BFTS Tamworth

[defarmpil]

Hello Gentlemen,

I am looking to join the Australian Army as a pilot and was wondering if anyone could provide some insight into what is expected and what I can expect at Basic Flight Training School? Is it a very demanding course? What preparation can be done before hand if any?

Your information on this matter would be much appreciated.

[JoelRH]

Australian Defence Force Pilot Selection Agency (http://www.raaf.gov.au/psa/index.htm)

Good Luck!

The best preparation, I believe, is some flying experience - you must want to be a pilot - and team sports/ leadership experience/ people skills.

Regards

[Alfie Stenloop]

Be nice to know, as I have been offered a job flying on behalf of the Army. Also what's Tamworth like as a location and also the local area? :ok:

[wish2bflying]

This thread will keep you busy for a while ...

RAAF Flight Screening Program (http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/333897-raaf-flight-screening-program-merged.html)

Learn as much as you can about Army Aviation, know why you want to be a pilot in the Army now, and not when you were 18, be confident without being arrogant, be honest and be yourself.

If you get through all the testing and get through to Selection Boards, just keep doing what you've been doing all along and if it's meant to be then it's meant to be.

It certainly isn't easy though. I failed near the end of the Army phase of the Tamworth course through my own faults. I was given more than my fair share of chances to get things right and it turns out that reasonable hands and feet skills are just a small fraction of what is required. I have no regrets - I gave it my best and I've now moved on. I still keep in touch with the people I met and consider many of them to be good mates. You won't find a similar environment anywhere outside the military.

As far as preparation ... get as much procedural flying experience as you possibly can - one thing I found particularly difficult was getting my head around radio calls and the procedures of controlled and uncontrolled airspace, rules, etc. Anyone who tells you "don't bother getting lessons, they'll teach you all you need to know" doesn't share that perspective. The most difference in styles of flying will be in circuits, and you'll learn how to do those the military way quickly enough. If you don't, then you're not the person they want.

To quote someone ... "We can take any idiot off the street, and with enough lessons teach them to fly a military aircraft, but we don't want people who need two, three or four times to get something right. We want people who get things right the first time."

Good luck! :ok:

Alfie - "on behalf of the Army"? Are you going there as an instructor? Feel free to PM me - I was in Tamworth for a year, with a family with 2 school age kids, happy to advise on that side of things, or put you in touch with other instructors who are there with families.

Cheers,

wish2bflying

[Trojan1981]

defarmpil,

Are you applying for SSO or GSO? Have you been through FSP yet? I haven't been there for three years but I was Army so I might be able to help you out with anything you want to know. Feel free to pm me:ok:

[woodring]

Tamworth is quite a nice area with plains on one side and the New England hills to the east.
It's a fairly typical Australian medium to large country town with rail links to Sydney and Brisbane.
Also the location for the biggest country music festival outside the USA .
It has a fair selection of shopping mainly in a pleasant tree lined town centre.
It can be very hot in the summer months temps often in the 40's.
I have family who live not far away and quite a few friends that live in and around the area they all seem to like it.Hope this helps .