the RAF and FAA test for potential FJ candidates.
So do I spend a year working and developing as a character and try for the FAA again to fulfil my lifelong dream to fly FJ or see if the AAC would be interested in my services? I realise that the possibility of actually being streamed onto FJ in the FAA is absolutely tiny and given the choice I'd rather fly rotary for the Army than the Navy.
Also, does anybody know how competitive the AAC is in comparison to the RAF and FAA for flying roles?
My head is all over the place and I'd appreciate some advice from those experienced in matters such as this one.
Thanks for reading.
I'm seriously gutted because I've gone from being on track for a career in the Royal Navy, doing well on all previous tests and interviews etc to being absolutely nowhere.
I'm also angry at myself because I feel I could have done a lot better but couldn't sleep the night before (got less than 2 hours in the end) and gave up hope towards the latter parts of the test because I could feel I wasn't producing as good a performance as I could have.
Here's my dilemma: I'm only 17 years old and the careers officer at Cranwell said I'd be invited back to retake the tests due to aptitude peaking at 19-21. In addition to this I feel if I did the tests again I'd perform better overall.
However I really do not want to spend a year waiting to potentially fail again and was informed that the Army Air Corps only require a score of 80 due to the certainty of rotary whereas the RAF and FAA test for potential FJ candidates.
So do I spend a year working and developing as a character and try for the FAA again to fulfil my lifelong dream to fly FJ or see if the AAC would be interested in my services? I realise that the possibility of actually being streamed onto FJ in the FAA is absolutely tiny and given the choice I'd rather fly rotary for the Army than the Navy.
Also, does anybody know how competitive the AAC is in comparison to the RAF and FAA for flying roles?
My head is all over the place and I'd appreciate some advice from those experienced in matters such as this one.
Thanks for reading.
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I had a similar situation, albeit many years ago...
I went for the RAF Flying Scholarship and Sixth Form back in 1997, age 16. I failed the pilot aptitude by a very narrow margin, but had passed for the AAC. I was given a Flying Scholarship and told to return after my A-Levels and try again.
I went back, my score improved but was not sufficient for the FAA or RAF, as you say, since the aptitude is loaded towards fast jets first. I was told that the aptitude means that statistically, if you pass that, you would be able to pass a fast jet OCU.
No such requirement for the Army...
No one on here can tell you what to do, but the Army is very competitive, too.
If you wanted to go commissioned pilot in the AAC, you're looking at a year at Sandhurst, where you need to be performing in the top third or quarter of your company to stand a realistic chance at the AAC selection board. You then have to do six months with the armour or infantry to further learn the about the battlefield. Then, and only then would you head off to JEFTS for the sixth month course.
If you wanted to go non-commissioned in the Army, I think you needed two years service and to be a Lance Corporal, recommended full Corporal before you can apply for the pilot's course.
I'm probably way out of date with my facts, but that was the situation when I was looking at it.
One thing, though, if the thought of soldiering fills you with dread, the AAC is not the place for you...
Best of luck!
I went for the RAF Flying Scholarship and Sixth Form back in 1997, age 16. I failed the pilot aptitude by a very narrow margin, but had passed for the AAC. I was given a Flying Scholarship and told to return after my A-Levels and try again.
I went back, my score improved but was not sufficient for the FAA or RAF, as you say, since the aptitude is loaded towards fast jets first. I was told that the aptitude means that statistically, if you pass that, you would be able to pass a fast jet OCU.
No such requirement for the Army...
No one on here can tell you what to do, but the Army is very competitive, too.
If you wanted to go commissioned pilot in the AAC, you're looking at a year at Sandhurst, where you need to be performing in the top third or quarter of your company to stand a realistic chance at the AAC selection board. You then have to do six months with the armour or infantry to further learn the about the battlefield. Then, and only then would you head off to JEFTS for the sixth month course.
If you wanted to go non-commissioned in the Army, I think you needed two years service and to be a Lance Corporal, recommended full Corporal before you can apply for the pilot's course.
I'm probably way out of date with my facts, but that was the situation when I was looking at it.
One thing, though, if the thought of soldiering fills you with dread, the AAC is not the place for you...
Best of luck!
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You're only 17, no need to rush it. I don't know the first thing about military flying but I imagine the specialist careers person knows what they're talking about. Get some experience and came back stronger than before.
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Good advice from both posters - key being, there is no rush; which gives YOU time to seriously evaluate what type of flying YOU want to do.
I always find it helpful to look not just where you want to be now, but also in the medium and long term. What will be your employability should you leave; will you be able to continue flying as you progress in rank/seniority; will you become so specialised that you become limited in development opportunities...
That said, I have a number of ex-military colleagues who have reinvented their flying careers. C-130 captain who re-rolled to Chinook; C-130 Nav now flying commercially in Civ st; Nimrod pilot who went to civvy business jets, then less glamorous stuff; Chinook pilot who is now flying SAR in the gulf.
Don't dismiss one option over another simply based on supposition and stereotype. Really look into your choices (army, navy, RAF) and try to get some attachments/visits under your belt to ask the operators as many questions about their flying and service life.
At 17, the world really is at your feet. So don't feel too down.
Me, I went to OASC in 1995, graded 115, but thanks to the fall out from options for change, and over-recruitment, I was culled. I went on to spend 12 great years with the RAF doing other stuff and still found time to fly for fun.
I always find it helpful to look not just where you want to be now, but also in the medium and long term. What will be your employability should you leave; will you be able to continue flying as you progress in rank/seniority; will you become so specialised that you become limited in development opportunities...
That said, I have a number of ex-military colleagues who have reinvented their flying careers. C-130 captain who re-rolled to Chinook; C-130 Nav now flying commercially in Civ st; Nimrod pilot who went to civvy business jets, then less glamorous stuff; Chinook pilot who is now flying SAR in the gulf.
Don't dismiss one option over another simply based on supposition and stereotype. Really look into your choices (army, navy, RAF) and try to get some attachments/visits under your belt to ask the operators as many questions about their flying and service life.
At 17, the world really is at your feet. So don't feel too down.
Me, I went to OASC in 1995, graded 115, but thanks to the fall out from options for change, and over-recruitment, I was culled. I went on to spend 12 great years with the RAF doing other stuff and still found time to fly for fun.
