Army Air Corps

[Capt Dave1]

I failed the RAF pilot medical due to my eyesight being slightly below standard (good enough for Nav). The AAA looks like great flying and i've been told that their sight requirements are less stringent. Is this true and if so is it best to join as an officer or NCO?

Any advice greatly appreciated!

[5150]

I was offered sponsorship with the AAC a couple of years ago to go through Sandhurst. A great regiment and certainly the most down-to-earth of the three flying arms. As an Officer you are likely to get flying a damn sight faster than as an NCO. If I remember correctly, you have to be the rank of Corporal or above before you can get to fly as an NCO, which equates to 5+ years service. However, the AAC's stance on pilots is that you are firstly a soldier, secondly a pilot, so after doing a year of hell at Sandhurst, they pack you off for six months to do the Platoon Commander's course, so you are looking at a couple of years by the time you've gone through RCB, waited for an entry into Sandhurst and completed the training. Another gripe is that the NCO's get more hands-on flying in the aircraft, whereas the Officer's oversee the operation (as it were), despite you being fully trained!

Since Apache, the AAC has been inundated with applications, so as a result, competition for officer places is pretty fierce. I couldn't recommend the AAC enough though, having looked at both the RAF and RN, but it's what you want that matters!

Get yourself down to Middle Wallop, see if you like it, and good luck.

5150

[mutleyfour]

I tried my hardest not to respond to this but I just had to say:

Whilst i'm unsure about the current eyesight requirements, I do know that your going to have to be something special to get a commission (Apache point from 5150 good advice), having failed for RAF denotes your probably not!

NCO pilots have to serve for 4 years and be a LCpl with a strong recommendation for promotion to Cpl. Its a rat race for promotion but generally most get there within 8 years.

The most infuriating thing I have to say though is that whilst Officer pilots in the Army have to go through the normal Staff and Ground appointments (Thus giving the majority less flying hours than nco's) they certainly get plenty of time "at the controls", whilst the nco more often than not "oversee's the operation" as he/she generally has more experience. Which is because they have remained on the whole; Flying without interuption throughout his/her flying career.

Lastly I would like to point out to 5150 that the Army Air Corps is not a Regiment but a collection of Regiments which form a Corps, strangely enough the Army Air Corps.

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[bad livin']

Mutley, your spelling is atrocious. Thread fella - knock yourself out applying for AAC sponsorship. Contrary to Mutley's clearly baseless opinions on commissioned service, I don't consider myself in any way special, yet I managed to get a commission in both the junior and senior services. You may not be quite ready yet, in their opinion, but your tenacity is to be applauded, so keep at it!

Best of luck

BL

[Muff Coupling]

Capt Dave1,

Extreme caution on trying the AAC!

1. Pilot requirement is reducing to meet new levels for Apache.

2. Regular Officers are recruited as just that, " Army officers" first not pilots! Flying is a secondary duty. The AAC Spec aircrew is there Late Entry and NCO aircrew.

3. If your eyesight is below par, I would suggest that the advanced system of the AH will require stringent ocular limits. If you are only at Nav level for the RAF, you might not meet the new standard. You might be medically fit however, for other types.

Good luck!

[Sven Sixtoo]

Strongly suspect Muff Coupling has a point.

My eyesight is just starting to go with age. I am required to wear corrective lenses for Night Vision Goggle work, but not for daylight ops. Given the Apache role, you may (but equally may not) run into a problem.

Sven

Now I know why so many posts are edited twice - you have to edit first and press "edit post" after.

[ 08 February 2002: Message edited by: Sven Sixtoo ]

[ 08 February 2002: Message edited by: Sven Sixtoo ]</p>