AT Courses while on hold
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Join Date: Apr 2004
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AT Courses while on hold
Hi all,
Has anyone done a certain AT course with the RAF that they can recomend? I have a reasonably long hold after ground school before Linton (if that happens going by rumours....touch wood!).
Any feedback much appreciated.
Woo Woo
Has anyone done a certain AT course with the RAF that they can recomend? I have a reasonably long hold after ground school before Linton (if that happens going by rumours....touch wood!).
Any feedback much appreciated.
Woo Woo
Join Date: Sep 2000
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AT Courses
Don't get much chance to partake myself these days, but I would definitely recommend off-shore sailing. I am always seeing spaces advertised in SROs for crews for the various annual expeds, including trips to/from/around the Med.
I think some of these require a basic crew certificate, but others are training courses in themselves. Contact the PEd staff wherever you are holding and I am sure they will point you in the right direction!
I think some of these require a basic crew certificate, but others are training courses in themselves. Contact the PEd staff wherever you are holding and I am sure they will point you in the right direction!
Diving! Course run down in Plymouth, next to no cost, takes about a week and if you're careful you can do the initial course at the start of your hold and get up to Sports Diver (the next level) before you finish your hold! There are always expeds going on, not that you'll be able to go on them if you reach the front line as aircrew! You'll even be able to caving in Mexico, as per Dan's suggestion, to rescue some to rescue some terrible visa breaking, uranium stealing, bearded servicemen! You also get a better tan at sea which is a must as aircrew!
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Hold on one of the many overstretched non-flying parts of the RAF - no need to wonder which AT to do as you'll be too busy joining in with the work instead! Remember, it's only the overstretched flying bits that you can't join in with...
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Come on chap, there are dozens of things to do:
Get down the gym, read all the posters on the wall. Then get the JSP (318 I think it is) that lists all the courses. Apply for everything you're eligible for. Then apply for a holding post at Llanfair PG. Then phone Llanfair, give them your details and phone number and tell them that if they have 'no shows' or late cancellations on a Monday morning that you can be there in xx hours.
Go to SHQ and read DCIs. Most of them are weird and wonderful, but you'll also find details of Joint Services Alpine Meet, Joint Services Rock Meet, sailing trips to the Carribean, windsurfing courses at Rutland Water, the ski champs etc etc
Where ever you do end up holding, go to any of the larger bases around you and speak to the OICs of the various mountaineering, diving, hang-gliding, gliding, surfing, caving etc clubs. They'll probably all be organizing an exped or 2 and will love you if you express an interest and get involved.
Join the RAF Mountaineering Association (the gym will know how) or similar. They organize weekend trips every month and weeks away at various times.
If you like survival stuff, hold with the School of Combat Search & Rescue down at St Mawgan. Or apply to go on the courses - arctic, desert, jungle, winter etc. You might even be able to banter your way onto the SRO(C) and turn up at your first sqn with a useful qual under your belt.
Ever thought about Raleigh International? http://www.raleigh.org.uk/ It was easily the most rewarding thing I've ever done. RAF will pay a third of the costs, I raised a third in sponsorship and paid the rest (but you'll earn far more than the amount you pay while you're away in the African bush and unable to spend a penny).
I held for 9 months between Linton and Valley and was at my desk for 1 week. For pity's sake don't waste your holding time making tea for random people and getting the occasional backseat ride. You can fly jets, from the front seat, every day for the rest of your career if you want. Holding time is precious and you should make the most of it. Where else can you get paid to go and do stuff like that? If you want any more ideas/advice/help feel free to PM me.
Get down the gym, read all the posters on the wall. Then get the JSP (318 I think it is) that lists all the courses. Apply for everything you're eligible for. Then apply for a holding post at Llanfair PG. Then phone Llanfair, give them your details and phone number and tell them that if they have 'no shows' or late cancellations on a Monday morning that you can be there in xx hours.
Go to SHQ and read DCIs. Most of them are weird and wonderful, but you'll also find details of Joint Services Alpine Meet, Joint Services Rock Meet, sailing trips to the Carribean, windsurfing courses at Rutland Water, the ski champs etc etc
Where ever you do end up holding, go to any of the larger bases around you and speak to the OICs of the various mountaineering, diving, hang-gliding, gliding, surfing, caving etc clubs. They'll probably all be organizing an exped or 2 and will love you if you express an interest and get involved.
Join the RAF Mountaineering Association (the gym will know how) or similar. They organize weekend trips every month and weeks away at various times.
If you like survival stuff, hold with the School of Combat Search & Rescue down at St Mawgan. Or apply to go on the courses - arctic, desert, jungle, winter etc. You might even be able to banter your way onto the SRO(C) and turn up at your first sqn with a useful qual under your belt.
Ever thought about Raleigh International? http://www.raleigh.org.uk/ It was easily the most rewarding thing I've ever done. RAF will pay a third of the costs, I raised a third in sponsorship and paid the rest (but you'll earn far more than the amount you pay while you're away in the African bush and unable to spend a penny).
I held for 9 months between Linton and Valley and was at my desk for 1 week. For pity's sake don't waste your holding time making tea for random people and getting the occasional backseat ride. You can fly jets, from the front seat, every day for the rest of your career if you want. Holding time is precious and you should make the most of it. Where else can you get paid to go and do stuff like that? If you want any more ideas/advice/help feel free to PM me.
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The Basic Parachute Course is a must! Hurl yourself out of an Islander down at Weston on the Green and learn how to fly in a completely different way!
The PEd staff will give you details of the JSPC (Joint Services Parachute Centre) and they run a handful of 2 week courses a year for complete novices. The time of year is just right as you stand the best chance of getting more jumps / qualifications at this time of year. Ignore any pu££ies who tell you that it's dangerous - you're applying to be a military pilot for crying out loud! No Fear!
The PEd staff will give you details of the JSPC (Joint Services Parachute Centre) and they run a handful of 2 week courses a year for complete novices. The time of year is just right as you stand the best chance of getting more jumps / qualifications at this time of year. Ignore any pu££ies who tell you that it's dangerous - you're applying to be a military pilot for crying out loud! No Fear!
Completely agree with essytowtuf! I utterly wasted my hold and have regretted it ever since because now my time is not my own, it belongs to Tony Bliar and his colleagues! Just to help out though, I don't think it's JSP 318, that's the old mil flying regs book! Like the man says, go to the gym and ask, or ring up the Stn Adj at Marham etc and ask for a list of the clubs and names of OICs on camp and phone around!
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Your advice all sounds sensible - thanks!
I definitely dont plan on hanging around too much at the Sqn cos although its great to see what goes on...that novelty normally wears off within a day or two! A flight in a T.10 or sim trip would be awesome but I know from experience that the wait to get either of these things can much outweigh the end result if your just sitting about reading magazines and drinking tea.
I think my first port-of-call will be the gym a) to get an induction and b) to get the AT pamphlet fom the PTI's.
Thanks again to all who posted
Woo Woo
I definitely dont plan on hanging around too much at the Sqn cos although its great to see what goes on...that novelty normally wears off within a day or two! A flight in a T.10 or sim trip would be awesome but I know from experience that the wait to get either of these things can much outweigh the end result if your just sitting about reading magazines and drinking tea.
I think my first port-of-call will be the gym a) to get an induction and b) to get the AT pamphlet fom the PTI's.
Thanks again to all who posted
Woo Woo
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It's JSP419.
Apply for everything you can. These courses are like rocking horses sh1t to get on so apply for loads of dates for any given course - and put on the top of the form in big red letters that you can get on the courses at very late notice.
When people drop out at the last minute you are exactly the sort of person they are looking for (make sure that you have given them a mobile phone number so they can contact you.)
Parachuting (Weston on the Green nr Oxford) is very popular and therefore more difficult to get on. Diving (Plymouth) is popular and has fewer students per cse so is also difficult to get on. They have just sunk a frigate near there so it will be worth trying for a course just to dive on her.
Rock climbing/ mountaineering/ kayaking and canoeingare done in Wales and are a bit easier to get on. Skiing is normally done through what is known as BWT (in Germany) but this is only run in Jan Feb of each year. Keep your eyes peeled around Oct/ Nov this year for adverts for next years course dates.
The PEd staff should be able to help further - I would suggest that they are quite used to epople in your position wanting to go on courses.
HTH
Apply for everything you can. These courses are like rocking horses sh1t to get on so apply for loads of dates for any given course - and put on the top of the form in big red letters that you can get on the courses at very late notice.
When people drop out at the last minute you are exactly the sort of person they are looking for (make sure that you have given them a mobile phone number so they can contact you.)
Parachuting (Weston on the Green nr Oxford) is very popular and therefore more difficult to get on. Diving (Plymouth) is popular and has fewer students per cse so is also difficult to get on. They have just sunk a frigate near there so it will be worth trying for a course just to dive on her.
Rock climbing/ mountaineering/ kayaking and canoeingare done in Wales and are a bit easier to get on. Skiing is normally done through what is known as BWT (in Germany) but this is only run in Jan Feb of each year. Keep your eyes peeled around Oct/ Nov this year for adverts for next years course dates.
The PEd staff should be able to help further - I would suggest that they are quite used to epople in your position wanting to go on courses.
HTH
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BWT is well worthwhile getting on -- I was lucky enough to wangle a place this year and despite slightly dodgy conditions (heatwaves and snow don't mix) it was an excellent week.
I think there are something like ten courses a year for fourty studes each, so you'd probably have good odds at getting a place.
I think there are something like ten courses a year for fourty studes each, so you'd probably have good odds at getting a place.
