will the RAF be searching pilots in a few years?

[WindMill911]

Hello i'm 13 and i would want to be a pilot in the RAF.
I know you don't join straight in as a pilot, you got to join as an officer and apply for pilot training.
What can you do to help you join? Any tips? Suggestions?
(I know i shouldn't ask in this web but i'm searching serious answers)
Thx :ugh:

[Pontius Navigator]

OK Don Quixote, first you have to be British. Then you have to be in UK to apply. You will also need 2 good A-levels and 5 GCSE A-C except for Maths which must be A or B.

Nice tilt.

[davejb]

...and yes you do, basically, join as a pilot - you pass the pilot selection process before signing up!

(Only an idiot would do otherwise, given the low selection rate).

Dave

[Old-Duffer]

Of course you should ask on this website and every other site that can help you.

I recommend you join the Air Training Corps, which you can do at 13 years and 6 months. You can prepare yourself by finding your nearest squadron and making contact and asking if you can visit to see what they're like and the things they do. Take every opportunity offered to train, visit RAF stations, go on air experience flights, do DofE, BTEC, sports and gain from the best youth organisation in the UK (possibly the world).

If you only want to be a pilot, you might be disappointed by very many things (I was colour blind), some people have a history of asthma etc. If you can get a doctor's assessment of any possible medical issues, this might save disappointment later.

Be realistic and set yourself sensible goals (not everybody can be a fast jet pilot). Have several strings to your bow and be prepared to compromise because it will be an increasingly difficult world out there in the future.

I started in the ATC, served for 31 years as a regular and am still a reservist three weeks away from my 67th birthday and wish I could do it all again!!! GOOD LUCK JUNIOR.

Old Duffer

PS Don't let any miserable old SO? put you off.

PPS Do read your posts before sending them, good English is still important.

[Pontius Navigator]

O-D, assuming that WindMill (Don Quixote titlting :)) is genuine, joining the ATC is not an option as he appears to be living in Spain.

That being the case it is essential to find out what Spanish educational certificates will be acceptable to meet RAF requirements. While OASC admits that the GCSE grades A or B will limit applicants the 15% of so that take the higher level Maths GCSE, what will this do for overseas equivalence I wonder.

[Old-Duffer]

PN,

Good point - I had assumed he was temporarily in Spain ('don't assume -check'; I can hear my mother, even now!!!). However, in Cyprus and Germany there are overseas ATC squadrons and if Windmill is anywhere near Gib, there might be a cadet organisation of a different cap badge he could go to.

If, however, he is resident in Spain, do they have an equivalent type of organisation - don't know.

O-D

[SL Hardly-Worthitt]

will the RAF be searching pilots in a few years?


To answer the original question - having spent far too much time with them, you're right, they are a very untrustworthy bunch who all should be searched regularly now and not just in a few years' time!:E

H-W

...sorry - already got me coat!

[Agaricus bisporus]

HW, exactly the way I read it too. After all, that is what it says.

Your name seems strangely familiar, from somewhere near the Welsh borders perhaps?