Army - GSO or SSO?
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Army - GSO or SSO?
Are there any Australian's, or otherwise, who can tell me the difference's between an Army GSO Pilot and SSO Pilot? I think I have a basic understanding as to how the training differs but cannot find a straight answer as to how the two roles differ once training is complete.
Is one 'more' of an officer position than a pilot position? Are the ROSO's the same? Is there a similar amount of flying and, in reality, do both have the option of moving onto fixed wing after a period of time?
Any other useful information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
The Wiz.
Is one 'more' of an officer position than a pilot position? Are the ROSO's the same? Is there a similar amount of flying and, in reality, do both have the option of moving onto fixed wing after a period of time?
Any other useful information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
The Wiz.
Join Date: Jan 2004
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Army piloting options
Hi Wiz,
The major difference is that the GSO entry stream involves a more Army career type foundation prior to moving onto being a chopper pilot. The SSO scheme will get you into the cockpit quicker but if you are going to make a full life time career out of the Army you may be better off doing the extra year of officer training which includes people management and other career type skills. SSO's do about a year of pilot training but only one month of officer training. This is basically to make sure they know how to dress themselves, don't open beer bottle tops with their teeth or crank up a farting contest at the the officers mess or other unbecoming behaviour. After the awarding of wings, SSO's are required to pay back 5 years of service before they can leave to do other things. Total time in uniform is about 7 years from sign on to leaving. The Aussie recruitment website defencejobs.gov.au has the differences outlined but check it out and try to talk to some operational pilots before making a choice. Although it is a great job, I understand that some guys and girls are only flying a couple hundred hours a year and if you don't have other duties you may find yourself a wee bit bored. This (theoritically) also means that you may only leave with around one thousand or so hours of total flying time which really isn't a lot for 7 years of service. Albeit great machines and experience.
Best you look at the website for the other job conditions and pay etc etc. All the best.
The major difference is that the GSO entry stream involves a more Army career type foundation prior to moving onto being a chopper pilot. The SSO scheme will get you into the cockpit quicker but if you are going to make a full life time career out of the Army you may be better off doing the extra year of officer training which includes people management and other career type skills. SSO's do about a year of pilot training but only one month of officer training. This is basically to make sure they know how to dress themselves, don't open beer bottle tops with their teeth or crank up a farting contest at the the officers mess or other unbecoming behaviour. After the awarding of wings, SSO's are required to pay back 5 years of service before they can leave to do other things. Total time in uniform is about 7 years from sign on to leaving. The Aussie recruitment website defencejobs.gov.au has the differences outlined but check it out and try to talk to some operational pilots before making a choice. Although it is a great job, I understand that some guys and girls are only flying a couple hundred hours a year and if you don't have other duties you may find yourself a wee bit bored. This (theoritically) also means that you may only leave with around one thousand or so hours of total flying time which really isn't a lot for 7 years of service. Albeit great machines and experience.
Best you look at the website for the other job conditions and pay etc etc. All the best.
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Can anyone enlighten me on current flying rates out in AAAvn at the moment. I appreciate that the whole fleet will be going through a period of rationalisation over the next few years but I was just just curious as to what the general mood was at the moment.
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I should point out that as I am not actually in the job but am considering applying this year I can't comment on the morale within AAvn but having spoken to several pilots I have had mixed reports about the job. As I said, some pilots are only flying between 200-300 hours per year. This is not really a lot compared to what commercial pilots fly outside the service. As a potential SSO applicant and being employed primarily to fly choppers I am curious as to what is likely to fill in the spare time. You can only read flight manuals and practice procedures so many times. Some pilots are given secondary duties such the squadron social officer or mess officer but I prefer to be busy if possible. There is also the chance of lots of time away. Some guys I spoke with are away from home for 6 to 8 months a year which can be hard on partners. There is also a pretty limited number of postings but that should not be a motivator for applicants. If you want to fly their machines, go wherever. With the Tigers coming online as well as a medium lift troop transporter due in a couple years the equipment is not too bad. The pay level is also decent with lots of penalties and allowances. However, a mate of mine who is a super puma captain for an aussie operation says that they get lots of ex army guys applying for work so there are those who feel the grass is greener in other pastures. I guess like anything, it's what you make of it.
cheers
Vic
cheers
Vic
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6-8 months of the year? Can you expand? Is that exercises or operations?
I understand that the 5 Regt Blackhawks are pulling out of East Timor after 5 years or so where are they all deploying. Either way it's more flying! Great!
I understand that the 5 Regt Blackhawks are pulling out of East Timor after 5 years or so where are they all deploying. Either way it's more flying! Great!
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Time away from home in Aust Army Aviation
Sorry for the delayed response. I'm not certain where the crews spend their time away but the advice was to expect a fair bit of time away from your home basing. Australia has a pretty small fleet of choppers by comparison to other armed forces, we have only about 36 Blackhawks in total, (USA has about 1600), and we are retiring our loyal old hueys as we speak.
Considering the fact that a percentage of those aircraft are used for training, others are off line duties for maintenance, the remaining fleet must be used ( stretched) to cover our peacekeping duties in Timor and over in the Solomons as well as working with the training of special forces guys, odd trips to PNG, working on regular army training ops all over the place and so on, I guess it works out that crews are away a lot. With Australia's current devotion to playing peacekeeper for the whole pacific rim region, time away might be about to increase. I spoke in detail with four pilots from different backgrounds and the average amount of flying was about 200-300 hours per year. To be honest, I'm confused as to how you can be away so much and flying so little but I could be wrong. Different types also have different demands placed on them. Mabe the new Tigers will be operated out of Darwin only and fly less...... or more...... I can't say other than what I was told. Good luck anyway if you decide to look into it.
cheers
Vic
Considering the fact that a percentage of those aircraft are used for training, others are off line duties for maintenance, the remaining fleet must be used ( stretched) to cover our peacekeping duties in Timor and over in the Solomons as well as working with the training of special forces guys, odd trips to PNG, working on regular army training ops all over the place and so on, I guess it works out that crews are away a lot. With Australia's current devotion to playing peacekeeper for the whole pacific rim region, time away might be about to increase. I spoke in detail with four pilots from different backgrounds and the average amount of flying was about 200-300 hours per year. To be honest, I'm confused as to how you can be away so much and flying so little but I could be wrong. Different types also have different demands placed on them. Mabe the new Tigers will be operated out of Darwin only and fly less...... or more...... I can't say other than what I was told. Good luck anyway if you decide to look into it.
cheers
Vic
