carb
There is a significant difference: the RAF needs somewhere around 150 pilots into training each year, easyJet require 24 (in the cadet scheme)!
With the number of potential applicants for these 24 places, it's inevitable that arbitrary methods will be used to whittle down the numbers before CTC McAlpine's staff get buried under the weight of what will undoubtedly be hundreds of applications. The RAF limits applicants to under 24 - and at entry to training, not at application. It has occasionally raised this limit, but only when it felt it wasn't getting enough applicants within the original limitations. It also found that taking older applicants reduced the success rate through training significantly.
Don't forget also that easyJet are taking pilots through direct entry and the sponsored type rating scheme. There are opportunities for pilots at most stages of achievement and age.
Perhaps you'd like to give me more detail on your Hercules pilot story. I was on the aeroplane from 1980 until 1998, and I remember no-one having the aeroplane modified for their exclusive benefit! In fact, there were many pilots on the aircraft of equal or greater stature - who managed quite well on the standard equipment. Can you really expect the RAF to modify 120 pilots' seats (60 ac x 2 pilots) for one bloke? Try another one!
Last edited by scroggs; 23rd November 2002 at 14:34.