A dream wasted...
Eyesight
Just to confirm eyesight questions:
I have just been up to Cranwell for my pre-IOT medical and know that the eyesight standards for the RAF have just been lowered to the level required for the Navy and the AAC.
tutgby
I have just been up to Cranwell for my pre-IOT medical and know that the eyesight standards for the RAF have just been lowered to the level required for the Navy and the AAC.
tutgby
Join Date: Jul 2006
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Likewise, but my eyesight was very very borderline. He basically said that any minor change would push me out of limits for pilot but could still reapply as nav. Didn't get in, there were a lot of capable guys whose eyes weren't borderline.
Design aircraft now and have a PPL for the flying fix. The thing that ruined my flying dreams was marriage.
Design aircraft now and have a PPL for the flying fix. The thing that ruined my flying dreams was marriage.
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I was at Cranwell yesterday for a medical and the med staff there confirmed the change in the eyesight requirements. One of the other fellas was told he wouldn't have passed 6 weeks previously but can now due to the change.
Join Date: Jun 2003
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Many of us have been there - all I ever wanted to do was fly fast jets and I was gutted when I failed the eyesight test.
I was offered Air Load Master but declined. I felt (unjustly) that the RAF had let me down so I joined the army (Parachute Regiment) and had a great few years.
Came out and have been involved in aircrew training (flight simulators etc,) for the past 20+ years. Got a PPL so I could still have fun in the air.
Fast Jet aircrew would still be my first choice but, with hindsight (no pun intended), things couldn’t have worked out better for me.
I was offered Air Load Master but declined. I felt (unjustly) that the RAF had let me down so I joined the army (Parachute Regiment) and had a great few years.
Came out and have been involved in aircrew training (flight simulators etc,) for the past 20+ years. Got a PPL so I could still have fun in the air.
Fast Jet aircrew would still be my first choice but, with hindsight (no pun intended), things couldn’t have worked out better for me.
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I was in the same boat 15 years ago. Had been in ATC, flying scholarship from the RAF, PPL and flying in SUAS. In my last year of uni I applied through OASC and was told my eyesight was not good enough. I didn't fancy any of the other jobs in the RAF and instead the RN offered me a job as a Warfare Officer so I took that up for a few years. I still wanted to fly so I bit the bullet, did my flying training and am now in the right hand seat of a mostly white A320, with a red white and blue tail. Loving it! If all you want to do is fly keep that as your goal but maybe take a few years out in the military doing something else as whatever it is it will look great on your CV. Save as much cash as you can for when the time comes to follow your long term goal. All good things come to those that wait, I am testament to that!
Good luck!
Good luck!
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Hmm. Naval question here... is there different eyesight requirements for different naval aircrew, the doctor who did my pre AIB, pre FAT's medical told me my eyesight (which i'd had tested by a an optician) was right on the line for 'aircrew' but he seemed to think that a Pilot would need better? Is that true, or is it the same regardless of the job?
Passed out of FATs now, 127 Pilot, 146 Observer you see, AIB in June, and if I pass AIB, but fail the eyesight part I may have to kill someone, so it's better I know now, and my AFCO or the doctor didn't seem to know...
Passed out of FATs now, 127 Pilot, 146 Observer you see, AIB in June, and if I pass AIB, but fail the eyesight part I may have to kill someone, so it's better I know now, and my AFCO or the doctor didn't seem to know...
Red On, Green On
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http://www.assoc-optometrists.org/up...df/04-navy.pdf
There are no differences in standards for RN Officer aircrew - P is the same as O.
There are no differences in standards for RN Officer aircrew - P is the same as O.
Join Date: May 2006
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wasted dream
I didn't make the grade and decided not to join up. I wish i had though, I'm now nearly 30 and have had a pretty boring job for 9 years, everyday i think i think i'd should have joined just to be in the thick of it!
Though call mate.
Though call mate.
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A few years back I had an initial civilian class 1 medical in Brisbane and had my eyes tested by the same guy who did entrants to the Australian air force, told him I was worried as I had been declined many years before for RAF aircrew due to poor left eye and he confirmed, while handing me my class 1 clearance, that I would have passed with the Australians with that standard.
He then said, "never mind, that probably saved your life !", an unusually cryptic comment in the circumstances
, do the Aussies crash a lot ?
However, with the recent announcement of increase in defence spending in OZ, maybe those defeated by anachronistic UK eyesight requirements should have a go there.
And if they tell you that you are too old, I'm told Canada is a good place to go, no upper age limit as long as you pass the medical and can give the minimum required return of service, as I understand..
Hope this helps.
He then said, "never mind, that probably saved your life !", an unusually cryptic comment in the circumstances
, do the Aussies crash a lot ?However, with the recent announcement of increase in defence spending in OZ, maybe those defeated by anachronistic UK eyesight requirements should have a go there.
And if they tell you that you are too old, I'm told Canada is a good place to go, no upper age limit as long as you pass the medical and can give the minimum required return of service, as I understand..
Hope this helps.
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Sorry to hear about your eyesight issues.
However, do not think you will now live a life of boredom. I chose not to fly professionally many years ago and instead opted to get a job that pays me enough to have a great flying hobby. I have many firends who are pilots in the forces and airlines and I dont regret the choice I made for one minute. We both envy parts of eachother's jobs but that's just human nature.
Save some money, do your PPL and whatever other licenses you desire.
Good luck!
However, do not think you will now live a life of boredom. I chose not to fly professionally many years ago and instead opted to get a job that pays me enough to have a great flying hobby. I have many firends who are pilots in the forces and airlines and I dont regret the choice I made for one minute. We both envy parts of eachother's jobs but that's just human nature.
Save some money, do your PPL and whatever other licenses you desire.
Good luck!
