RAAF Flight Screening Programme

[SandpitNinja]

Intro

Hi Guys,

I've been digging through this forum for the last few days in preparation for my upcoming ASP on the 11th of July down in East Sale.

I've found many golden nuggets of info which I think will help me in my journey to becoming a pilot. I just wanted to say a big thanks to everyone for the community spirit which has (for the most part) dominated this thread, especially to those who have gone through this process and share the benefit of hindsight with those of us who are about to have a crack.

To anyone who's in my position and is preparing for the same ASP, feel free to get in touch. It'll be good to have a friendly face by the time we get down there.

Cheers

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Until you have a posting history you don't have access to private messaging and adding urls. Email a far more effective route at the moment.

[pimpslayer]

How'd it go? I've heard there's a new extra aviation battery.

[SandpitNinja]

Post ASP

Hi pimpslayer,

It went well for me, I ended up walking away with a high recommendation for Pilot. I was one of 2 out of 7 candidates on my course.
Everyone on my course Met the Required Standard (MRS) which is great and apparently quite rare, but not everyone got recommended for their first job preference.
SAYING THAT, most of the guys still did really well and were given recommendations for ARMY - Pilot which they're chuffed with.
one thing the ASP does really well is educate and motivate candidates on the different types of flying that all 3 services perform and most of us would have changed
our preferences even before getting our results based on the info they provide. Best advice is to go in with an open mind and listen to everything the advocates have to say.

I don't know what you mean about an additional aviation battery, if you want to elaborate I'm happy to share whatever I can, having been through it now.

The long and short of it is that if you've found the RAF CBAT TMI page (and trust me, they know TMI exists, they know PPRuNe exists and they know about the CBAT app)
which outlines the tests and have been practicing your mental arithmetic, there aren't TOO many curve balls. From that point it just comes down to how you do on the day.
Obviously they keep a few aces up their sleeve for the real testing and it really makes you think quite quickly in order to react effectively (fancy that for a military pilot application).

Good luck to anybody looking to attend ASP in the future.
It's a roller coaster, but if you think about it as a fun experience and make an effort to get along with the people on course, you really can't lose.

[SandpitNinja]

follow up

Another point I'll bring forward that I forgot to put in my last post.

Both candidates who were highly recommended by the MACTS testing had 0, zilch, zip, zero flying experience, so if that's holding you back because you're worried about how you might perform, don't let it.
Personally, I'm an Engineer and a gamer and I think that's what got me through.

[pimpslayer]

Officer Aviation Test Battery

Hi SandpitNinja, thanks for the reply! Congratulations on passing, best of luck with your OSB.
I did a little bit of research, the new Officer Aviation Test Battery (OATB) I was talking about seems to be something you do at your local recruiting centre after your YOU session aptitude test, and before the ASP. Do you remember doing anything like that? I think it's a pretty new test, added within the last 6 months.

[flyingbuddy]

Jumping on the bandwagon😄

Hi Guys,
I'm preparing for the ASP which is in 4 days time. I know I left it till the last minute. But this is after rescheduling three times due to lockdown in NSW. I'm going to study on the CBAT app from today. Is there any other apps/material available which will make me ready for the day? Even though my name is flyingbuddy, I have never been to the cockpit of a plane 😅, which gives me so much pressure and anxiety about the ASP.
Thanks in advance for the tips.
Regards,
Yours truly

[SandpitNinja]

Originally Posted by flyingbuddy

Hi Guys,
I'm preparing for the ASP which is in 4 days time. I know I left it till the last minute. But this is after rescheduling three times due to lockdown in NSW. I'm going to study on the CBAT app from today. Is there any other apps/material available which will make me ready for the day? Even though my name is flyingbuddy, I have never been to the cockpit of a plane 😅, which gives me so much pressure and anxiety about the ASP.
Thanks in advance for the tips.
Regards,
Yours truly

Hey Flyingbuddy,
From the email you sent me, I assumed you were talking about the additional testing day after the YOU session and before assessment day. Is this incorrect?
If I've given you the wrong info in my reply email I'm sorry, lmk (email will be faster) and I can point you in the right direction for some ASP info if needs be.

Have they changed the ASP due to lockdowns? Do you no longer have to go to RAAF East Sale in VIC?

I just assumed that due to Vic lockdowns they weren't running ASP at the moment, but makes sense that they would run satellite ASPs for interstate candidates to get them through the pipeline.

[nick0]

Hi all,

I recently was recommended at my OSB for RAAF DEO pilot. Just wondering if anyone who still peruses this forum, or is in a similar position has any info regarding dates they will be sending out offer letters?

[finestkind]

VHOEG,

it has always been this cycle. ADFA intake is early in the year and the last testing is done late in the year.

[KelvinHelmholtz998]

Hey there,
Does anyone have any idea when the RAAF do their distributions for offers/select who they’re taking on for the next OTS? Say, a month before course, etc?

[woodja51]

RAAF flight training

Originally Posted by SandpitNinja

Another point I'll bring forward that I forgot to put in my last post.

Both candidates who were highly recommended by the MACTS testing had 0, zilch, zip, zero flying experience, so if that's holding you back because you're worried about how you might perform, don't let it.
Personally, I'm an Engineer and a gamer and I think that's what got me through.

All, this is a word of advice for those considering pilot training. The failure rates for those without any flying experience at all are anywhere from twice , to four times as high as those candidates with some flying experience. The sweet spot is probably about 25 - 30 hours at RPL level. More than this probably isn’t needed , but zero hour candidates before starting actual flying are highly represented in suspensions. This is not always ability but often the environment that comes as a surprise ( being in a cockpit , g suit and vest , with a helmet / oxy mask and then the information overload plus 3 - D nature of flying. Simply going solo at a flying school can be enough to let you realise what you are in for. This is not something that a game can replicate. Even though testing metrics show you can get on and pass the course, doing is often a better indicator … it also demonstrates motivation if you have done a little flying - and often that alone can get you through the pilots course .. FYI

[finestkind]

Originally Posted by woodja51

All, this is a word of advice for those considering pilot training. The failure rates for those without any flying experience at all are anywhere from twice , to four times as high as those candidates with some flying experience. The sweet spot is probably about 25 - 30 hours at RPL level. More than this probably isn’t needed , but zero hour candidates before starting actual flying are highly represented in suspensions. This is not always ability but often the environment that comes as a surprise ( being in a cockpit , g suit and vest , with a helmet / oxy mask and then the information overload plus 3 - D nature of flying. Simply going solo at a flying school can be enough to let you realise what you are in for. This is not something that a game can replicate. Even though testing metrics show you can get on and pass the course, doing is often a better indicator … it also demonstrates motivation if you have done a little flying - and often that alone can get you through the pilots course .. FYI

Very valid points.... for the old and bold system and in essence I agree. Are you quoting the failure rate from the new training system? You indicate that there is a "high" suspension rate before even starting flying. If so than this could well be from RC's sending anyone and everyone for testing, without real aviation motivation (you could be a pilot, wanna give it a go), or yep did very well on MACTS but education is not very good and therefore find it difficult with ground school (and if things are difficult with ground school than that resilience that has been fostered since birth will kick in, won't it?). The new system supposedly alleviates the cockpit shock significantly. Also the selection system is/was MACTS weighted, meaning that if you did very well and I mean very well than either deficiencies could be excused or the RAAF would help correct those deficiencies. In regards to flying time, yes and no. Once this would be a help in a) assessing motivation (keeping in mind location and financial constraints of candidates) and b) having airborne experience to substantiate that flying desire. Have already had this occur with a successful MACTS candidate with no airborne experience undergoing training and stating to his instructor "that if I had known that flying was like this I would not have joined".
As far as assessing the failure rate the RAAF has set itself up very well once again. Introducing a new selection process with a new aircraft and new training syllabi. I mean what could go wrong. Given the current inventory there can be little argument, I would think, that being a systems operator rather than a hands and feet operator is as desired if not more so.

[KelvinHelmholtz998]

finestkind
So the MACTS testing seems to be a reliable indicator of someone successfully passing flight training - along with motivation and perhaps some flight hours as mentioned?

Does it appear there’s at least been an improvement in pass rates since the closure of the old FSP?

[finestkind]

Originally Posted by KelvinHelmholtz998

finestkind
So the MACTS testing seems to be a reliable indicator of someone successfully passing flight training - along with motivation and perhaps some flight hours as mentioned?

Does it appear there’s at least been an improvement in pass rates since the closure of the old FSP?

It is untenable to assess pass rates based on MACTS. As I indicated the introduction of a new selection process and assessment of it's success is stymied by a new aircraft, new training syllabi, and the reintroduction of a straight through one type aircraft training. Combine this with a more open filter at recruiting allowing a significantly larger number to undertake ASP ( which brings in other issues impacting on success rate, education being one) than assessing MACTS as being successful in itself would be delivering false statistics.

[KelvinHelmholtz998]

finestkind
If you had to name five qualities/attributes a candidate should posses, to successfully pass flight training, what would they be?

[finestkind]

Originally Posted by KelvinHelmholtz998

finestkind
If you had to name five qualities/attributes a candidate should posses, to successfully pass flight training, what would they be?

Put me on the spot but I'll give it a go.

Potential. But potential without motivation is a fail.
Motivation. But motivation without application is a fail.
Application. But application without realistic appreciation/maturity of the difficulty is a fail.
Realistic appreciation/maturity. But without a goal is fail.
A goal provides motivation, application, appreciation and if you are upright and breathing potential can be developed.

There are a few more attributes and aptitudes that will help along the way. Such as military ethos etc. Airborne adaptability Had a candidate that threw up on every sortie at least twice if not more. Now there was no doubt with his motivation and he had reasonable potential but he was never going to make the standard in the desired time. He had chronic motion sickness (plan's, train's, and automobiles, plus anything that had any motion i.e he could not watch Top Gun). Even if he had been allowed to progress at his own rate having a squadron mate that threw up all the time presents it's own issues.

[KelvinHelmholtz998]

finestkind
Ack, I’ll keep this in mind if I am lucky enough to get my foot in the door.

[josephfeatherweight]

Being a “good bloke/blokette” goes a LONG way to your success on course, too…
Nobody likes to fly with, or train, a knob.

[RHLMcG]

Several comments made about ground school.
Might I enquire what the current ground school
(a) subjects are
(b) training material in each subject is like
(c) instructors are like so far as technical competence and delivery is concerned
(d) rate of material delivery is like
(e) instructor/student ratio is

[Zacertsy2005]

Hey everyone,
I'm currently in the pipeline for a RAAF OA role and am starting flying lessons very soon to get some hours in, and I am implementing the great advice I'm finding as I go through this thread. I am currently waiting on my assessment day due to being in year 11 still and AD results only lasting 12 months I've been advised by DFR to wait until early next year to have my assessment day before progressing on to ASP, OSB. I acknowledge this is going to be a long process but I am really looking forward to the challenge as this is something I have wanted to do since I was young, can't wait to read through all the information here over the coming months and continue to come back to this thread as my application progresses.

Hopefully, I will make it for the 2024 ADFA intake!

-Zac