RAAF Flight Screening Programme
Join Date: Oct 2009
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I got an offer for GSO from the Wing Commander after flight screening, but knocked it back as I had my heart set on Navy. In retrospect, I understand this was a HUGE mistake and since I have sent a letter to PSA in order to let them know of my change of heart. I hope it's not too late. I'd give my left nut to be at RMC now.
I just didn't realise while at flight screening that an offer for any of the three services is a huge privelige. So I know I'm competitive in that regard.... I spoke to a Group Captain (ex Nav) a few weeks ago and he told me that if I'd applied five years ago there'd be no problem and I'd be fast-tracked onto BFTS for any of the three services... Bloody GFC...
I just didn't realise while at flight screening that an offer for any of the three services is a huge privelige. So I know I'm competitive in that regard.... I spoke to a Group Captain (ex Nav) a few weeks ago and he told me that if I'd applied five years ago there'd be no problem and I'd be fast-tracked onto BFTS for any of the three services... Bloody GFC...
JC,
yes thats the truth. Timing is everything. Given the economic down turn, lack of resignations and blocked training pipeline etc any offer for a service is like a win in lotto.
yes thats the truth. Timing is everything. Given the economic down turn, lack of resignations and blocked training pipeline etc any offer for a service is like a win in lotto.
Join Date: Jan 2010
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JC,
Theres always the opportunity for a service transfer later on down the track. They can be painfully long at times but worth it if it gets you where you want to be. Once you get your foot in the door you'll be better placed to get what you want down the track. That goes for not just you, but everyone going for pilot.
Theres always the opportunity for a service transfer later on down the track. They can be painfully long at times but worth it if it gets you where you want to be. Once you get your foot in the door you'll be better placed to get what you want down the track. That goes for not just you, but everyone going for pilot.
Intheweeds,
Yes there may be some truth to what you have said but I believe your first day in the door is for YOU testing to tell you what you can or cannot do. I suppose the brain washing may then occur.
As for pilot being a priority job the ADF may well be being proactive (hard to believe). Eventually the commercial side will crank up again and the experience drain will start. Also the people walking into recruiting for an aviation career are low, very low. Hence pilot as a priority.
Yes there may be some truth to what you have said but I believe your first day in the door is for YOU testing to tell you what you can or cannot do. I suppose the brain washing may then occur.
As for pilot being a priority job the ADF may well be being proactive (hard to believe). Eventually the commercial side will crank up again and the experience drain will start. Also the people walking into recruiting for an aviation career are low, very low. Hence pilot as a priority.
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Defence is still recruiting - however from a pilot's perspective - I really wish they would pause to let the training system catch up...
The number of pilot trainees coming through is always fluctuating according to demand from the respective services personnel agencies. Thats why there are few Navy pilots in the training pipeline... They just don't need them at the moment.
Join Date: Feb 2009
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Hi all,
Just in seek of some opinions
I'll be going on the FSProgram soon and i've been thinking about a few hours of flying - Just so I can get the initial shock of sitting in a cock-pit out of my system (even though i'll still get a shock once at tamworth), just to feel what it's like to fly a small plane and seeing the instruments work in front of my eyes.
The plane i'll be flying for 'a few' hours is a Tomahawk, after a bit of google, I think it's the piper Tomahawk, and i'll probably get around 5hours @ $280/hr (all is included).
Any opinions? Speak now or forever hold your peace
Also,
Is there any other forum threads, websites and the likes which will have some information on the FPS?
Just in seek of some opinions
I'll be going on the FSProgram soon and i've been thinking about a few hours of flying - Just so I can get the initial shock of sitting in a cock-pit out of my system (even though i'll still get a shock once at tamworth), just to feel what it's like to fly a small plane and seeing the instruments work in front of my eyes.
The plane i'll be flying for 'a few' hours is a Tomahawk, after a bit of google, I think it's the piper Tomahawk, and i'll probably get around 5hours @ $280/hr (all is included).
Any opinions? Speak now or forever hold your peace
Also,
Is there any other forum threads, websites and the likes which will have some information on the FPS?
Last edited by Kitchen_bench; 10th Feb 2010 at 00:14.
Join Date: Jan 2008
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I'm in the same boat, Kitchen Bench. Apparently my FSP is coming up soon; DFR case manager says likely end of this month or the early March slots, but by the same token they aren't PSA and according to my PSA letter I wont be notified until two weeks before the date so I've just got to sit tight. Anyway, I'm gliding instead because its cheaper (and the gliders are aerobatics capable!) but I think either would be good for confidence and familiarisation. Apart from that, rate of learning is a big part of what is assessed so as far as I'm concerned, its not worth getting a ton of hours in just for FSP as you'll have to demonstrate that learning curve regardless. I'd have a scout about on the AAFC forums but apart from that, this thread should suffice. I might see you down there 
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Kitchen Bench:
As mudrat_02 stated, they aren't looking for ability to fly, just a rate of learning. Essentially your ability to develop your skills and learn from your mistakes. An example of which would be for the instructor to demonstrate a wingover to you, teach you to do it and then let you have a go. You end up failing abysmally at it by yourself so he reteaches it to you and your next shot is a better. If they see that then they are usually happy.
Having said that though, It certainly doesn't hurt having a few lessons to get rid of the initial shock of being in a cockpit the first time. Also the initial hand/foot/eye co-ordination will also help along with a BASIC level of knowledge on how an aircraft performs (Power + Attitude = Performance etc etc..).
5 Hours would seem reasonable but I would caution you to not listen to much to the "civilian" way of doing things. The military is very specific in its way of flying and any habits you may pick up can end up being very hard to get rid of later on down the track. Having said that though, bad habits are usually found in people who have a large amount of hours already under their belt and I wouldn't imagine 5 hours would be sufficient to develop any habits at all really.
Hope this helps and all the best!
As mudrat_02 stated, they aren't looking for ability to fly, just a rate of learning. Essentially your ability to develop your skills and learn from your mistakes. An example of which would be for the instructor to demonstrate a wingover to you, teach you to do it and then let you have a go. You end up failing abysmally at it by yourself so he reteaches it to you and your next shot is a better. If they see that then they are usually happy.
Having said that though, It certainly doesn't hurt having a few lessons to get rid of the initial shock of being in a cockpit the first time. Also the initial hand/foot/eye co-ordination will also help along with a BASIC level of knowledge on how an aircraft performs (Power + Attitude = Performance etc etc..).
5 Hours would seem reasonable but I would caution you to not listen to much to the "civilian" way of doing things. The military is very specific in its way of flying and any habits you may pick up can end up being very hard to get rid of later on down the track. Having said that though, bad habits are usually found in people who have a large amount of hours already under their belt and I wouldn't imagine 5 hours would be sufficient to develop any habits at all really.
Hope this helps and all the best!
ITW,
like you I have a friend of a friend who has a friend working at recruiting and the low down is that the pilot wanna bee's are no longer blocking up the door way. Check with your mate. I think you will find "thems the facts"
like you I have a friend of a friend who has a friend working at recruiting and the low down is that the pilot wanna bee's are no longer blocking up the door way. Check with your mate. I think you will find "thems the facts"
ITW,
I’ll see you two points and raise you two points, without the bold or underlining
1. A reply to a post is generally to do with your last post, hence the reply in regards to DFR.
2. I don’t recall saying there was a bottleneck at recruiting nor disagreeing or stating that the training pipeline was flowing at full production with the squadrons sucking them up. What I was saying was that there is less of an interest for pilot in the ADF and as my mate stated, numbers are down. Therefore a reason as to why pilot is still a priority. Which is (as I was told some years ago when the wheel was in a similar position with ANSETT going tits up) the training pipeline cannot be closed down. The flow on effect such as the impact on QFI’s at the squadrons to training QFI’s and more importantly 5 /8/10 years down track when there are not the experienced pilots in position because we stopped training is irreparable.
Your opinion of why pilot is a priority job is your opinion and if you think DFR are sucking people in so be it. DFR have quota’s to fill and will persuade people into other options if they can. If a person can be swayed because they walked in the door wanting to be a pilot and were talked into something else I would question their motivation. “The people who are unsuccessful will be prodded to jobs that aren't meeting targets if they are still keen to join the ADF.” Not sure on your point here. A person who is keen to be a pilot and have a career in the ADF but is unsuccessful for pilot and therefore joins up as something else ???? What’s the issue? They will be told all options such as you have the credentials come back and try again; you don’t have the credentials, go away and get them, or join up as whatever and hope for a role change or simply you can have this ADF career.
Again myyyy maaate has told me there are a significant number of people who walk into a RC do the testing and told your testing indicates you are ok for pilot, when they were looking at something else. Given that is a fact it would suggest that not every Tom, Dick and Mary walk into recruiting wants to be a knucklehead.
I’ll see you two points and raise you two points, without the bold or underlining
1. A reply to a post is generally to do with your last post, hence the reply in regards to DFR.
2. I don’t recall saying there was a bottleneck at recruiting nor disagreeing or stating that the training pipeline was flowing at full production with the squadrons sucking them up. What I was saying was that there is less of an interest for pilot in the ADF and as my mate stated, numbers are down. Therefore a reason as to why pilot is still a priority. Which is (as I was told some years ago when the wheel was in a similar position with ANSETT going tits up) the training pipeline cannot be closed down. The flow on effect such as the impact on QFI’s at the squadrons to training QFI’s and more importantly 5 /8/10 years down track when there are not the experienced pilots in position because we stopped training is irreparable.
Your opinion of why pilot is a priority job is your opinion and if you think DFR are sucking people in so be it. DFR have quota’s to fill and will persuade people into other options if they can. If a person can be swayed because they walked in the door wanting to be a pilot and were talked into something else I would question their motivation. “The people who are unsuccessful will be prodded to jobs that aren't meeting targets if they are still keen to join the ADF.” Not sure on your point here. A person who is keen to be a pilot and have a career in the ADF but is unsuccessful for pilot and therefore joins up as something else ???? What’s the issue? They will be told all options such as you have the credentials come back and try again; you don’t have the credentials, go away and get them, or join up as whatever and hope for a role change or simply you can have this ADF career.
Again myyyy maaate has told me there are a significant number of people who walk into a RC do the testing and told your testing indicates you are ok for pilot, when they were looking at something else. Given that is a fact
it would suggest that not every Tom, Dick and Mary walk into recruiting wants to be a knucklehead.
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Boys,
Enough of the pissing contest already, who really cares! Your argument with each other is doing nothing to add to this thread, and i am sure i am not the only person sick of reading about it. This is supposed to be about helping people who are keen to join as pilot, not about swinging your dick around.
Enough of the pissing contest already, who really cares! Your argument with each other is doing nothing to add to this thread, and i am sure i am not the only person sick of reading about it. This is supposed to be about helping people who are keen to join as pilot, not about swinging your dick around.
Keenas,
Thank you for your comments on this open forum where you have the freedom to read or not to read.
Uncertain as to "This is supposed to be about helping people who are keen to join as pilot" comment as I don't see the relevance in how it helps people with complaints, justifiable as they may be, regarding blocked training pipeline and woeful RC's.
Mate this is a forum where you can post facts or opinions and in doing so expect rebutalls and disagreements. It's only when it gets personally nasty that it becomes unwelcome.
As far as adding to the thread; questioning why pilots are still a priority and how the RC's handle applicants and generating a discourse whether in agreement or not I think is part of the thread. We are talking about baking a cake here, right?
Thank you for your comments on this open forum where you have the freedom to read or not to read.
Uncertain as to "This is supposed to be about helping people who are keen to join as pilot" comment as I don't see the relevance in how it helps people with complaints, justifiable as they may be, regarding blocked training pipeline and woeful RC's.
Mate this is a forum where you can post facts or opinions and in doing so expect rebutalls and disagreements. It's only when it gets personally nasty that it becomes unwelcome.
As far as adding to the thread; questioning why pilots are still a priority and how the RC's handle applicants and generating a discourse whether in agreement or not I think is part of the thread. We are talking about baking a cake here, right?
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Well guys, I had a letter sent to me about two weeks ago to confirm that my dossier had only just reached PSA and that they would put it in competition for a slot. I was ready for the big wait, but today got the call to say that I have been selected for a FSP course commencing in a few weeks
Needless to say I'm over the moon, time to get into even more prep (than usual)
Needless to say I'm over the moon, time to get into even more prep (than usual)
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I did assessment day in December, but DFR didn't send my file to Tamworth until a few weeks ago because they apparently didn't have a photo of me for the dossier. Worked out for the best in the end though.
Last edited by MudRat_02; 17th Feb 2010 at 11:05.
