Pilot or Observer? Both Aircrew after all.

[Golden Eye]

I recently passed the AIB for Aircrew. I was told that it was an okay pass but not fantastic and that my best scores suited Observer. With still two weeks to wait for the AIB Board decision I am interested to know the results of anyone who found themselves in a similar scenario...what was your score? Did you get offered Pilot or Observer? Was Observer second choice? . .. .I am also keen to hear from Observers...what is life like as an Observer? Do you get flying experience? What are your career options/prospects after the Navy? . .. .Anything that will help me come to a decision if the Royal Navy do offer me an Aircrew commission. Many questions, I realise, but many thanks also.

[JagMate]

Dear Goldeneye - navigators/observers - useful for making the tea and little else. They are all trying to retrain as pilots anyway. I hope that this reply might save you from a wasted career.

[Mahatmagoon]

Nice one JagMate - perhaps we could turn this thread into a proper double/single wing master race topic?. .. .BTW - how are you are hitting targets that can move in your little French trainer jet?

[Jackonicko]

Mahatmagoon,. .. .Is that little French trainer the one with two internal 30-mm Aden cannon that work (eg not a Harrier)?. .. .Or the one with an in-service HMSS? (eg not a Harrier, a Tornado or an F3?). .. .Or the one with the best TIALD/PWII and PWIII integration? (eg not a Harrier, or a Tornado). .. .And is he not supposed to be able to hit moving targets with his CRV7s (good integration)?. .. .And presumably all the othe Gucci kit he's either got or is getting (nice big AMLCDs, Terprom, IDM, RAIDS, etc. etc.) is equally irrelevant.. .. .No! If you want to **** off a Jagmate then a) remind him that he'll soon be converting to Eurofighter, and b) ask him if the runway's long enough.....

[Floozie]

What the dears on the Board mean is that you will do fine as a pilot, but they are desperately short of observers. Try it from their point of view - how else are they going to fill the slots - you don't know what an observer does, how many applicants do?. .. .Go where your heart lies or you will always regret it.. .. .Kiss Kiss

[BEagle]

Go for pilot. Do your darnest to succeed - hopefully as a FJ mate if Nelson or whoever runs dark blue still has any when you graduate.. .. .If you bong your pilot's course, then consider being a Looker. Or a Driver (War Canoe)...chaplain....bloke who doles out the rum....whatever. But do NOT be persuaded to try anything else but being a true sky god first!!

[Chris Kebab]

Golden Eye - just got to concur with what BEagle says here. Can only comment from a RAF perspective but, at this stage, do not let *anyone* persuade you to go anything else but pilot. If all goes pear shaped for whatever reason then consider your next option. I would have seriously considered nav as a second choice and probably have enjoyed it.. .. .For what it's worth the navs I flew with were generally great guys who enjoyed their jobs. All those I know who left went on to what most would consider decent jobs elsewhere. Paradoxically, several are involved with the development of the RAF's next single seat aircraft.. .. .Do not be put off by Jagmate's comments. Sadly most sqns have a village idiot with an ego exceeded only by their unpleasant arrogance. You asked a perfectly civil question and got abuse back. As a supposed peer of his I find his response quite embarrasing.. .. .Jagmate - you are flying a neat jet (assuming you are not just a sad troll), no doubt about it. It's a neat jet however because you have a good IPT and a bunch of sharp cookies in that avionics systems integration section at DERA/QinetiQ BDN - not, I suspect, because of anything you have ever done.. . . . <small>[ 16 March 2002, 17:15: Message edited by: Chris Kebab ]</small>

[Dunhovrin]

Agree with BEagle. I suggest you only accept pilot and walk if they don't give you it. You don't want to be another wannabe obs/nav sitting down the back wishing you were up the front. let the pilot training choppees fill the one-winged jobs.

[Jackonicko]

Chris, Think JagMate was practising 'humor' (hope so anyway). Isn't offensive but 'for-form-and-not-really-meant' banter about navs compulsory on any single-seat aircraft? And while endorsing your comment about Qinetiq, I'd thought that a lot of credit for the Jag's excellence went to people like your recently retired Jupo, certain chaps at FJTS, and some at St Athan and Wyton, but relatively little to BAE, or even to the IPT in its current form....

[grimfixer]

Congrats on your first hurdle, methinks we should start getting a webcam slot for all the willy measuring losers who have been "replying" to your question. From one in the same lane as your self albeit a while ago, I would suggest you try for pilot initially, having seen all avenues of dark blue Flying Training it is the least stressful and definitely has a lower chop rate. There is a truthful quip in the RN that Observers eat their young so beware the route, I would most certainly not discourage it though. Whatever specialisation you follow you will quickly appreciate that you really are the master of the battle and your poler next to you is at your command. Whatever you decide to do all the best and you will have double wings when you pass out. The RN does not distinguish between the two with the brevet you wear....there we are back to willy measuring again. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="rolleyes.gif" />

[Chris Kebab]

Jacko - yea maybe you are right, my reply seems a bit brutal after a re-read. Thousands of hours spent flying with a nav has made me sort of protective towards them - bit like having a pet labrador really. There I'm at it now!. .. .If pilot was truely ruled out I still think it is worth seriously considering nav as a second choice.. .. .And I got a right talking to by someone at Boscombe when I recently lower-cased the last Q in QinetiQ!

[assume-crash-positions]

Having enjoyed three tours as a nav before crossing over to pilot, I can only say that the driving seat is the place to be. . .You will enjoy any flying no matter which service, aircraft type or seat you choose however, watching somebody flying is nowhere near as good as doing it yourself!. .. .Good luck!