AAC Query

[AirfixPilot]

Sorry to disturb you guys. I heard a rumour from an AAC pilot who's now at RMCS Shrivenham who said that the AAC Medical Requirements regarding eyesight are not as stringent as the Air Force equivalents.

I've been through the RAF pilot selection and passed with flying colours except that I was medically unfit for aircrew because of my myopia: It's just the wrong side of the line for them. At the moment they are dying to sponsor me through uni as an engineer but I know where I'd rather be...

My dream has always been to fly, and I'd do anything to avoid flying a bus full of civvies over the atlantic if I can avoid it, so a change in service loyality might be in order if what this gentleman says is correct.

Can any of you shed some light?

[Tiger_mate]

Rather than rely on rumour, I would walk into the Army careers office and start the ball rolling again, beware of asking for advice there though as they are unlikely to "know" and will give opinion which may not be what you want to here.

AAC candidates I believe also attend OASC with the same selection procedures (ie same doctor) and they will know that you have been there before.

I would telephone OASC big chief doctor and ask for advice if I was in your situation. Remember that all RAF pilots are jet mates until proved otherwise, which is not the same for the AAC, so you may have a case.

Either way, best of luck, and keep at it until all doors are slammed in your face.

TM

[kbf1]

Just to counter slightly what TM has said, don't bother with the careers office, they won't be able to give you more than general info, and they will try and persuade you to join the 99th Foot and Mouth Reg't of Chipping Sodbury, or wherever else is having a hard time recruiting.

Get in touch with an awfully nice man in Middle Wallop called the Specialist in Aviation Medicine (SAM). Each AAC base has (or should have) and SAM on the medical staff, and there are a couple of them around MW, the senior of whom is responsible for policy and decision making on medical standards. You can contact the SAM via the AAC at MW, or dial 192 and ask for the number of the Mil switchboard at Aldershot and ask to be put through. You will get any advice straight from the horses mouth on this, and will be better advised than by the CIO or OASC.

Final word, you don't need perfect 20/20 vision, but the eyesight standards are still quite high. If i remember correctly you need at least 9/9 in one eye, 6/9 in the non-dominant and 9/9 binocular uncorrected. This means you should have a prescription of less than about -0.5 in one or both eyes on joining. But get a decision from the SAM and keep plugging away.

[MightyGem]

Follow kbf's advice and good luck.
:D

[Sumo664]

I can confirm that the eye exam for Army pilots is done at OASC by an RAF doctor. Whether he applies the same standard or not I couldn't say.
On a slightly different subject on my medical there was a chap who sat all the way through the hearing test and then asked if it mattered that he was deaf in one ear!

[greenie]

A mate of mine went to OASC and saw the Doc there, he was in the same situation as yourself - passed the tests but told his eyesight was naff. He duly picked up the 'phone and rang Wallop to see if it was worth travelling down to sit the rest of the tests and was told not to worry about what the RAF said and that they would make the decision on his eyesight.

He went on to be accepted and selected for grading and subsequently loaded on a course!