University Air Squadrons

[Tiger_ Moth]

My question is about UAS. Im not talking about university flying clubs here, im talking about the RAF run courses where you do about 60 hours of flying, go on training camps and get some kind of temporary rank or something in the RAF as a pilot officer, or somthing like that.
Well: I know that with eyesight that isnt perfect you cant be flight crew in the RAF so I presumed that the RAF would not therefore allow you to join a UAS and waste 60 hours flying on someone they wont have any chance of recruiting although those in UAS do not have to join. So: is my assumption correct? Or would I have a chance? Would flying expierience in Tiger Moths make them reconsider me? Because I would really like to join a UAS. I even heard you got paid!

[BEagle]

Perhaps you should take a look at http://www.air-cadets.org/eft/uas.htm .

Whilst UAS selectors may be interested in previous flying experience, there are many more aspects which will merit equal scrutiny.

[Whoosh]

Hi T_M

I'm afraid the medical requirements to fly as a pilot on a UAS are the same as for the RAF. You are correct in your assumption - it is flying training for the RAF and they are very reluctant to take anyone who does not meet the medical standards.

Hope you can get some flying elsewhere.

Whoosh :(

[Tonkenna]

Tiger Moth,

Well, your assumptions are not exactly correct. If your eyesight is not good enough you will not get 60 hrs flying though you may get accepted as a gound branch member (if you can get accepted, which if all you are after is a bit of gash cash and an easy time, you will not!).

If you are interested in the RAF then by all means turn upt the Freshers fair, but only if your attitude is not as it appears in this tread.

Tonks

[Blue Stuff]

Tonks,

Don't judge TM too soon; he hasn't said anything about his motives for wanting to join a UAS. He sounds typical of people who find out about UASs on the grapevine, i.e. "Blah, blah, blah, free flying, blah, rank, blah, get paid, blah" - because that's certainly how I first heard about the UAS. I knew bu***r all about the RAF and wasn't particularly interested in joining. Okay, so by the time I joined the UAS I was committed to a career in the Air Force, but everybody starts somewhere. That said, TM will clearly need to do a good deal of research before applying if he is genuinely interested, whether for a ground branch or otherwise. :)

Am I correct in thinking that only university bursars can join the UAS in a ground branch, or do they now recuit VRs specifically for ground branches too?

Regards,

Blue.

P.S. Oh yeah, TM, if you're really serious, let the RAF decide whether your eyes are good enough to fly! ;)

[edited for general illiteracy] :rolleyes:

[ 24 August 2001: Message edited by: Blue Stuff ]

[Tonkenna]

Blue,

Don't think I was being that harsh. To answer your question, you don't have to be a burser, but places for ground branches are sadly very limited.

Tonks :)

[Lucifer]

From what I know, currently many UASs do not recruit ground branch members as VRs, however if too many fail the aircrew medical for pilot, some are given nav and some are given an unallocated ground branch membership on condition that they find out which branch interests them in the first year and 'specialise' in it.

Members will very rarely get APO rank (unless a doctor or dentist, because they are obviously the priority for recruitment in the RAF!) except for the senior stude and other select outstanding members in exceptional circumstances. Members are officer cadets who are airmen with officer privileges eg mess. If anybody applies successfully for a bursary, they will usually be taken on by their respective UAS in whatever area they have been recruited, so there are ground branch members here. They are obviously there for flying: that is what the QFIs are there for, not training ground branch who are (albeit unfortunately) a lower priority.

It is an RAF-run "club" of sorts although the flying is the real elementary flying training course of some 86 hours on the Grob 115E Tutor. They will only train those who pass the medical and have shown a reasonable interest in possibly going for a bursary by about mid-second year (which I believe can be too early to have made a real decision with other opportunities at university not yet explored). Members are paid some allowances for overnight/driving etc, and only paid as such for some camps or attending certain courses and functions. Prior flying experience can only be, as for any other basic training opportunity, a factor in displaying the desire to fly.

Sorry to dash your hopes Tiger Moth but it is very expensive and with the policy that vision must be perfect upon entry, it may be impossible for you to join. Try the navy if the eyes aren't too far off being good.

Best of luck,
Lucifer

[Blue Stuff]

Tonks,

Cheers M8 - there I was getting all protective of Tiggy. I think it's worn off now. ;) I think I know one of your old studes; He's Scottish ... that should narrow it down!

Lucifer,

Interesting about the medical standards. Until recently, the UASs had rather more relaxed standards than the RAF-proper. Unfortunately, lots of people (notably the girls) were getting onto Sqns as VR pilots and doing very well on the flying syllabus, only to be rejected by OASC because their arms were too short! I understand that the UAS medical has now been brought into line with the rest of the RAF, 'though I don't think it includes all the 'part 2' elements such as ECG / EEG.

I heard a rumour - don't know whether an ounce of truth in it - that the current functional reach limits are dictated by the requirement to reach obscure C/Bs behind the seat in Typhoon. I'd be surprised if so; wouldn't have thought they've finalised the c'pit layout yet. Then again, more than one person is saying it, so it must be true.

Oh dear. Have I nothing more interesting to ramble about? I've had too much leave! I'll GMC. :rolleyes:

Blue.

[Tiger_ Moth]

Thanks for the answers,
I wasnt actually too interested in the paid bit or the rank bit, I was more interested in the flying bit. I would like to join the RAF (as aircrew) but obviously cant. The same goes for UAS but it seems I cant do that either. Im not too disappointed because I didnt think Id be allowed in the first place. I wouldnt like a ground position because like I said Im interested in the flying. If I did get to do flying then i would want to join the full RAF as I think it would be an interesting , fun, worthwhile career. I wouldnt just be in it for free flying, I would actually like to have a career in the RAF but it wouldnt be the same at all as groundcrew.

[Lucifer]

Lots of girlies are being rejected for functional reach, and some in now would not pass due to said reasons. However there is talk of this changing to allow shorter-armed people to be restricted to certain aircraft.

[BEagle]

Well bug ger me with a fish fork! Don't tell me that the medical 'wheeltappers' have found that, after all, it's their hammer which had the crack all along!!

Anthropometry. A German invention designed to assess whether people might be Jewish. B£oody nonsense - and should have gone the same way as Hitler!

[ 25 August 2001: Message edited by: BEagle ]

[Tonkenna]

Blue,

So he was scottish! Yep that does indeed narrow it down, thanks ;)

[ 25 August 2001: Message edited by: Tonkenna ]

[Blue Stuff]

BEags,

Do OASC still do the 'pencil test', à la US immigration in the '20s, or has that been phased out too? Never let it be said that we're behind the times; "Bahh - women in the RFC? They'll be flying the bloody things next! Fetch my pipe."

Tonks,

Are you ADStA or EL? And what did happen at that crash gate? ;)

Blue.

[Wee Weasley Welshman]

Well as far back as when OASC was moving from Biggin to Cranditz they allowed one female applicant who failed the functional reach limit to pass through after they took her out to a Tucano and demo's her ability to reach everything. I witnessed this at the time. I believe there was going to be some restriction on the types available to her later but rumour had it that it was only the Buc that was limiting and that didn't exactly have a long shelf life left.

She was very attractive though.

WWW

[Wee Weasley Welshman]

Cor blimey - haven't the Air Cadets got a fancy new website? I believe there is even a picture of me on it. Either that or its my long lost twin brother...

Marvelous,

WWW

[YakYak]

Here here BEags.

Stupid idea anyway. Bet I could fit into a rotary. *sigh*

[Tonkenna]

ummmm Blue,

Those involved are trying to forget, beleive me!

Tonks :(

[Blue Stuff]

:D