Nav / WSO / IOT prep

[Jeevo]

Hi

I was wondering if anyone could help with suggestions for preparation for training for WSO. Any thing that would be useful to revise - theory / mental arithmetic / etc. I have a provisional place for IOT subject to a medical.

Is there anything i can do to prepare that will increase my chances of GR4?

I assume that fitness is the paramount requirement to make IOT easier but any tips for this would also be great.

Thanks in advance

[airborne_artist]

It's not clear from your post, but do you have a confirmed place/date on IOT for WSO?

If you do, then just work on your fitness. Being good at mental arithmetic won't get you through IOT. Being fit will.

[Jeevo]

Apologies yes i do ( subject to a medical)

[ProfessionalStudent]

For IOT, just get fitter. That is all.

Re GR4s, don't bother doing anything before you go (unless they send you the maths package they always used to - even then, I gave it a stiff ignoring and did just fine on the course...), as it won't really help that much. On WSO school, just work as hard as you can, listen, learn and then work harder. Whether you make it to GR4s after all that hard work will then rely on your natural aptitude and you won't be leaving it to chance.

So,in summary, go running now and then continue to enjoy your life as it is, without bogging yourself down doing sums. You'll have plenty of opportunity to practice sums on the course and get to the required standard (trust me).

Oh, and did I mention WORK HARD when you get there...? Good luck from someone who's done the course...:ok:

[Occasional Aviator]

First, you need to understand that IOT and WSO training are completely separate. Get through IOT first. Nothing you do on IOT will make any difference to the aircraft tyoe you end up on.

For IOT, you need to:

1. Be fit
2. Be yourself
3. Play the game and toe the party line
4. Make good friends and enjoy yourself.

For WSO training I would recommend:

1. Practise time/distance/speed calculations - get to grips with the 6 times table as it's much easier to work in miles per minute than miles per hour, so you need to divide and multiply by 60 instinctively. You can practise timing on a running machine - set yourself a distance to be at a certain time and work out the speeds you need to achieve it, then set the speed and adjust as necessary. Hint - 30, 20, 15 and 6 minute-to-go checks are easy to work out.
2. Accept that there are only 60 seconds in a minute. You will be overloaded, both by the staff and by your own self-induced pressure. what matters is not doing EVERYTHING, but making sure you're SAFE and achieve the mission. If you get your timing checks spot on in the descent but forget the altimeter checks, you might fly into the ground (and inthe training environment will probably fail the trip). Do it it the other way round and you can do the timing check later.

3. Have fun. Flying is great and don't let the pressure take away the pleasure. You'll also make some great mates - never turn down the chance of a night out.

Good Luck,

OA

[artdes]

Anyone know what the variation in testing at OASC is between pilot & WSO, or is it very much the same?...are the aptitude test scores min. 112 for WSO as they are for pilot.

Thanks.

[Jeevo]

Thanks for the advice!!!


I think that it is 108 for WSO, but this is for a different battery of tests and therefore maybe not comparable to the pilot's pass mark. Competitive scores are quite a bit higher though.

[BluntM8]

Re: Preparation for WSO training.

Times tables are the single biggest thing you can possibly practice. Get a book of mental arithmetic and work through it. Don't use a pencil and paper, use your brain and hold the figures in your head. Look at all the times tables up to 20, but really hammer the 3.5 and 7 times tables - you'll use them a lot on TANS and Dominies.

Don't bother learning any aerodynamics or anything too techy - apart from basic principles of electrics maybe - as you will be taught the subjects in the manner you they wish you to know them!

Hope this helps.

Blunty