The best type of military experience?
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The best type of military experience?
I’m currently an RAF multi-engine pilot with around a 1000 hours on type. I plan to leave the RAF in the next 6 years to pursue a career as a commercial airline pilot.
When applying to an airline, what particular qualifications and experience gained during your military career do they find most attractive? Are there any particular courses, such as the CRM foundation course and Flight Authorisers course, that they like to see on your CV? In terms of instructional experience, do they prefer QFI or OCU Instructor? Glass cockpit or analogue? Turboprop or jet hours? Should you undertake command and staff training, or simply focus on flying related activities?....
I know these questions are somewhat vague and subjective. However, I’m still in the early stages of my airforce career and want to ‘tailor’ my experience and career path over the next 5 years to make me as attractive as possible to an airline at the end of it.
Any thoughts or advice, particularly from an airline selector or an ex-military pilot who’s already made the jump would be greatly appreciated.
When applying to an airline, what particular qualifications and experience gained during your military career do they find most attractive? Are there any particular courses, such as the CRM foundation course and Flight Authorisers course, that they like to see on your CV? In terms of instructional experience, do they prefer QFI or OCU Instructor? Glass cockpit or analogue? Turboprop or jet hours? Should you undertake command and staff training, or simply focus on flying related activities?....
I know these questions are somewhat vague and subjective. However, I’m still in the early stages of my airforce career and want to ‘tailor’ my experience and career path over the next 5 years to make me as attractive as possible to an airline at the end of it.
Any thoughts or advice, particularly from an airline selector or an ex-military pilot who’s already made the jump would be greatly appreciated.
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Well from an Air Force pilot the ability to fly on weekends, after 4pm on a weekday or in weather less than CAVOK would be an area of concern. 
Spoken by an ex-pongo.
Airlines require a degree of flying aptitude - which courtesy of OASC and your training experience, one would expect you to have.
The other part of being a pilot is the soft skills - CRM if you will. They want to see a team player who in time will become an aircraft commander. Military types often have excellent skills in these areas especially from a multi-crew background. They don't want a single man operator or an overly dominant warrior-god. There are lots of fluffy types in Civilianstrasse and you can't run round like a bull in a china shop - unless you want to be sued for bullying.
A lot of whether you land a job or not will be down to the market when you 'come out'. In a poor recruitment period (like post September 11, 2001) it won't really matter what experience you have. In a good environment you should have a good head start on the competition. There are airlines that prefer ex-balloon corps types - A little research will identify these airlines.
CRM instructor tickets and QFI don't port across here - but the experience will of course be of benefit. There are ex-trappers in most training departments.
Spoken by an ex-pongo.
Airlines require a degree of flying aptitude - which courtesy of OASC and your training experience, one would expect you to have.
The other part of being a pilot is the soft skills - CRM if you will. They want to see a team player who in time will become an aircraft commander. Military types often have excellent skills in these areas especially from a multi-crew background. They don't want a single man operator or an overly dominant warrior-god. There are lots of fluffy types in Civilianstrasse and you can't run round like a bull in a china shop - unless you want to be sued for bullying.
A lot of whether you land a job or not will be down to the market when you 'come out'. In a poor recruitment period (like post September 11, 2001) it won't really matter what experience you have. In a good environment you should have a good head start on the competition. There are airlines that prefer ex-balloon corps types - A little research will identify these airlines.
CRM instructor tickets and QFI don't port across here - but the experience will of course be of benefit. There are ex-trappers in most training departments.
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It all depends on what you want to fly when you come out.
If you want to go straight onto jets, try and get some glass jet time if you can.
SENTINEL
C-17 GLOBEMASTER
Airbus A330 (Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft/FSTA), for example.
Not having a long military background, I cannot comment on how pilots leaving have got on, but staying in a Multi Crew environment will pay off in the sim ride (holding and procedural approaches must be mastered, which you may not have to do currently).
http://www.ais.org.uk/aes/login.jsp
Click when registered on PUBLICATIONS then AIP.
UK/AIP
Aerodromes Specific
All the plates are there.
You will have to convert to a Civi Licence which you may get as a settlement package I understand. And I am not sure how many of your total time you can log towards your ATPL.
You will need a MCC- Multi Crew Co-Operation so if you get this in the RAF, you may be exempt saving you £2600 give or take a few hundred. Speak to the CAA.
QFI is always useful as they may see you as a future line trainer, which are always in demand. I am not sure the time to command in the RAF, but if you could become a QFI on a Tanker / Transport Jet, they would probably bite your arm off, at least get a Command.
I really enjoy turboprobs and am in no rush to move to jets just yet. I think that enjoying the company you work for, the aircraft and the variety of routes is more important. But, if you are looking at a BA job straight off, QFI on Jets ASAP.
Bon Voyage!
If you want to go straight onto jets, try and get some glass jet time if you can.
SENTINEL
C-17 GLOBEMASTER
Airbus A330 (Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft/FSTA), for example.
Not having a long military background, I cannot comment on how pilots leaving have got on, but staying in a Multi Crew environment will pay off in the sim ride (holding and procedural approaches must be mastered, which you may not have to do currently).
http://www.ais.org.uk/aes/login.jsp
Click when registered on PUBLICATIONS then AIP.
UK/AIP
Aerodromes Specific
All the plates are there.
You will have to convert to a Civi Licence which you may get as a settlement package I understand. And I am not sure how many of your total time you can log towards your ATPL.
You will need a MCC- Multi Crew Co-Operation so if you get this in the RAF, you may be exempt saving you £2600 give or take a few hundred. Speak to the CAA.
QFI is always useful as they may see you as a future line trainer, which are always in demand. I am not sure the time to command in the RAF, but if you could become a QFI on a Tanker / Transport Jet, they would probably bite your arm off, at least get a Command.
I really enjoy turboprobs and am in no rush to move to jets just yet. I think that enjoying the company you work for, the aircraft and the variety of routes is more important. But, if you are looking at a BA job straight off, QFI on Jets ASAP.
Bon Voyage!
Educated Hillbilly
Not really too knowledgable about the ex-forces thing but BA do have a specific scheme for ex-forces pilots. But further to the above post with 500 hours previous multi crew experience you will be exempt from the requirement to do an MCC course.
