Originally Posted by
neville_nobody
Given the very low numbers that actually pass every year and the disproportionate number of applicants compared to the pass rate, is there ever really going to be an issue for the RAAF? One thing they could change would be the failure rate. In reality if you get through the RAAF selection you should have close to 95% pass rate once on course.
It could also be just a way of dealing with some heat they have copped over recent years about their lack of "diversity" in pilot ranks.
NN, the "disproportionate number of applicants compared to the pass rate" is an arguable statement. How many apply and have no chance of making it through the first stage of recruiting due to a myriad of reasons ranging from medical to educational is not a valid comparison of the pass rate. What is a low pass rate? The RAAF has been around the 60% pass rate for years and with the new selection and training system planning to increase that percentage.
NN you are so right. In the perfect world the selection process would be perfect and to a large extent is fairly accurate with who has a high chance of passing and who is a risk and fails. Yes there are the surprises both ways where an apparent very good applicant falls by the wayside. A lot of that can be attributed to external factors that are beyond the control of not only the selection process but the individual. The same as the applicants that appears a risk but worth a go and ends up duxing the course. The latter is far less common. The new selection process is likely to improve the pass rate.
Your "diversity" comment has some merit but also has been in the system for some time with the IMPS being fairly constant apart for attracting the diversity numbers.