Uas Groundschool Exams
Thread Starter
Uas Groundschool Exams
In the current, greatly dumbed-down University Air Squadron system, are the little dears given any groundschool - or made to do any formal exams?
I would be very interested to know...
I would be very interested to know...
Thread Starter
UAS, not EFT
But are those exams taken as seriously as they once were? Or is it a matter of "Fill in the answers; if you don't know, then ask someone who does...."
It's just that my recent experience of ex-UAS people converting to PPLs is that the concept of having to pass theoretical knowledge exams seems somewhat of an alien concept to them....
I know that things have changed since the days when I did the old 'CEB' exams all in one day at Imperial College (ULAS booked the hall for the occasion); none of it was multiple-guess, it was all written and you had to get not less than 50% in any subject and an overall 60%.... But is anything actually taught to the little beggars these days?
But are those exams taken as seriously as they once were? Or is it a matter of "Fill in the answers; if you don't know, then ask someone who does...."
It's just that my recent experience of ex-UAS people converting to PPLs is that the concept of having to pass theoretical knowledge exams seems somewhat of an alien concept to them....
I know that things have changed since the days when I did the old 'CEB' exams all in one day at Imperial College (ULAS booked the hall for the occasion); none of it was multiple-guess, it was all written and you had to get not less than 50% in any subject and an overall 60%.... But is anything actually taught to the little beggars these days?
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I have recently applied for the UAS as im studying Aviation Technology and pilot studies at university. I went for two inital interviews and i have had to do a basic medical/physical, but nothing has been mentioned about exams yet. While im learning to fly at university the ground schooling we get is geared to accomodate for the UAS training we will be recieving and will be structured so that the UAS students can go for their PPL and be trained in the same way the UAS would train them
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Yes there are still groundschool exams, yet there is no formal instructor-to-student tuition. The crit-point content is taught via booklets containing the syllabus content relevant to each crit-point.
Clearly if a student has a problem with a particular element of the syllabus then the instructors are available to help with queries, and in some cases - for example the nav phase of the syllabus, may offer a more direct tutoring to aid in understanding of what are quite tricky concepts to the complete ab-initio.
For some of the exams - for example crit-point two, the pre first solo test - the pass mark is 100%, in other cases this is reduced to 90 or 80%.
The exams are taken seriously and are kept in a log along with the students sortie assessments (no longer the old EFT tick sheets because there is no scoring system), however - the exams are often taken unsupervised in a quiet room - it's down to the honesty of the student as to whether they cheat or not.
The whole problem arises here with the reduction in QFIs on the UAS - in some cases there is only one fully serving instructor aided by a full time reservist, and occasionally pilots from the AEF who have regained their QFI qualification - there is simply not enough full-time staff able to instruct and supervise groundschool when they are often flying five or six sorties a day.
Clearly if a student has a problem with a particular element of the syllabus then the instructors are available to help with queries, and in some cases - for example the nav phase of the syllabus, may offer a more direct tutoring to aid in understanding of what are quite tricky concepts to the complete ab-initio.
For some of the exams - for example crit-point two, the pre first solo test - the pass mark is 100%, in other cases this is reduced to 90 or 80%.
The exams are taken seriously and are kept in a log along with the students sortie assessments (no longer the old EFT tick sheets because there is no scoring system), however - the exams are often taken unsupervised in a quiet room - it's down to the honesty of the student as to whether they cheat or not.
The whole problem arises here with the reduction in QFIs on the UAS - in some cases there is only one fully serving instructor aided by a full time reservist, and occasionally pilots from the AEF who have regained their QFI qualification - there is simply not enough full-time staff able to instruct and supervise groundschool when they are often flying five or six sorties a day.
Why does it matter?
The UAS isn't about teaching pilots anymore. You can all argue amongst yourselves as to whether that's a good or bad thing.
The UAS system at present provides for a lot more of a rounded introduction to the RAF and Forces life in general.
Also, it's worth noting that the flying syllabus has been increased this year to include some of the more 'higher end' flying, inc. solo aeros and formations.
The UAS isn't about teaching pilots anymore. You can all argue amongst yourselves as to whether that's a good or bad thing.
The UAS system at present provides for a lot more of a rounded introduction to the RAF and Forces life in general.
Also, it's worth noting that the flying syllabus has been increased this year to include some of the more 'higher end' flying, inc. solo aeros and formations.
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They were removed from the syllabus in 2005 - however Sqn Bosses can now send students solo for both aeros and formation if they have finished the syllabus and completed the necessary further tuition required including a more formal spin aeros cx than may have been experienced in other sorties on the syllabus.
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BEags,
#1 son did 2 years in a northern UAS and spent his time,when solo, dodging F3s that were in the circuit at a slightly faster perambulation than his mighty Grob Tutor.
He had to pass exams to go solo, obviously, but I am not sure of the level. Clearly, they wouldn't send a dumb stude off without making sure he could get back in one piece, even in this "disposable" society. . . . .
#1 son did 2 years in a northern UAS and spent his time,when solo, dodging F3s that were in the circuit at a slightly faster perambulation than his mighty Grob Tutor.
He had to pass exams to go solo, obviously, but I am not sure of the level. Clearly, they wouldn't send a dumb stude off without making sure he could get back in one piece, even in this "disposable" society. . . . .
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back in my day (2001-2003) we had to pass critical point exams, cant remember the pass mark but it was mainly self taught or with help from fellow students and unsupervised exams.
Having done both UAS exams and PPL exams the UAS ones were considerably easier, but there is huge amounts of what I feel unnessicary information in the PPL exams.
Glad to hear bosses can send students on solo aeros again, it was a said day when the RAF cut back UAS money, they should wake up and stop giving billions of wasted money to BAe and buy off the shelf and they could open up more UAS squadrons!
Having done both UAS exams and PPL exams the UAS ones were considerably easier, but there is huge amounts of what I feel unnessicary information in the PPL exams.
Glad to hear bosses can send students on solo aeros again, it was a said day when the RAF cut back UAS money, they should wake up and stop giving billions of wasted money to BAe and buy off the shelf and they could open up more UAS squadrons!
Back in my day '70-'73 (and that of course means your day as well BEagle), UAS was just a jolly flying club; at least it was at Woodvale. No pressure to pass anything; turn up when you can and have a good time, no formal syllabus other than the obvious S&L comes before turns; PFLs before Aeros. Enjoy as much or as little flying as you want, but most guys got between 30-50 hrs a year. The RAF considered your priority was your degree course. The flying kept us 'beggars' interested. There was some ground training on a Thursday evening in town HQ, but as I was at a University some 50 miles away, I very rarely went to that, and was never compelled to. All pretty dumbed down as I recall BEags.
By the mid 70s, well after you and I had left UAS, things became a little more serious, and I believe one could even get chopped. That was the start of the slippery slope.
By the mid 70s, well after you and I had left UAS, things became a little more serious, and I believe one could even get chopped. That was the start of the slippery slope.
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It is still the same flying from woodvale, the only things that have seemed to change are the fact it is now manditory to attend groundschool every tuesday at HQ and that you are bound by military law and can be 'chopped' if you Sq/Ldr sees fit that you are not up to scratch. And the allowed flying time isnt anywhere near the 30 - 50 hours you stated its now more like 10 hours as the base line 
Gnd
I'm sure it was all much harder in your day!!
Times change.
Accept it and move on.
Aeroplanes were harder to fly years ago (not the case now, which is as you would expect after Billions spent on making them easier!) but I would argue that modern aircraft are just as taxing to operate.
BV
PS. BEagle, for once it would be nice if you could also accept that we have moved on slightly since your day. For better or worse! Jehovah.
Times change.
Accept it and move on.
Aeroplanes were harder to fly years ago (not the case now, which is as you would expect after Billions spent on making them easier!) but I would argue that modern aircraft are just as taxing to operate.
BV
PS. BEagle, for once it would be nice if you could also accept that we have moved on slightly since your day. For better or worse! Jehovah.
And now that the MoD/RAF et-bloody-cetera has sown the wind ........ they shall reap the whirlwind. No it isn't the fault of the 'studes' in the system, but as I was leaving the services a few years ago, there is no doubt that the newbies arriving were having to learn an awful lot in an effort to rise from their 'lowly' perches.
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Everyone who joins as a pilot does 6 weeks of EFT groundschool anyway. The UAS teaches you enough to survive and met, PofF etc. tends to be saved for wet weather days.
Thread Starter
Thanks for your replies.
Pretty well confirms my suspicions. Why did I ask? Well, currently I have 2 UAS students on PPL scholarships and their attitude to formal theoretical knowledge examinations is somewhat disappointing. The exams are not hard; if some 16 year old civvy paying to learn to fly can out in the effort, then so can some UAS bod who is paying nothing for a PPL scholarship...
I don't know what used to happen up in clogs-and-whippet land at Scouseport field, 6Z3 me old mucker, but dahn sarff we were expected to attend training nights every Thursday for groundschool lectures (followed by a beer and a bite in the Chinese over the road befor the last tube back east). Also, 'CEB' exams had to be passed before the PFB test - and no PFB meant a delayed entry to Towers.
As for "The UAS system at present provides for a lot more of a rounded introduction to the RAF and Forces life in general.", that's horsefeathers. The Air Cadets do a much better job.
Incidentally
Pretty well confirms my suspicions. Why did I ask? Well, currently I have 2 UAS students on PPL scholarships and their attitude to formal theoretical knowledge examinations is somewhat disappointing. The exams are not hard; if some 16 year old civvy paying to learn to fly can out in the effort, then so can some UAS bod who is paying nothing for a PPL scholarship...
I don't know what used to happen up in clogs-and-whippet land at Scouseport field, 6Z3 me old mucker, but dahn sarff we were expected to attend training nights every Thursday for groundschool lectures (followed by a beer and a bite in the Chinese over the road befor the last tube back east). Also, 'CEB' exams had to be passed before the PFB test - and no PFB meant a delayed entry to Towers.
As for "The UAS system at present provides for a lot more of a rounded introduction to the RAF and Forces life in general.", that's horsefeathers. The Air Cadets do a much better job.
Incidentally
...in your opinion.
Having been through both systems within the last 5 years (have you? I think not) I can say that for me, the UAS paints a far more accurate picture of RAF life than the ATC does.
So you might have found some UAS guys who are arses: congrats, I bet that's never been done before. How many guys on your entry turned out to be pillocks? My year has gone from being 29 on entry to 10 currently, it's to be expected that interviews alone can't weed out weaker people or less enthusiastic pilots.
I've been on this forum a while - longer than I've been posting - and thought you to be an experienced, well thought out guy, but it appears you're nothing more than someone looking for trouble with a group of people who, in your eyes, can't fight back. That's simply not true and as long as I'm here, I'll defend the vast majority of UAS studes who are in the organisation for the right reasons.
Having been through both systems within the last 5 years (have you? I think not) I can say that for me, the UAS paints a far more accurate picture of RAF life than the ATC does.
So you might have found some UAS guys who are arses: congrats, I bet that's never been done before. How many guys on your entry turned out to be pillocks? My year has gone from being 29 on entry to 10 currently, it's to be expected that interviews alone can't weed out weaker people or less enthusiastic pilots.
I've been on this forum a while - longer than I've been posting - and thought you to be an experienced, well thought out guy, but it appears you're nothing more than someone looking for trouble with a group of people who, in your eyes, can't fight back. That's simply not true and as long as I'm here, I'll defend the vast majority of UAS studes who are in the organisation for the right reasons.