Squadron Visit

[JamesTigris]

Hi All,

I'm in the very early stages of applying to the RN/FAA as a pilot and am really keen to get a visit to a RN base/squadron somewhere. In a past life I stayed with an RAF GR4 Squadron as a UAS stude, and it was a fantastic experience.

Is there anyone who might be able to point me in the right direction for some form of a visit, preferably with an operational rather than training focus? Culdrose? Yeovilton? (or I could even put up with Harriers at Cottesmore :E)

Seriously, if there is anyone who can throw me any sort of a line I'd be really grateful. Feel free to PM.

Cheers in advance,

JT

[airborne_artist]

JT - you need to ask your recruiting officer to arrange for you to attend a POAC - potential officers' acquaint course.

Culdrose and Yeovilton run them about 8-10 times a year, each. The Yeovilton course runs from Sunday evening to Weds pm, includes four rides in the dunker (http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.3249), a trip in a SK Mk4 (http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.2374), at least one squadron visit, and not too much death by PowerPoint. And you get to do the bleep test to AIB standards :E

POACs are not run at Cottesmore.

The recruiting officer should also be able to get you a ship visit if you ask nicely.

[JamesTigris]

thanks a_a,

I've got to call the AFCO tomorrow anyway so I'll find out if that's an option for me. The website is a little vague about it but seems to infer I may need to have passed the aptitude tests before I'm eligable.

If anyone else has any advice on this, or any other way of getting first hand knowledge of the RN, FAA or other relevant experience I'd be grateful for ideas.

Thanks,

JT

[6Z3]

You've just missed Yeovilton's, but how about tripping along to Culdrose's Airday, details here (http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.6201).
.
or perhaps, try and time a Culdrose visit to coincide with their airday, just a thought. Be prepared of course for the weather to be clamped though, it usually is!

[airborne_artist]

seems to infer I may need to have passed the aptitude tests before I'm eligable

Not true - my daughter was at VL earlier this week as one of six on the POAC, and none had done FATs. She was the only one who had been on a ship visit. Push for both. Only at VL will you get a Dunker session :D