Philippine Air Force Flying School

[looma32]

Hi, I really want to be a pilot, (who here didn't, really?) an airline pilot job seems most practical.

So plan A is to finish college, then enroll in a private flying school, build some time and get a job at a big carrier. (to put it bluntly)

However, with all the earthquakes and Metro Manila's own vulnerability to such a disaster, flying in an expensive private flying school is not too certain should such an event happen. So...

1. How do you sign up for any sort of flying program in the PAF?
2. What are the requirements? and how long do I have to serve if I join?
3. Would you actually recommend this over private flying? (you already have a job and food and shelter in the armed forces, and you leave with much experience, while private may have you looking for a job to gain some hours before flying with a major airline)

[looma32]

bump

anyone who's actually, or known somebody, who's been through there?

[icarus.2002]

before you even think about it..read this...

Air Force considers extension of pilots' contracts to 10 years
By Alexis Romero (http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=By+Alexis+Romero) (The Philippine Star) Updated July 04, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (10) (http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=702502) (http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=702502)




MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Air Force (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=702502&publicationSubCategoryId=63) (PAF) is considering increasing the length of its pilots’ contract of service to ten years from eight years to ensure that it would have enough manpower to operate its assets.
Air Force (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=702502&publicationSubCategoryId=63) chief Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena said such measure is being studied even if the number of pilots leaving the service to join the private sector had already decreased.
“We are looking to ensure that we have sufficient number of pilots that will be able to operate our aircraft and at the same time perform the various tasks,” Rabena said, adding that they have a policy which bars a pilot from leaving until a replacement has been found.
“We will not release a test pilot (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=702502&publicationSubCategoryId=63) if there is nobody who can replace him. It’s important that we maintain the required number of qualifications, test pilots, instructor pilots in a particular unit before we can allow one pilot to leave,” he said.
Rabena said the acquisition of new trainer planes could encourage pilots to join the service.
“The good news is that we now have many trainer aircraft, 18 basic trainer aircraft (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=702502&publicationSubCategoryId=63), SF-260, we have at least 15 T41 aircraft so we have now increased the number of students. We expect that we can train them in a shorter period of time,” he said.
Rabena said the number of pilots who left the service last year was lower compared to that of the previous years. He said less than 10 pilots moved to private airlines in 2010 compared to as many as 50 during in earlier years.
The Air Force has bought 18 units of basic trainer aircraft from Italy-based firm Augusta, which completed its delivery last week. The whole package amounted to P621 million.
The SF-260 is a propeller-driven, two-seater plane that has been the backbone of the Air Force schools for the past decades. It is used in other countries to select potential candidates to progress to high performance aircraft.
Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Miguel Okol said the acquisition of new trainers would address the backlog of students who are about to undergo flying exercises. Such backlog stemmed from the lack of trainer aircraft in the inventory. The Air Force (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=702502&publicationSubCategoryId=63) is currently training two classes of pilots composed of about 60 students each.
In 2006, the Air Force recorded the largest number of pilots who left the service to seek higher-paying jobs in private firms. That year, 54 of the 1,085 Air Force pilots resigned to move to seek greener pastures.

[A320 stabilizer]

its probably cheaper to go through the air force and serve 10 yrs, than pay 4M pesos for an airbus rating.

[icarus.2002]

its a viable option provided you don't become part of their statistics...

Air Force plane crashes in Bataan; one dead

04/28/2011 | 04:07 PM


(Updated 8:06 p.m.) A Philippine Air Force trainer plane crashed in the shoreline of Bataan, killing one person, a military official said.

2 Air Force pilots die in Tarlac plane crash

02/24/2010 | 04:50 PM


Two Philippine Air Force pilots were killed Wednesday when their light aircraft crashed during training, a military spokesman said.

PAF training helicopter crashes in Taytay; 5 hurt
By Jaime Laude (http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=By+Jaime+Laude) (The Philippine Star) Updated April 14, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (0) (http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=676106) http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg (http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=676106)


MANILA, Philippines - Two military pilots and three crewmembers were injured after their training helicopter crashed in Taytay, Rizal yesterday.


9 dead in PAF plane crash
By John Unson (http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=By+John+Unson) (The Philippine Star) Updated January 29, 2010 12:00 AM Comments (0) (http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=544803) http://www.philstar.com/images/post-comments.jpg (http://www.philstar.com/ArticleFeedback.aspx?articleId=544803)


http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/8145/gen1d.jpg
Philippine Air Force rescue teams retrieve bodies of victims from the site after a twin-prop Nomad aircraft (inset) crashed in Cotabato City yesterday.


COTABATO CITY , Philippines – A military plane crashed yesterday into a residential area here, killing nine people including an Air Force general and other officials aboard as well as a civilian on the ground.

[wingstwo]

**** happens! But you don't stop flying just because of that, do you? If the guy is keen, let him fly. It's part of flying, isn't it? Wish you luck, and enjoy the flying.

[icarus.2002]

alright, sorry guys for too realistic. here is the long and winding road of a PAF Pilot.

1. If you are between 17 to 21, you can start entering in the PMA. The Official Website of Philippine Military Academy (http://www.pma.ph/). Bring as many IQ as you can you will need this! On your 2nd year, You will be asked to choose what armed service you like, Army, Navy or Air Force. Select the best answer.

If you are more than 21, try entering the PAF Officer Candidate School (PAFOCS) http://www.facebook.com/pages/PAF-Air-Education-and-Training-Command

2. After graduation from PMA or OCS, you will be commissioned as a lieutenant. Whooah! Nope, don't celebrate yet, entering PAF Flying requires another exam, Military Pilot Aptitude Test (MPAT), again lots of IQ, and a perfect 20/20 vision uncorrected.

3. Passed it? Welcome to the PAF Flying School. Be ready to fly for 18 months. Congratulations! You got your wings. You can fly choppers, fixed wing, jets or turbo props.. choose wisely...fly safe.