RAF Uni Air Squadron
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: widnes
Age: 34
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RAF Uni Air Squadron
Hey, i was informed about the RAF Uni Air Squadron by my teacher in sixth form. After looking into it at the liverpool site, i dont really know much about it as the site doesnt give very much information. I read that you get flight training, but what exactly do they train you? PPL? CPL? or no licences?
I would really appreciate any advice and info about this as i wanted to be in the RAF but i cannot commit myself to it full-time.
Regards,
Gary
I would really appreciate any advice and info about this as i wanted to be in the RAF but i cannot commit myself to it full-time.
Regards,
Gary
Join Date: May 2003
Location: South East
Age: 43
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It may have changed but when I was in the UAS (8 years ago) the flight training given was in line with the basic flying syllabus for the RAF, i.e that given to zero hours pilots who join the RAF full time. How far you progress through that training depends on how often you attend and how much you are willing to get involved and participate as a squadron member. They expect very high levels of commitment.
They also expect students to have a genuine interest in joining the RAF full time once you complete university, although there is no formal commitment required (unless you are sponsored through university).
The flying is not recognised if you want to put the hours towards a PPL as the syllabus is taught by serving RAF pilots, not civilian instructors, and therefore they have no civilian qualifications. Therefore if you were thinking of using it as a way of starting to build time in order to gain a CPL i'm afraid you may be disappointed.
That aside though it's great fun and better than your average university society. And it's free!
Hope that helps...
They also expect students to have a genuine interest in joining the RAF full time once you complete university, although there is no formal commitment required (unless you are sponsored through university).
The flying is not recognised if you want to put the hours towards a PPL as the syllabus is taught by serving RAF pilots, not civilian instructors, and therefore they have no civilian qualifications. Therefore if you were thinking of using it as a way of starting to build time in order to gain a CPL i'm afraid you may be disappointed.
That aside though it's great fun and better than your average university society. And it's free!
Hope that helps...
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: bored
Posts: 532
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The flying is not recognised if you want to put the hours towards a PPL as the syllabus is taught by serving RAF pilots,
Are you sure? I did my PPL after UAS, and I just had to do the exams, a bit of navigation, then the two PPL tests. I certainly didn't do 42 hours of instruction with a civilian instructor.
The LASORS set out credits from military flying towards CPL and IR, so it would seem logical that military flying also gives credits to PPL.
Are you sure? I did my PPL after UAS, and I just had to do the exams, a bit of navigation, then the two PPL tests. I certainly didn't do 42 hours of instruction with a civilian instructor.
The LASORS set out credits from military flying towards CPL and IR, so it would seem logical that military flying also gives credits to PPL.
Don't worry, you won't get in.
WWW
WWW
Red On, Green On
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Between the woods and the water
Age: 24
Posts: 6,487
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
RAF UAS has changed significantly in the last two years. The flying training is no longer to EFT standard, and the hours are now much reduced.
See this page for further info. You'll get 20 hours over two years, which can be put towards a PPL, which now takes 45 hours minimum, and probably more like 55 if you've taken two years to do the first 20.
See this page for further info. You'll get 20 hours over two years, which can be put towards a PPL, which now takes 45 hours minimum, and probably more like 55 if you've taken two years to do the first 20.
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: The front end and about 50ft up
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'll explain. The UASs are usually so oversubscribed that they have to turn away high calibre candidates who would happily sign their lives away to the RAF.
There is no room for people who are not 100% dedicated and if you're looking at it as just a way to get civvy licences and then jump ship, you're outta luck. Virtually everything you could wish to know is easily available from various sources and has also been covered before in the 'sticky' thread at the top of the page. The fact that you haven't researched these yourself and your quote, above, suggests to me that WWW has made a valid point more eloquently and concisely than the rest of us could.
i wanted to be in the RAF but i cannot commit myself to it full-time
hmm, checked that ULAS website out. No mention of general drunkeness, driving down the runway doing car -to-car tranfers @ 1am, setting fire to pianos or mess rugby!
Times must've changed since the early 80's i only lasted a year, but it was something ive never regretted, or indeed forgoten......
Times must've changed since the early 80's i only lasted a year, but it was something ive never regretted, or indeed forgoten......
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Up there somewhere
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hours count towards PPL as you ARE being taught by service QFI. Flying you may do with AEF pilots doesn't count (i.e. Non instructional flying). There may even be the opportunity to do you qualifying x-country as well.
What do you mean by you can't commit yourself full time? To the UAS or an RAF career? With the UAS there is a commitment of one evening per week for ground training AKA Town Night (You go to your Town HQ and have a chat from someone in the services and then have a drink.... or 10). You also have to do 2 weeks of camp, normally during the summer. That is the minimum requirement. But if you just did that you might find yourself getting chopped as many studes attend during the week to fly and go on all the sporting and AT expeds which happen at weekends and during the hols.
You may find that your UAS also require that to stay on into the 2nd or 3rd year that you have to submit your RAF application for either DE or a bursary. Does vary though. Hope that helps.
What do you mean by you can't commit yourself full time? To the UAS or an RAF career? With the UAS there is a commitment of one evening per week for ground training AKA Town Night (You go to your Town HQ and have a chat from someone in the services and then have a drink.... or 10). You also have to do 2 weeks of camp, normally during the summer. That is the minimum requirement. But if you just did that you might find yourself getting chopped as many studes attend during the week to fly and go on all the sporting and AT expeds which happen at weekends and during the hols.
You may find that your UAS also require that to stay on into the 2nd or 3rd year that you have to submit your RAF application for either DE or a bursary. Does vary though. Hope that helps.
Red On, Green On
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Between the woods and the water
Age: 24
Posts: 6,487
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
FR has him on the button - if we are to believe his other posts elsewhere on PPrune he wants to become a commercial pilot from day one. Sadly there is no such thing as a free lunch.
Join Date: May 2003
Location: South East
Age: 43
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I stand corrected! Maybe it does count! It was all a long time ago. I already had a PPL when I joined the UAS so didn't need to count the hours.
As for the whole commitment thing though, it can't be reiterated enough that to get into the UAS is HIGHLY competitive. I had a sixth form scholarship from the RAF, had spent 6 years in the ATC, had completed an RAF flying scholarship and had a PPL and the interview and selection was still very tough and I considered myself bloody lucky to get in.
On top of all that I only lasted a year as the time i needed to devote to my university course and the fact that I was also holding down a job all contributed to the general impression that I wasn't committed enough and therefore I was "chopped." If you want to make it in the UAS and stay in for the duration of your university course be prepared to make your squadron a BIG part of your life.
As for the whole commitment thing though, it can't be reiterated enough that to get into the UAS is HIGHLY competitive. I had a sixth form scholarship from the RAF, had spent 6 years in the ATC, had completed an RAF flying scholarship and had a PPL and the interview and selection was still very tough and I considered myself bloody lucky to get in.
On top of all that I only lasted a year as the time i needed to devote to my university course and the fact that I was also holding down a job all contributed to the general impression that I wasn't committed enough and therefore I was "chopped." If you want to make it in the UAS and stay in for the duration of your university course be prepared to make your squadron a BIG part of your life.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Up there somewhere
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Knight Paladin
As evidenced by young Flik's spooling.... Doesn't have to be quite that extreme though
And I can't speel cos I did colouring in like yeh
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What is the point of the UAS?
When I was an instructor the primary roll of the UAS was to recruit "High caliber individuals from University to join the RAF".
I have not read Gary's other posts however we should not dismiss an individual because he/she is persuing other avenues, is it not common sense to keep your options open?
It is the job of the UAS to take an individual (if he/she fits the bill) and show him how good the RAF is compared to a civilian flying job and change his mind. If they like it they stay if they don't they go.
We took many individuals who knew nothing about the RAF at interview but were good candidates and we showed them a good time at ULAS, both flying and socially and they subsequently joind up. RAF 1 : Civvy Street 0.
Those who are 100% committed would most likely join anyway however we need them on the UAS to keep up the numbers and help turn those who are just browsing.
It has been 4 years since I was on a UAS, has the system now been so degraded that it is not possible to take individuals who are umming and erring or those that know nothing of what we do and convert them to the ways of the RAF. Are we now just improving the AT/OQs/personality of those already keen to join.
There are lots out there who already posess all of the qualities that we look for but are unaware of what the RAF has to offer.
I knew nothing of the RAF when I went for my Sixth Form Scholarship (at interview I did not know the difference between a Tornado F3 and GR1 because I didn't know what a Tornado was untill a picture of one was shown to me by a spotter candidate in the waiting room).
It was the 30hrs free PPL training and £1050/yr cash mentioned by the SLO that appealed to me...16yrs later I am leaving the RAF as a Flying Instuctor. If someone had turned me away for "PPL hours building" I could be earning much more outside by now in the civvy world (as an architect
) but I would have missed out on 14 yrs of great times in the RAF.
Keep and open mind and give everyone a fair chance.
I ask how many others out there joined up because of a scholarship or UAS offer?
24 Days to go.
I have not read Gary's other posts however we should not dismiss an individual because he/she is persuing other avenues, is it not common sense to keep your options open?
It is the job of the UAS to take an individual (if he/she fits the bill) and show him how good the RAF is compared to a civilian flying job and change his mind. If they like it they stay if they don't they go.
We took many individuals who knew nothing about the RAF at interview but were good candidates and we showed them a good time at ULAS, both flying and socially and they subsequently joind up. RAF 1 : Civvy Street 0.
Those who are 100% committed would most likely join anyway however we need them on the UAS to keep up the numbers and help turn those who are just browsing.
It has been 4 years since I was on a UAS, has the system now been so degraded that it is not possible to take individuals who are umming and erring or those that know nothing of what we do and convert them to the ways of the RAF. Are we now just improving the AT/OQs/personality of those already keen to join.
There are lots out there who already posess all of the qualities that we look for but are unaware of what the RAF has to offer.
I knew nothing of the RAF when I went for my Sixth Form Scholarship (at interview I did not know the difference between a Tornado F3 and GR1 because I didn't know what a Tornado was untill a picture of one was shown to me by a spotter candidate in the waiting room).
It was the 30hrs free PPL training and £1050/yr cash mentioned by the SLO that appealed to me...16yrs later I am leaving the RAF as a Flying Instuctor. If someone had turned me away for "PPL hours building" I could be earning much more outside by now in the civvy world (as an architect
) but I would have missed out on 14 yrs of great times in the RAF.Keep and open mind and give everyone a fair chance.
I ask how many others out there joined up because of a scholarship or UAS offer?
24 Days to go.
Last edited by bayete; 13th Sep 2007 at 10:02. Reason: Sp
Gentleman Aviator
garywoodrow elsewhere on these fora:
... think I'm with www on this one....
But i have A-Level work which needs doing on computers. Also i play games alot and especially Flight Sim X.
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Liverpool
Age: 33
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, I'm going to do an Aeronautical Eng + Pilot Studies degree, in 2008; I'll get my PPL and ATPL (If I pay and pass a medical test) and a degree at the same time; this is the best Uni way to work your way towards your CPL.
I'll be applying to a UAS too, but chances to get in are slim as I won't have an RAF bursary.
The UAS don't give you any license, but it would certainly make up a pretty CV for any aviation or military career.
WWW, I personally don't enjoy defending people just for the sake of it (Alex Luis's name comes to mind...), but I must ask you to please leave your negative opinions to yourself, because, unless you get some sort of satisfaction from destroying teenage dreams, I'm sure they're not helping anyone.
Matt D. Lewis
I'll be applying to a UAS too, but chances to get in are slim as I won't have an RAF bursary.
The UAS don't give you any license, but it would certainly make up a pretty CV for any aviation or military career.
WWW, I personally don't enjoy defending people just for the sake of it (Alex Luis's name comes to mind...), but I must ask you to please leave your negative opinions to yourself, because, unless you get some sort of satisfaction from destroying teenage dreams, I'm sure they're not helping anyone.
Matt D. Lewis