RAAF Flight Screening Programme
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: australia
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Wishto-
Know what you are going thru. I am waiting in the Flight Screening Pool at moment ie waiting for 2 wk course at Tamworth.
I had a knee arthroscopy done last year and this raised some eyebrows. Dr at recruiting medical said it was all good but AVMED would get final say. About 6wks later AVMED **** canned me and said I was too much off a risk of not being able to carry out all strenuous activities associated with being in armed services. (Despite the fact that I would probably be fitter than 95% of them)
Anyway to cut along story short, I appealed the decision, got two knee specialist reports, a letter from my 'boot camp' instructor from Fitness First, another letter from my squash partner together with my covering letter.....and wow had a win and my application was under consideration again.
So if you really want in, keep fighting them all the way.
Cheers and good luck with it!!
Know what you are going thru. I am waiting in the Flight Screening Pool at moment ie waiting for 2 wk course at Tamworth.
I had a knee arthroscopy done last year and this raised some eyebrows. Dr at recruiting medical said it was all good but AVMED would get final say. About 6wks later AVMED **** canned me and said I was too much off a risk of not being able to carry out all strenuous activities associated with being in armed services. (Despite the fact that I would probably be fitter than 95% of them)
Anyway to cut along story short, I appealed the decision, got two knee specialist reports, a letter from my 'boot camp' instructor from Fitness First, another letter from my squash partner together with my covering letter.....and wow had a win and my application was under consideration again.
So if you really want in, keep fighting them all the way.
Cheers and good luck with it!!
Not enough $$$ ...
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Brisbane
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Well it all got sorted, and I'm typing this at Flight Screening in Tamworth!
Re: aptitude testing ... It turns out that even though Defence Recruiting has been gathering data with the AUSBAT tests for the last ten years or so, they're not actually using it for the selection process after all. It's still the General Aptitude Score that determines what you get offered.
Flight Screening is certainly challenging, lots to learn in a short space of time. Speaking of which, I'm off to study.
P.S. Kiwi knock-knock joke:
Knock-knock
Who's there?
Zachoo
Zachoo who?
Zachoo bro?
Re: aptitude testing ... It turns out that even though Defence Recruiting has been gathering data with the AUSBAT tests for the last ten years or so, they're not actually using it for the selection process after all. It's still the General Aptitude Score that determines what you get offered.
Flight Screening is certainly challenging, lots to learn in a short space of time. Speaking of which, I'm off to study.
P.S. Kiwi knock-knock joke:
Knock-knock
Who's there?
Zachoo
Zachoo who?
Zachoo bro?
Not enough $$$ ...
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Done, finished, successful, Army first preference, total rating good enough.
Little bit of advice to those on their way down there ... don't stress about it until you're there, but when you're there, READ THE BOOK. Really.
Cheers to all we met and got to know ... good luck and we'll see you back there next year some time hopefully.
Might have to change my username, or at least the text underneath, once John Howard starts paying for it.
Little bit of advice to those on their way down there ... don't stress about it until you're there, but when you're there, READ THE BOOK. Really.
Cheers to all we met and got to know ... good luck and we'll see you back there next year some time hopefully.
Might have to change my username, or at least the text underneath, once John Howard starts paying for it.
Join Date: Oct 2003
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Hurry and wait!!
Bzulu posted 12th December 2004 22:05
Well, just to show you all how long this process takes, the originator of ^^^^ thread flew for the first time today at BFTS as a fully fledged trainee military pilot ........only 20 months after completing flight screening!!
Good things come to those who wait.
Check
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showth...839#post1157839
The originator of the thread starts in the services in January 2005. Flying training still to follow.
Note that the original message was posted January 2004, so don't hold your breath guys. That's how long it may take after Flight Screening before you're finally "on your way".
It's a long............slow..............process.
Good luck to all of you
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showth...839#post1157839
The originator of the thread starts in the services in January 2005. Flying training still to follow.
Note that the original message was posted January 2004, so don't hold your breath guys. That's how long it may take after Flight Screening before you're finally "on your way".
It's a long............slow..............process.
Good luck to all of you
Well, just to show you all how long this process takes, the originator of ^^^^ thread flew for the first time today at BFTS as a fully fledged trainee military pilot ........only 20 months after completing flight screening!!
Good things come to those who wait.
Join Date: Sep 2000
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Hmm.The processing varies
Beat this:
a. Applied in August
b. Goble Trophy in early April
c. Wings in October
d. New Guinea in January
e. Vietnam in late April
pressure-cooking course with a 50% chop-rate
Beat this:
a. Applied in August
b. Goble Trophy in early April
c. Wings in October
d. New Guinea in January
e. Vietnam in late April
pressure-cooking course with a 50% chop-rate
Join Date: Oct 2003
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TheShadow wrote
Begging your pardon TheShadow,
May I firstly ask in what years you gained such success? Flight training alone now takes 18 months for any RAAF or Navy pilot, Army takes at least 9 months after officer training.
Secondly, may I add that this thread is not about "beating" any records but about people who aspire to being military pilots discussing the process as they tread the sometimes vague and unknown road to that ultimate goal.
I did not post to brag but to provide some insight into just how long that process may now take in the 21st century.
Cheers mate.
Hmm.The processing varies
Beat this:
a. Applied in August
b. Goble Trophy in early April
c. Wings in October
d. New Guinea in January
e. Vietnam in late April
pressure-cooking course with a 50% chop-rate
Beat this:
a. Applied in August
b. Goble Trophy in early April
c. Wings in October
d. New Guinea in January
e. Vietnam in late April
pressure-cooking course with a 50% chop-rate
May I firstly ask in what years you gained such success? Flight training alone now takes 18 months for any RAAF or Navy pilot, Army takes at least 9 months after officer training.
Secondly, may I add that this thread is not about "beating" any records but about people who aspire to being military pilots discussing the process as they tread the sometimes vague and unknown road to that ultimate goal.
I did not post to brag but to provide some insight into just how long that process may now take in the 21st century.
Cheers mate.
Join Date: Sep 2000
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Twas in the early sixties
7 months from application to finish BFTS PCK (Winjeel)
6 months at AFTS (Vamp mk35) (with no leave in between) to Grad
OCU (5 Sqn) pressure cooker conversion + OJT on many dets
early off to Vietnam - on 6 days notice (replaced an LMF returnee)
It was an example of what they will do when warm bodies are required on-line at the coal-face. We got precious little Service Training and only a modicum of rifle-tossing drill. All that I can clearly recall is being frequently charged for this that and the other by WoD Ashton (a real barking charmer of a strutting martinet ex British Army Guards RSM). And getting sozzled in the cadet's club of course.
Spent most of my time at PCK on CB (confined to barracks / weeding parade grounds). My most poignant memory was of swapping sloping tin roof-top sides on Block 44 (cadet's accomm) to avoid the gaze (and strident screams) of WoD Ashton. He knew someone (presumably a cadet) was on the three-storey building's roof but couldn't get a visual bead on just who it was. I was up there affixing my HF and FM antennas to the ridge. I finally tired of the game and quickly swung from a gutter through my open window. He later tracked me down courtesy of the tell-tale antenna wires leading through my window top. Curses.... never have been good at covering my tracks.
I reviewed my records, logbooks and old course photos and worked out that, discounting back-coursers, it was actually just over a 60% chop-rate. i.e. they took any warm body and then just weeded out the dross. As I recall, I was one of only 7 direct entries - the rest being ex-airmen and navs/sigs. One of the Navy bods gotchopped because he was never present for a running change. He was tracked down by the SP's hanging around the WRAAF's wet canteen at ASCO - when he should have been suited up, helmet in hand for a running change on the flightline. That might give you an insight into the sort of grist-mill it was.
I doubt that I'd have the patience to do it via Tamworth. I wonder if Dick Exler is still there at Tamworth grading the studes. Top troop, ex RAF and ex-Saudi PC9/Strikemaster, very experienced .... even if he did have a stude bang out on him whilst inverted (in protest at Dick's outside loop, no doubt). If he's typical of the calibre of IP's grading at Tamworth, anybody with the right approach to military flying should be able to breeze through.
7 months from application to finish BFTS PCK (Winjeel)
6 months at AFTS (Vamp mk35) (with no leave in between) to Grad
OCU (5 Sqn) pressure cooker conversion + OJT on many dets
early off to Vietnam - on 6 days notice (replaced an LMF returnee)
It was an example of what they will do when warm bodies are required on-line at the coal-face. We got precious little Service Training and only a modicum of rifle-tossing drill. All that I can clearly recall is being frequently charged for this that and the other by WoD Ashton (a real barking charmer of a strutting martinet ex British Army Guards RSM). And getting sozzled in the cadet's club of course.
Spent most of my time at PCK on CB (confined to barracks / weeding parade grounds). My most poignant memory was of swapping sloping tin roof-top sides on Block 44 (cadet's accomm) to avoid the gaze (and strident screams) of WoD Ashton. He knew someone (presumably a cadet) was on the three-storey building's roof but couldn't get a visual bead on just who it was. I was up there affixing my HF and FM antennas to the ridge. I finally tired of the game and quickly swung from a gutter through my open window. He later tracked me down courtesy of the tell-tale antenna wires leading through my window top. Curses.... never have been good at covering my tracks.
I reviewed my records, logbooks and old course photos and worked out that, discounting back-coursers, it was actually just over a 60% chop-rate. i.e. they took any warm body and then just weeded out the dross. As I recall, I was one of only 7 direct entries - the rest being ex-airmen and navs/sigs. One of the Navy bods gotchopped because he was never present for a running change. He was tracked down by the SP's hanging around the WRAAF's wet canteen at ASCO - when he should have been suited up, helmet in hand for a running change on the flightline. That might give you an insight into the sort of grist-mill it was.
I doubt that I'd have the patience to do it via Tamworth. I wonder if Dick Exler is still there at Tamworth grading the studes. Top troop, ex RAF and ex-Saudi PC9/Strikemaster, very experienced .... even if he did have a stude bang out on him whilst inverted (in protest at Dick's outside loop, no doubt). If he's typical of the calibre of IP's grading at Tamworth, anybody with the right approach to military flying should be able to breeze through.
Waiting, waiting and .....
TheShadow/ Capt Sand Dune
Gentlemen really. We all need Mr M's. That way we mere mortals have something to aspire too.
Lovely chap, reminds me so much of those wonderful, what are they called, type. That's it politician’s. Those teller's of truths
Gentlemen really. We all need Mr M's. That way we mere mortals have something to aspire too.
Lovely chap, reminds me so much of those wonderful, what are they called, type. That's it politician’s. Those teller's of truths
Not enough $$$ ...
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Brisbane
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Had my medicals yesterday and all is well, apparently, so everything is done, finished, out of the way and I just have to wait to hear from PSA.
The dentist I had was about my age, short, very pretty, and for almost the whole time in the chair she kept resting her breast on my cheek, ear and forehead while peering into my mouth. Gaaaaaaaah. "You're missing some adult teeth"...."What, sorry, wasn't listening" Gaaaaaaaaah. "Suction ... you're drooling" ... "Huh?" Gaaaaaaaah.
I found the whole blurry vision thing very disconcerting. If that's what it's like to be old, bloody hell I'm not looking forward to it. My boss sent me a text message that I got just after the appointment, and I couldn't read it until about an hour or two later. The ENT guy looked at me and said "you've just been to the eye doctor haven't you ... either that or you're dead."
The nurse at the ENT place did another hearing test as well, which I thought was a bit of a waste of time seeing as we were in a room with a sliding door through which I could hear the kids running around the waiting room, other doors opening and closing, people talking in the hallway - and this was with the special "soundproof" headphones on! All went well anyway though, so that's cool.
Back to work ....
The dentist I had was about my age, short, very pretty, and for almost the whole time in the chair she kept resting her breast on my cheek, ear and forehead while peering into my mouth. Gaaaaaaaah. "You're missing some adult teeth"...."What, sorry, wasn't listening" Gaaaaaaaaah. "Suction ... you're drooling" ... "Huh?" Gaaaaaaaah.
I found the whole blurry vision thing very disconcerting. If that's what it's like to be old, bloody hell I'm not looking forward to it. My boss sent me a text message that I got just after the appointment, and I couldn't read it until about an hour or two later. The ENT guy looked at me and said "you've just been to the eye doctor haven't you ... either that or you're dead."
The nurse at the ENT place did another hearing test as well, which I thought was a bit of a waste of time seeing as we were in a room with a sliding door through which I could hear the kids running around the waiting room, other doors opening and closing, people talking in the hallway - and this was with the special "soundproof" headphones on! All went well anyway though, so that's cool.
Back to work ....
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Magic- I couldn't be a pilot because my eye sight got bad. But i decided that if i couldn't fly- then i fix them instead. As it happens now, as a techie i'm getting more flying in than some of our crews. I've even had a chance to fly (at the controls kinda thing- i don't know what all the fuss is about flyboys- its easy! stick left= herc left! )
if you want to serve, be a techie you can transfer to aircrew when you are all big and grown up, or you might find you have a real apitute for getting oily!
whatever you choose. Good Luck
Shoutingwind
)if you want to serve, be a techie you can transfer to aircrew when you are all big and grown up, or you might find you have a real apitute for getting oily!
whatever you choose. Good Luck
Shoutingwind
Join Date: Oct 2005
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Hi guys, this is my first time on this site so excuse me if i have done anything wrong! I am an applicant for pilot and have passed the aircrew testing and have the assessment day with the medical, psych and defence interview coming up fairly soon. I was just wondering if anybody out there might be able to give me a heads up about what to expect? Also i have been having a little trouble with one of the preparation questions, "what is the difference between an officer and a non-commissioned rank?".
From what i can figure, aside from being in charge of the non-commisioned rank, the officer has overall responsibility. Just wondering if i am missing something that is very obvious and pehaps how others have answered the q?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
From what i can figure, aside from being in charge of the non-commisioned rank, the officer has overall responsibility. Just wondering if i am missing something that is very obvious and pehaps how others have answered the q?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2001
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Shoutingwind,
I think it really depends on the type of person who would be willing to do something else to get a foot in the door if at first unsuccessful. By the way I lost the screenname ItsAllMagic ever since they decided to just show usernames.
keenas,
Relax man you haven't done anything wrong
I think you're basically right, a Commissioned Officer has greater overall responsibility, and is expected to lead. Which is why he/she gets the higher rank. There are also Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO's), which seem to form a bridge between the Officers and the Airmen. But I'm sure someone can explain this much better than me.
As for the medical....expect to bear all. The psych and defence interview are just answering basic questions so they can rate you for suitability. Don't get nervous about what you don't know, just do what you can then be confident about what you do know!
Cheers
I think it really depends on the type of person who would be willing to do something else to get a foot in the door if at first unsuccessful. By the way I lost the screenname ItsAllMagic ever since they decided to just show usernames.
keenas,
Relax man you haven't done anything wrong
I think you're basically right, a Commissioned Officer has greater overall responsibility, and is expected to lead. Which is why he/she gets the higher rank. There are also Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO's), which seem to form a bridge between the Officers and the Airmen. But I'm sure someone can explain this much better than me.As for the medical....expect to bear all. The psych and defence interview are just answering basic questions so they can rate you for suitability. Don't get nervous about what you don't know, just do what you can then be confident about what you do know!
Cheers