Pilot versus WSO
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Pilot versus WSO
Hi,
I am attending OASC on 14/12 for the branches of Pilot or WSO. I have done all the research etc and have the familiar story of always wanting to be a pilot etc.
My question relates to the work of an WSO. I have done some searches but still cannot satisfy myself whether if rejected for pilot to go for WSO or reapply for pilot.
How much flying training does a WSO do and what opportunites would be available after 12 years when moving back to civilian life. Any 'day in the life of..' experiences by current/training WSO's would be much appreciated.
I would rather be in the front than sitting in the back of a Sentry staring at a radar screen. What are your opinions ??
Many Thanks
I am attending OASC on 14/12 for the branches of Pilot or WSO. I have done all the research etc and have the familiar story of always wanting to be a pilot etc.
My question relates to the work of an WSO. I have done some searches but still cannot satisfy myself whether if rejected for pilot to go for WSO or reapply for pilot.
How much flying training does a WSO do and what opportunites would be available after 12 years when moving back to civilian life. Any 'day in the life of..' experiences by current/training WSO's would be much appreciated.
I would rather be in the front than sitting in the back of a Sentry staring at a radar screen. What are your opinions ??
Many Thanks
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It really does depend on what you want out of life !
Firstly, on going to OASC, many people fill the column asking for branch choices to be seen as committed and wanting to get in. Be wary of that. Ask yourself ' Do I really want to do that job if i get offered it ?' I ended up putting pilot only as that's all I wanted to do.
On the career options outside, I'll refrain from the usual banter of 'Big mac and fries' that you often hear about ex WSOs. It is true, and any WSO will tell you, that the Nav part of the job is becoming less and less with GPS etc. To continue outside in the same vein leaves little options. Many navs complete Air Transport degrees and with flying experience look for jobs with airlines. If it's a career you are after then many Navs occupy the exec positions on sqns so that's an option.
For pilots, you have a skill which is commutable to the outside world. You may need to do the odd exam or rating (Beags can tell you exactly what !) but you could go off to the airlines.
My opinion. Go for Pilot. If rejected, it comes down to how much you want to be a pilot (reapply) or whether you just want in (WSO). I didn't get in first time and I know many who didn't.
Good luck whatever the outcome
Firstly, on going to OASC, many people fill the column asking for branch choices to be seen as committed and wanting to get in. Be wary of that. Ask yourself ' Do I really want to do that job if i get offered it ?' I ended up putting pilot only as that's all I wanted to do.
On the career options outside, I'll refrain from the usual banter of 'Big mac and fries' that you often hear about ex WSOs. It is true, and any WSO will tell you, that the Nav part of the job is becoming less and less with GPS etc. To continue outside in the same vein leaves little options. Many navs complete Air Transport degrees and with flying experience look for jobs with airlines. If it's a career you are after then many Navs occupy the exec positions on sqns so that's an option.
For pilots, you have a skill which is commutable to the outside world. You may need to do the odd exam or rating (Beags can tell you exactly what !) but you could go off to the airlines.
My opinion. Go for Pilot. If rejected, it comes down to how much you want to be a pilot (reapply) or whether you just want in (WSO). I didn't get in first time and I know many who didn't.
Good luck whatever the outcome
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When I went through OASC, I decided that I was dead-set on pilot. As such, I put that down as my only choice, and when the Interview board questioned my decision, I said I'd stick with just Pilot, and if I got knocked back apply again for Pilot and Nav.
They must've been happy with the answer, I start UAS flying next month on a Uni Bursary.
They must've been happy with the answer, I start UAS flying next month on a Uni Bursary.
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Good luck to you dimensional. I was thinking along the same lines when the questions come up. I'm 22 now and think I will reapply and reapply unitl they take me or i'm too old!
Thanks for your help. Thats confirmed what I initially thought. Now back to my endless printouts of RAF garb and current affairs!!
Thanks for your help. Thats confirmed what I initially thought. Now back to my endless printouts of RAF garb and current affairs!!
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there are very few direct cross overs into civil life for a WSO. Only ones we know of are working for bristows , oil pollution flights and ythe oil industry as an ROV operator, accoustics based.
There are a few other gems, but none really come to light. We all leave and become policemen,lol.
Seriously dude, pilot aint all its cracked up to be in RAF, you are a weapons delivery system or bus driver. I would think about civil traing and civil airlines, in the next couple of years they are going to pick up again. Besides the RAF has zippo on the duty of care front and all our pensions are about to be screwed, Think about it
Oh, one more thing on a personal note. UAS are a bunch of chinless wonders who think a few hours in a prop job gives them a divine right. In our wide and varied experiance they make the worst pilots. No common sense, left and right become a problem when they are loaded.
There are a few other gems, but none really come to light. We all leave and become policemen,lol.
Seriously dude, pilot aint all its cracked up to be in RAF, you are a weapons delivery system or bus driver. I would think about civil traing and civil airlines, in the next couple of years they are going to pick up again. Besides the RAF has zippo on the duty of care front and all our pensions are about to be screwed, Think about it
Oh, one more thing on a personal note. UAS are a bunch of chinless wonders who think a few hours in a prop job gives them a divine right. In our wide and varied experiance they make the worst pilots. No common sense, left and right become a problem when they are loaded.
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Desert_Ranger -
Please stop confusing WSO with WSOp. - Although pilot is the only choice anyone should actually go for, WSOs are currently the only non-pilots who can aspire to ac Captaincy (MR2), Mission Commander (R1s - Nimrod & Sentinel) and Tac Director (E-3D). At present, the MRA4 bluesuit team is headed by a WSO and I believe OC 5 Sqn-desig also wears that brevet. Not decrying WSOps though matey - just pointing out the subtle difference......
Please stop confusing WSO with WSOp. - Although pilot is the only choice anyone should actually go for, WSOs are currently the only non-pilots who can aspire to ac Captaincy (MR2), Mission Commander (R1s - Nimrod & Sentinel) and Tac Director (E-3D). At present, the MRA4 bluesuit team is headed by a WSO and I believe OC 5 Sqn-desig also wears that brevet. Not decrying WSOps though matey - just pointing out the subtle difference......
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Duane
At present, the MRA4 bluesuit team is headed by a WSO
There are several MRA4 bluesuit teams split between Warton, Abbey Wood and London with several different department heads all of different branches. I don't think that 'Nimrod SP' at DPA would be pleased if you called him a WSO!
Please could you be more a little more 'specific' about the 'team LEADER you are refering to?
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Mr desert ranger.
'Seriously dude, pilot aint all its cracked up to be in RAF, you are a weapons delivery system or bus driver'
It would appear that you are the latter, or am I mistaken. 15 years as a weapons delivery system and very happy too. Just spent 1hr doing air combat, mostly in my nom de plume manouever, and can't see how ferrying grotty oiks to Benidorm could possibly compare.
Biggest problem for Wizzo is the declining number of ac. Typhoon taking over all but the GR4 fast jet wizzo, leaving tankers, MR2 etc. Addmittedly some chance of power in the MR2 etc jobs but a dying breed unfortunately. Always happy to have a Nav along: who will be the butt of a Typhoon pilots jokes, carry them home when they are pi**ed and then keep drinking until time for changing and heading to the airshow.
My advice is hang in for pilot, they need lots and any other banter is simply OASC trying it on. 1/2 the Navs in the RAF have been thrown a fast ball at OASC. IF you HAVE the apptitude then dig in your heels. You can then join, as the two winged master race, have some fun and ****** off at 40 to fly the rubber dog sh*t shuttle.
'Seriously dude, pilot aint all its cracked up to be in RAF, you are a weapons delivery system or bus driver'
It would appear that you are the latter, or am I mistaken. 15 years as a weapons delivery system and very happy too. Just spent 1hr doing air combat, mostly in my nom de plume manouever, and can't see how ferrying grotty oiks to Benidorm could possibly compare.
Biggest problem for Wizzo is the declining number of ac. Typhoon taking over all but the GR4 fast jet wizzo, leaving tankers, MR2 etc. Addmittedly some chance of power in the MR2 etc jobs but a dying breed unfortunately. Always happy to have a Nav along: who will be the butt of a Typhoon pilots jokes, carry them home when they are pi**ed and then keep drinking until time for changing and heading to the airshow.
My advice is hang in for pilot, they need lots and any other banter is simply OASC trying it on. 1/2 the Navs in the RAF have been thrown a fast ball at OASC. IF you HAVE the apptitude then dig in your heels. You can then join, as the two winged master race, have some fun and ****** off at 40 to fly the rubber dog sh*t shuttle.
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MCrew7: Ah yes, see what you mean, - sorry. The Bluesuit team Ldr I was referring to is our man at Warton...... I'm aware that there are other elements of the MRA4 gang out there but believe that the main focus of effort is at Warton, where the bluesuiters mix with other bluesuiters who just happen to work for whatever BAe calls itself these days. The point that I was trying to introduce into benjamin1981's thread was that the former AE brevet portion of the new WSO branch will continue to offer significant RAF career opportunities, as opposed to the Nav specialization, which is steadily being replaced by computer wizardry and Typhoon. Funny though, isn't it, that PMA have introduced overnight a max age 31 criterion for commissioning of NCA into the WSO branch. It looks as though we'll be manning those seats traditionally filled by AEOs with ex F3 and GR4 mates in the future - or am I being cynical..........
Remember, if it looks like a fish and smells like a fish...........
Remember, if it looks like a fish and smells like a fish...........
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Sparky - you're either barking up the wrong tree or casting a hook. Of course, WSOs/WSOps enjoy equal "importance" but that has not much to do with the original point of this thread. I would, however, be intrested in just how many of your "numerous" flights flown without a WSO were operational as opposed to min crew CT/display/flypast etc. As far as I'm aware, none of the platforms cited by me in my first post ever fly operationally without a WSO - over to you me old....... 
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Duane,
I was interested to read your comments about the max age for commissioning of NCA has been reduced to 31, not something I was aware of.
Is that now the official policy?
It is only a couple of years ago that with the ending of Spec Aircrew that the max age for commissioning was increased to 44.
I was interested to read your comments about the max age for commissioning of NCA has been reduced to 31, not something I was aware of.
Is that now the official policy?
It is only a couple of years ago that with the ending of Spec Aircrew that the max age for commissioning was increased to 44.
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I'm fully with FFP on this one.
It took me 3 applications to get in, putting down pilot only. My logic was that the age limit for WSO was higher (26 cf 24 - don't know if that's still true today) so I could always fall back on that later if necessary.
I don't think my aircraft counts as a bus, so I must be a 'weapons delivery system'. Frankly I rather enjoy it. If you can't enjoy yourself flying a 4v2 sap at 100', or doing a bit of 1v1v1 air combat then you can't have a pulse. And blowing stuff up does give me a certain sense of satisfaction when it's stuff that could have been used to kill coalition troops.
It took me 3 applications to get in, putting down pilot only. My logic was that the age limit for WSO was higher (26 cf 24 - don't know if that's still true today) so I could always fall back on that later if necessary.
I don't think my aircraft counts as a bus, so I must be a 'weapons delivery system'. Frankly I rather enjoy it. If you can't enjoy yourself flying a 4v2 sap at 100', or doing a bit of 1v1v1 air combat then you can't have a pulse. And blowing stuff up does give me a certain sense of satisfaction when it's stuff that could have been used to kill coalition troops.
