RAAF Flight Screening Programme
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Pilot Spec Testing
@ DrDave - Thanks for the reassurance. The site you pointed out looks great for brushing up on some of the maths principles, so I'll definitely be checking that one out. I don't believe there is such a thing as too much preparation so long as you're not trying to cram it all in a small space of time, so I'll be studying as much as possible. I'll let you know how I go once I've sat the tests in a few weeks time.
In the meantime, if anyone else has any other hints or tips for the Pilot Spec testing that are not already covered in these forums it would be much appreciated.
In the meantime, if anyone else has any other hints or tips for the Pilot Spec testing that are not already covered in these forums it would be much appreciated.
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greentea84
There's some great advice on maths courses maybe 10/20 pages back. If you want it done ASAP try the Dr Steven Holding course. It's pricey but only takes a month and the ADF know about it. I did a course through CSU uni that was accepted after some convincing. It's part of their StudyLink courses, 'mathematics for calculus' from memory. It's cheap, and only takes a semester at uni, or less if you want to put the work in. It's via distance though, so does require literally teaching yourself everything up to basic calculus. Get DFR to approve a course before commencing it, and triple check with your case manager and their manager. It's your time and money and they can be pretty hopeless. Good luck!
There's some great advice on maths courses maybe 10/20 pages back. If you want it done ASAP try the Dr Steven Holding course. It's pricey but only takes a month and the ADF know about it. I did a course through CSU uni that was accepted after some convincing. It's part of their StudyLink courses, 'mathematics for calculus' from memory. It's cheap, and only takes a semester at uni, or less if you want to put the work in. It's via distance though, so does require literally teaching yourself everything up to basic calculus. Get DFR to approve a course before commencing it, and triple check with your case manager and their manager. It's your time and money and they can be pretty hopeless. Good luck!
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BlackPrince77,
I'm actually in the exact same position as you, I attempted to set up a visit to a RAAF base recently without much luck. Best thing is to talk to your case manager, they can usually give you a couple of good contacts. Even better would be to head to the Air show at RAAF Williamtown on the 18-19th of September, as far as I know there will be a fair few pilots in attendance on the day who are more than happy to speak to enthusiastic candidates.
Hope that helps
Kyll
I'm actually in the exact same position as you, I attempted to set up a visit to a RAAF base recently without much luck. Best thing is to talk to your case manager, they can usually give you a couple of good contacts. Even better would be to head to the Air show at RAAF Williamtown on the 18-19th of September, as far as I know there will be a fair few pilots in attendance on the day who are more than happy to speak to enthusiastic candidates.
Hope that helps
Kyll
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oldpinger,
Ask and you shall receive. These questions aren't specifically geared towards FJ pilots but more so any ADF pilot (certainly including RAN QFI's - if I was to make an educated guess
) as I would be ecstatic with an offer from any service.
- How much flying to you actually do, how does it differ from what you expected and does it affect your job satisfaction?
- What are the various secondary duties you undertake as a pilot and what do they involve?
- Does the officer side of the job not completely take effect as a junior officer? As far as I am aware in every case you are an officer before a IO/engineer/ACO/Air traffic controller etc. Is this the same for pilot or is it the only position where job>officer?
- What is the actual career progression like post wings? For example: for Hornet would the posting be 76/79 SQN -> 2OCU -> 3/77/75 SQN with 2-3 years at each stage?
- What are the toughest/most rewarding points in your career? Have you been on a flying tour of duty and if so, how was that experience?
Also, with regard to motivation I am quite keen to fully apply myself to any service and any aircraft, I would love to become a QFI and hopefully progress to a senior officer in the future. Now, would this approach get slammed for motivation as it doesn't entirely follow the 'I love FJ' script? I would certainly love to fly the JSF (when it eventually gets here) but, if I was a better asset to the RAAF in a Herc then I would definitely prefer to be doing that.
I apologise for how personal some of the questions are, any insight would be greatly appreciated though. Feel free to PM
Cheers
Kyll
Ask and you shall receive. These questions aren't specifically geared towards FJ pilots but more so any ADF pilot (certainly including RAN QFI's - if I was to make an educated guess
) as I would be ecstatic with an offer from any service.- How much flying to you actually do, how does it differ from what you expected and does it affect your job satisfaction?
- What are the various secondary duties you undertake as a pilot and what do they involve?
- Does the officer side of the job not completely take effect as a junior officer? As far as I am aware in every case you are an officer before a IO/engineer/ACO/Air traffic controller etc. Is this the same for pilot or is it the only position where job>officer?
- What is the actual career progression like post wings? For example: for Hornet would the posting be 76/79 SQN -> 2OCU -> 3/77/75 SQN with 2-3 years at each stage?
- What are the toughest/most rewarding points in your career? Have you been on a flying tour of duty and if so, how was that experience?
Also, with regard to motivation I am quite keen to fully apply myself to any service and any aircraft, I would love to become a QFI and hopefully progress to a senior officer in the future. Now, would this approach get slammed for motivation as it doesn't entirely follow the 'I love FJ' script? I would certainly love to fly the JSF (when it eventually gets here) but, if I was a better asset to the RAAF in a Herc then I would definitely prefer to be doing that.
I apologise for how personal some of the questions are, any insight would be greatly appreciated though. Feel free to PM
Cheers
Kyll
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Nice set of questions Kyll, very much like a set I've been formulating myself. I'd like to add as an addendum (because I want to know and because it came up in my first Defence Interview):
How much of your time is taken up "managing" enlisted personnel and/or other subordinates?
My impression from having spoken to a few pilots was "not much". When I asked this question directly of a FLTLT from 34 Squadron his reaction was puzzlement. He said he didn't have any ground personnel directly under his command, only a couple of pilots. This however was not what my interviewer wanted to hear.
Is there a different command structure in different squadrons?
Do the ground personnel have their own chains of command?
Is perhaps one of the secondary duties that of "Welfare Officer" whose job it would be to tend to the needs of the base personnel whatever they may be, or would this be better handled by the chaplain?
Doc
How much of your time is taken up "managing" enlisted personnel and/or other subordinates?
My impression from having spoken to a few pilots was "not much". When I asked this question directly of a FLTLT from 34 Squadron his reaction was puzzlement. He said he didn't have any ground personnel directly under his command, only a couple of pilots. This however was not what my interviewer wanted to hear.
Is there a different command structure in different squadrons?
Do the ground personnel have their own chains of command?
Is perhaps one of the secondary duties that of "Welfare Officer" whose job it would be to tend to the needs of the base personnel whatever they may be, or would this be better handled by the chaplain?
Doc
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Well I pm'ed about 10 different guys on this forum a while ago who I noted down on a piece of paper while reading through this whole thread. They specifically wrote they were pilots flying Herc's or another aircraft in their responses while some were just in the RAAF for 30 years or more. Also some were FSP instructors! so there's definitely an abundance of knowledge on this thread.
Unfortunately I got minimal response.
Unfortunately I got minimal response.
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BP, obviously lots of busy pilots out there..... and yes I may have flown a helicopter or two
Dr Dave-In answer to questions about people management etc, It differs from service to service and job to job within that. I'm not surprised that the 34 sqn guy was puzzled. The RAAF tend to have their maintenance personnel 'looked after' by their engineer officers rather than aircrew.
In the Navy, as the FAA is an offshoot of the fleet, the divisional system still applies. In other words as junior aircrew you can be given a division of sailors from the sqn to look after with the assistance of a Chief or PO. This would be the non-maintenance things, ie promotion reports, courses, court appearances
etc etc.
This, in addition to other jobs would be a 'secondary' job in addition to learning to fly/operate your aircraft of choice.
Can't speak for Army, and I may indeed be wrong about RAAF, as it probably isn't all the same.
As for subordinates- when you reach the dizzying heights of SQNLDR or FLTLT you may be a Flt Cdr or deputy FltCdr then you'll have junior aircrew to look after.
Kyll, about the FJ or nothing argument- I think it's better to be honest about the more general nature of your motivation rather than get caught out at the board interview when as a 'committed' FJ candidate you can't answer questions
about your passion for fast jets.
Dr Dave-In answer to questions about people management etc, It differs from service to service and job to job within that. I'm not surprised that the 34 sqn guy was puzzled. The RAAF tend to have their maintenance personnel 'looked after' by their engineer officers rather than aircrew.
In the Navy, as the FAA is an offshoot of the fleet, the divisional system still applies. In other words as junior aircrew you can be given a division of sailors from the sqn to look after with the assistance of a Chief or PO. This would be the non-maintenance things, ie promotion reports, courses, court appearances
etc etc.This, in addition to other jobs would be a 'secondary' job in addition to learning to fly/operate your aircraft of choice.
Can't speak for Army, and I may indeed be wrong about RAAF, as it probably isn't all the same.
As for subordinates- when you reach the dizzying heights of SQNLDR or FLTLT you may be a Flt Cdr or deputy FltCdr then you'll have junior aircrew to look after.
Kyll, about the FJ or nothing argument- I think it's better to be honest about the more general nature of your motivation rather than get caught out at the board interview when as a 'committed' FJ candidate you can't answer questions
about your passion for fast jets.
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Kyll,
1) The flying varies depending what aircraft. A young bloke who is fresh out of 20CU will get around 200 hours in the first year at an operational squadron. Once he (currently no female fast pilots) is C-CAT qualified, the amount of flying will increase.
2) Secondary duties can vary. Navigation officer is pretty common which is making sure all the charts and clearences are ready if your going to go overseas. Just generally making sure everything is organised.
3) When you say Junior Officer, what exactly do you mean? If you mean Pilot Officer or Flying Officer, then yes it does. Remember you are an officer in the RAAF who's job is a pilot.
4) Post wings it depends what aircraft your chosen for. Where you said 2-3 years at each stage is not correct at all. I knew a bloke who went by the callsign 'Tik' and was 22 while flying Hornets out of the 75th. Fast jet training in total takes around 4 years to complete, so you can work it out from there. The timeline for this training is 79 (Pearce)-76(Willy)-2OCU(Willy)- Operational SQN.
Although on the surface each squadron appears to have the same roll, they differ slightly. No 3's main goal is total air dominace with a secondary duty of air to surface, while the 77th is the opposite.
1) The flying varies depending what aircraft. A young bloke who is fresh out of 20CU will get around 200 hours in the first year at an operational squadron. Once he (currently no female fast pilots) is C-CAT qualified, the amount of flying will increase.
2) Secondary duties can vary. Navigation officer is pretty common which is making sure all the charts and clearences are ready if your going to go overseas. Just generally making sure everything is organised.
3) When you say Junior Officer, what exactly do you mean? If you mean Pilot Officer or Flying Officer, then yes it does. Remember you are an officer in the RAAF who's job is a pilot.
4) Post wings it depends what aircraft your chosen for. Where you said 2-3 years at each stage is not correct at all. I knew a bloke who went by the callsign 'Tik' and was 22 while flying Hornets out of the 75th. Fast jet training in total takes around 4 years to complete, so you can work it out from there. The timeline for this training is 79 (Pearce)-76(Willy)-2OCU(Willy)- Operational SQN.
Although on the surface each squadron appears to have the same roll, they differ slightly. No 3's main goal is total air dominace with a secondary duty of air to surface, while the 77th is the opposite.
I believe he was from the Philippines.
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Somebody's been watching Real Top Guns!
Tik was one of the pilots featured in that program and he is/was attached to No. 75 SQN.
For anyone interested if you haven't seen it before, Real Top Guns is airing at the moment on SBS. In Melbourne it's on at 2:30pm each Friday. I'm not sure if the scheduling is any different in other states.
It's already a couple of episodes in but is worth having a look at. I think you can also buy it at the ABC shop.
It certainly gives you a little bit of an insight into life in the RAAF.
Tik was one of the pilots featured in that program and he is/was attached to No. 75 SQN.
For anyone interested if you haven't seen it before, Real Top Guns is airing at the moment on SBS. In Melbourne it's on at 2:30pm each Friday. I'm not sure if the scheduling is any different in other states.
It's already a couple of episodes in but is worth having a look at. I think you can also buy it at the ABC shop.
It certainly gives you a little bit of an insight into life in the RAAF.
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Just while we're on the topic of video series. Another good one for applicants keen on fast jets is a Canadian Air Force documentary called 'Jet Stream'. It covers ONLY hornet convertion and training, and it opens your eyes as to how full on the training gets. I would assume (obviously with a few differences) that it is pretty similar to what the RAAF puts its pilots through, although any RAAF FJ pilots who've seen the series may be able to elaborate. Although it is Canadian i'd recommend it.
On a side note, earlier today I called DFR hoping to confirm that my file was infact up at PSA. As luck would have it my enlistment coordinator is on annual leave, but one of the other staff members kindly said they'd follow it up and call me back. I didn't get called back today but i will call tomorrow morning. Anyway to the point, did any of you get any notification that your file had arrived at PSA, letter phone call, email etc.
Cheers
Nick
On a side note, earlier today I called DFR hoping to confirm that my file was infact up at PSA. As luck would have it my enlistment coordinator is on annual leave, but one of the other staff members kindly said they'd follow it up and call me back. I didn't get called back today but i will call tomorrow morning. Anyway to the point, did any of you get any notification that your file had arrived at PSA, letter phone call, email etc.
Cheers
Nick