AAC Pilot age limit?

[AlphaMale]

Hi guys,

I've looked at the Army website (AAC Medical Requirements (http://www.army.mod.uk/aviation/18096.aspx)) for age limits on joining the AAC with no avail.

I am currently in the Territorial Army and would like to know what my options are in stepping up to the regulars as a pilot.

I've seen posts on here and other Military forums with age limits ranging from 27 to 33. But can anybody give me the actual age limit and whether or not they are likely to recruit? With our new government axing the Navy's Harrier fighters, decommissioning HMS Ark Royal and taking the Nimrod spy planes out of service, as well as large-scale redundancies (via e-mail :uhoh: ) are we likely to see cuts with the AAC? Or a slower intake?

Many thanks in advance.

[Trim Stab]

If hoping to join as an officer, you are too late (assuming 29 is your real age) - 27 is the maximum.

Having said that, despite the recent cuts, the army is not cutting back on pilot training. If you have exemplary TA service record, plus good academic qualifications, the army might accept you for commission into AAC even if slightly above the max age. You need to contact the AAC at Middle Wallop directly to get an answer - don't go through your local Joint Services recruitment office as you will get the "computer says no" answer.

You still have time if you enlist, as the limit is 33 at the start of your pilot course. If you take this route, you can't apply for pilot training until you have reached rank of LCPL. It is a good idea therefore to join a branch that promotes quickly - eg REME promotes to LCPL automatically at the end of training. Don't join AAC as a soldier - very hard to get pilot selection from within.

I see from your profile that you have a PPL. That is a double-edged sword - it can be an advantage or a hindrance, depending on how you use it. I suggest you mention it during recruitiment, then if you get in, never mention it again. Play the grey man with it.

[gijoe]

What TS said above ditto.

The only way to really find out is get on the phone to recruiting at Middle Wallop and to have an open and honest chat with them - there is no point in wasting your and their time if the answer is a closed door.

The AAC training machine is the fastest of all 3 at the moment and there are seats to be filled - this is not the case, as you know, with the other 2 services. Defence needs flexible thinking at the moment and you might be able to be part of this if you have something they want.

Good luck!

G:ok:

[Pontius Navigator]

With our new government axing the Navy's Harrier fighters, decommissioning HMS Ark Royal and taking the Nimrod spy planes out of service, as well as large-scale redundancies (via e-mail :uhoh: ) are we likely to see cuts with the AAC? Or a slower intake?

If you get answer to that question then you will be talking to an MP.

The real answer is who knows.

After AFG all bets are off.

[airborne_artist]

Line up your ducks first.

Speak to your TA boss(es) and get their support before contacting MW. It's quite possible that MW will ring your unit and ask about you. If MW are told that you are a bon oeuf and a good soldier to have about then your path will be smoother.

[AlphaMale]

Thanks for all 4 responses guys :ok:

I can see where people must get confused with age limits, 27 is the maximum to apply while 33 is the maximum age to start pilot training.

Trim Stab - the PPL is for fixed wing, but no doubt will prove invaluable when training on the fixed wing Grob Tutor at the elementary flight training stage.

Think I'll ask my WO2 on Wed night and give MW a ring too. Nothing quite as reassuring as hearing it from the AAC themselves.

Pontius - Not sure the MP's know exactly what lies ahead, and they are the people in power :*

Many thanks and happy landings guys.

[AlphaMale]

Just incase anybody else is looking for an answer in the future.

I asked the recruitment officer at my TA squadron about this situation, although he's not 100% of the maximum age for entry and training (he also said call MW for a up to date answer). He said that after graduating from Sandhurst as an officer that can't be taken away (unless you're really silly), so joining the Regulars / AAC as an officer would only require a bridging course.

I'll update the thread when I hear more from Middle Wallop :ok:

Thanks guys.

[Two's in]

AM,

Don't overlook the obvious - the older you are, the harder it all is. The age limits don't only represent a return on the AAC's investment, but also reflect what is a realistic chance of passing the selection and subsequent course. There's a good reason you see all those bright young things on recruiting posters.

[Trim Stab]

the older you are, the harder it all is


I'm always a bit sceptical about such claims which are trotted out rote fashion by UK military. Have there actually been any real studies into the subject? ADF accept aircrew applicants up to age 48 - it would be interesting to see what their experience is. Moreover, civ pilots often get type-rated onto completely new aircraft even in their fifties - and don't pretend a type-rating course is "easy"!

[diginagain]

Having done the British Army Pilot's Course in my late 20's, I wonder if an older student would be able to keep up with the intense social activity involved.

[Thomas coupling]

They'll take anyone, but the actual mental age you have to be to join the AAC is: 10 I believe :ouch:
Join a proper outfit before all the a/c disappear: join the FAA.:D

[airborne_artist]

You could listen to the PPrune knockers, and get back in your box and your civvy job, or man-up, go for it, and pass/fail.

I know which I'd do.

[Two's in]

I'm always a bit sceptical about such claims which are trotted out rote fashion by UK military.

Two experiments are reported that compared younger and older adults on their performance of two bimanual temporal coordination tasks at varying movement speeds. In many cases, older adults performed as well as younger adults at all speeds of an in-phase coordination pattern and at slow speeds of an anti-phase pattern for both coordination accuracy and stability. Age differences tended to emerge most prominently at high speeds for the anti-phase pattern. These findings are consistent with the aging literature regarding automatic and effortful processing distinctions, suggesting that relative age differences become magnified when effortful resources are required for motor performance.

Laurie R. Wishart, Timothy D. Lee, Jason E. Murdoch, and Nicola J. Hodges
Effects of Aging on Automatic and Effortful Processes in Bimanual Coordination J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci (2000) 55(2): P85-P94