RAAF Flight Screening Programme
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Australia
Age: 33
Posts: 61
Hi slowlane,
Thanks for the insight. Would you be able to elaborate on how fast jets are over rated/compare to transports etc? One of the questions I meant to ask a pilot at Williamtown was, 'if you could do it all over again, would they still pick fast jets?' so getting some insight from your statement might answer that. Thanks
Congrats Nick, awesome news.
Thanks for the insight. Would you be able to elaborate on how fast jets are over rated/compare to transports etc? One of the questions I meant to ask a pilot at Williamtown was, 'if you could do it all over again, would they still pick fast jets?' so getting some insight from your statement might answer that. Thanks
Congrats Nick, awesome news.
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Oz
Posts: 15
Originally Posted by oneflewnorth
Hi slowlane,
Thanks for the insight. Would you be able to elaborate on how fast jets are over rated/compare to transports etc? One of the questions I meant to ask a pilot at Williamtown was, 'if you could do it all over again, would they still pick fast jets?' so getting some insight from your statement might answer that. Thanks
Thanks for the insight. Would you be able to elaborate on how fast jets are over rated/compare to transports etc? One of the questions I meant to ask a pilot at Williamtown was, 'if you could do it all over again, would they still pick fast jets?' so getting some insight from your statement might answer that. Thanks
As I said, fast jets simply do not suit everyone. There is a huge work load over about four years to even get fully qualified and then to only get about 20 hrs per month. There has only been one deployment of any aircraft in the strike force since the Korean war where as the Transport, the Maritime and the Helicopter guys have literally been everywhere and continue to go everywhere.
Every type has its challenges and many types have a lot more quality time in many OS locations. Conversely I know quite a few pilots who have specialised in the training environment and had huge job and personal satisfaction.
The other question to ask is where do you want to be 20-30 years later? Maritime or Transport aircraft will set you up much better to get that coveted airline job. That is for two reasons, one of which is similarity of types and roles and the other is the airlines look at total flying time and as I mentioned earlier the FJ people don't get a lot of that.
The other part of the reality is that the military will post you to where they want you and not necessarily to where you choose. (On my pilots course there was one person who got their first preference)
I hope that answers your question.
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Land of Oz
Posts: 495
slowlane: There has only been one deployment of any aircraft in the strike force since the Korean war where as the Transport, the Maritime and the Helicopter guys have literally been everywhere and continue to go everywhere.
We get the gist, but not quite true.
1963 - Sabres to Borneo for Confrontation
1965-68 - Sabres at Ubon for Thailand air defence
1967-71 - Canberras Vietnam
2003 - Hornets GWII
We get the gist, but not quite true.
1963 - Sabres to Borneo for Confrontation
1965-68 - Sabres at Ubon for Thailand air defence
1967-71 - Canberras Vietnam
2003 - Hornets GWII
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Oz
Posts: 15
Originally Posted by BBadonov
We get the gist, but not quite true.
1963 - Sabres to Borneo for Confrontation
1965-68 - Sabres at Ubon for Thailand air defence
1967-71 - Canberras Vietnam
2003 - Hornets GWII
1963 - Sabres to Borneo for Confrontation
1965-68 - Sabres at Ubon for Thailand air defence
1967-71 - Canberras Vietnam
2003 - Hornets GWII
Join Date: May 2003
Location: SAUDI
Posts: 311
No disrespect to the fast jet comunity as I know the lads would love to be out there doing their stuff. However I think the point that SL is making is it is more likely that you will be doing what you where trained for in the trash world, logging more hours and seeing more sights.
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 27
For the guys heading over to flight screening in the coming months, all the information you need is in this thread somewhere. You can't prepare for some of the things they throw at you and that's just PSA's way of determining whether or not you've got what it takes. I personally believe prior flying experience will help the flying side of things; I had ten hours on ultra-lights logged in the last twelve months and didn't do too badly with the flying but there does come a point when you're left to your natural abilities in the air.
As for the fast jet pilots doing what they're trained to do, we had a speech on why the Army and the Navy offer a better opportunity to "use your wings" than the RAAF does and the point the Lieutenant made was the fact that Australian fighter pilots hadn't been deployed to fight other aircraft since the Korean war and are more or less stuck to training the skills and abilities they may never get to use in a hostile environment.
As for the fast jet pilots doing what they're trained to do, we had a speech on why the Army and the Navy offer a better opportunity to "use your wings" than the RAAF does and the point the Lieutenant made was the fact that Australian fighter pilots hadn't been deployed to fight other aircraft since the Korean war and are more or less stuck to training the skills and abilities they may never get to use in a hostile environment.
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Sydney
Age: 27
Posts: 25
I had my spec testing for pilot today. Passed with a band 1 so I am very happy right now. If anyone would like to ask questions I am happy to answer, better to ask while it's fresh in my mind. Time to prepare for assessment day!
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: OZ
Posts: 56
Zulk - be careful of what recruiting officers say to you especially the green. Read link from Tony360 above.
Besides there is more to the RAAF than fast jets - P3's and C130's have been in the middle east consistantly for a long time, C-17's make a regular appearence. If you go army then and you fly chooks you go to the meao - every year whilst in the squadron, if blackhawk then timor, timor and timor. Go to MRH90/tiger then read your post about fast jets.
Last year the RAN offered anyone, including those with ROSO the opportunity to transfer to army or resign such was the backlog of people waiting for conversion.
It's a great start to your flying career but be careful what lines the recruiters feed you.
Besides there is more to the RAAF than fast jets - P3's and C130's have been in the middle east consistantly for a long time, C-17's make a regular appearence. If you go army then and you fly chooks you go to the meao - every year whilst in the squadron, if blackhawk then timor, timor and timor. Go to MRH90/tiger then read your post about fast jets.
Last year the RAN offered anyone, including those with ROSO the opportunity to transfer to army or resign such was the backlog of people waiting for conversion.
It's a great start to your flying career but be careful what lines the recruiters feed you.
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 92
Hi all,
I should say in advance that I am planning on calling recruiting tomorrow. However can anyone give me some advice on the following:
1/ Is it possible at all to become a pilot in the ADF with asthma? I can't find a definitive answer anywhere.
2/ I did general maths for the HSC, which I very much regret. Are there any courses that the RAAF accept as satisfying the requirements for maths. I am aware that the website refers to equivalent tertiary study, however I assume this means university and thus is not applicable to me.
As I say, I will be talking to recruiting tomorrow but I thought I'd throw these out there and see if they are a 100% no go problems.
Cheers,
J
I should say in advance that I am planning on calling recruiting tomorrow. However can anyone give me some advice on the following:
1/ Is it possible at all to become a pilot in the ADF with asthma? I can't find a definitive answer anywhere.
2/ I did general maths for the HSC, which I very much regret. Are there any courses that the RAAF accept as satisfying the requirements for maths. I am aware that the website refers to equivalent tertiary study, however I assume this means university and thus is not applicable to me.
As I say, I will be talking to recruiting tomorrow but I thought I'd throw these out there and see if they are a 100% no go problems.
Cheers,
J
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: aus
Age: 26
Posts: 2
Hi everyone,
Just wondering if anyone has an opinion of this?
Help would be greatly appreciated
Thank you,
Rhinodriver123
Just wondering if anyone has an opinion of this?
I have my assessment day coming up and I have been thinking over one issue. What would be there view on underage drinking?
I understand they would be against it but honestly, in my opinion, I think you would be hard pressed to find many year 11/12 aged kids that hadn't at least done it once or twice. I fall under this category - I have drunk socially with friends 3 times and I am currently 16 I have always intended to go in to the psych interview and try explain this but I am thinking that while honestly is great it might not be best in this situation. Also in replying please don't tell me how bad it is or that it is illegal etc. It is a decision I have made. Think of when you were 16/17, did you really never drink once?
I understand they would be against it but honestly, in my opinion, I think you would be hard pressed to find many year 11/12 aged kids that hadn't at least done it once or twice. I fall under this category - I have drunk socially with friends 3 times and I am currently 16 I have always intended to go in to the psych interview and try explain this but I am thinking that while honestly is great it might not be best in this situation. Also in replying please don't tell me how bad it is or that it is illegal etc. It is a decision I have made. Think of when you were 16/17, did you really never drink once?
Thank you,
Rhinodriver123
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Sydney
Age: 27
Posts: 25
QJB,
Not sure about the asthma, but i believe there are people on here that have done courses at tafe to bring their maths up to standards. Look back through this thread and you should find an answer.
Not sure about the asthma, but i believe there are people on here that have done courses at tafe to bring their maths up to standards. Look back through this thread and you should find an answer.
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: N/A
Posts: 87
QJB, Have you called DFR? Although they don't have a good reputation in this thread, I daresay it's worth a shot. By the way, this might be of some relevance to you.
rhinodriver123: Well perhaps thinking about it a little might help. Looking at it rationally, think about the role you're applying for; a quick google search of 'Military Officer' yields a fair few results relating to integrity, judgement, good self conduct and all the rest of it being qualities desired in Officers.
So applying this to your situation, underage drinking and all of the associated is in the league of poor judgement/self conduct and may be looked upon that way by whoever's doing the talking.
But if asked about it and you admit to it/say it was wrong etc, they may see the integrity and maturity side of what you're saying.
Either way, you can't have been the first person to walk in there whose had something to drink whilst younger than 18.
rhinodriver123: Well perhaps thinking about it a little might help. Looking at it rationally, think about the role you're applying for; a quick google search of 'Military Officer' yields a fair few results relating to integrity, judgement, good self conduct and all the rest of it being qualities desired in Officers.
So applying this to your situation, underage drinking and all of the associated is in the league of poor judgement/self conduct and may be looked upon that way by whoever's doing the talking.
But if asked about it and you admit to it/say it was wrong etc, they may see the integrity and maturity side of what you're saying.
Either way, you can't have been the first person to walk in there whose had something to drink whilst younger than 18.
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 92
Shonfield and Dilmah G, thanks alot for taking the time to respond. Dilmah G, that link was very useful thank you, unfortunately the very first paragraph seems to state that the asthma standards for aircrew remain unchanged. All should be revealed tomorrow when I call DFR! I'll let you know their response. Fingers crossed.
Hopefully DFR will have the answer for you.
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 27
Frazzled - the word on the fast jet deployment was from the mouth of a Navy Lieutenant that sat on the OSB who was trying to convert the candidates from RAAF to the other two services. The C-130's, C-17's and P-3's have all been quite active but our fast jets haven't been deployed in to an environment which has seen them engage enemy aircraft or have the intent to since, from what I can gather, Korea. Of course if you're flying as apart of the RAAF's air lift and air transport wings you're going to see quite a bit of real action as opposed to the training action you'd likely be involved with for the majority of (if not all of) your career as a FJ pilot, unless of course WWIII breaks out in the next two decades.
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Darwin, NT, Australia
Posts: 741
Zulk
I think frazzled thought you were preaching the navy line rather than simply reporting on your experience at Tamworth.
You forgot to mention that you still have the RAAF as your preferred service and that the F/A 18 replaced the C-17 as your first preference after the flight program.
I think frazzled thought you were preaching the navy line rather than simply reporting on your experience at Tamworth.
You forgot to mention that you still have the RAAF as your preferred service and that the F/A 18 replaced the C-17 as your first preference after the flight program.
