ScrumpyJ

Visual acuity (VA) is acuteness or clearness of vision, especially form vision, which is dependent on the sharpness of the retinal focus within the eye and the sensitivity of the interpretative faculty of the brain.[1]
VA is a quantitative measure of the ability to identify black symbols on a white background at a standardized distance as the size of the symbols is varied. It is the most common clinical measurement of visual function. In the term "20/20 vision" the numerator refers to the distance in feet from which a person can reliably distinguish a pair of objects. The denominator is the distance from which a person with standard VA (that is, with 20/20 vision) would be able to distinguish them—the distance at which their separation angle is 1 arc minute. The metric equivalent is 6/6 vision where the distance is 6 meters. Twenty feet is essentially infinity from an optical perspective (the difference in optical power required to focus at 20 feet versus infinity is only 0.164 diopters). For that reason, 20/20 vision can be considered nominal performance for human distance vision; 20/40 vision can be considered half that acuity for distance vision and 20/10 vision would be twice normal acuity. The 20/x number does not directly relate to the eyeglass prescription required to correct vision; rather an eye exam seeks to find the prescription that will provide at least 20/20 vision.
So you are ok. About closed branches, just go to the oasc and hope for the best, and make sure you put down all the branches you are interested in. If you want to fly, but are also interested in ABM, dont apply to flying exclusively. This will increase your chances. Beware adding branches that you are not interested in, or dont research, they will be able to tell.

NDW

When I went for my last eyesight test in 2006. I was given if I remember correctly - 6/5 in my left eye and 6/7 in my right eye.

The optician said that my eyesight wasn't good enough for Pilot, but he said it would be fine for Nav.

I was given the sheet from a user on here, but I didn't actually understand it.

So sorry for the repeat of the same question above, but is my eyesight good enough for Nav, I'm going to hopefully re-book another eyesight test, just to see if anythings changed, hopefully not for the worse.

Thanks all.

ScrumpyJ

OASC will tell you whether it is good enough. Someone at my selection turned up with a application for WSO becuase they had been told their eyesight wasnt good enough for pilot but they ended up getting a place. You also need to have certain other things, like short/long sighted checks, which is different, and eye health tests too. However, i suspect you will be fine for nav like that. Go and find out.

mike172

Sorry if I have missed anything here, it's late and I'm tired, the RAF careers website now states the upper age limit as 25. This must have changed fairly recently as I check that page often.

Aerouk

Yup, you're correct it looks like the age limit has finally been put up to 25.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/careers/jobs/pilot.cfm

fullafterburner

Pontius Navigator

full burner, only you know yourself and only you can make up your mind. If you are really keen then read this thread as the argument has been covered many times and nothing has changed.

mike172

Why not just apply now and if you're not successful this time go to uni? You can always apply again after your studies.

fullafterburner

Thank You for your replys.

I've a place to study BEng Aerospace Systems Eng. I'm thinking of going to Uni, but apply to go Direct Entry while at Uni, and if successful Bin the degree and join the AF!

Yours views much wanted!

muppetofthenorth

Are you mad?!

Stick with the degree, apply for a University Bursary, get on the UAS and enjoy that while it lasts then go straight in after you graduate - which would be guaranteed with the bursary. Alternatively, do the degree and then apply for Graduate Entry post-university.

Why would you want to stack the degree after going to all the hassle of getting there?

cmbappleyard

I passed my intial interview in mid july and received my letter a few weeks later stating that i have been invited to OASC but the date is on the 15th of november. There must so many people apply that it must be hectic sorting all the appointments out. Dont worry about it, just do what im doin and concentrate on preparing yourself.

Good Luck.

cmbappleyard

Hi i have got my dates for OASC and i keep getting told to pratice my numerical and space reasoning skills and more. How do i go about doin this? Any useful input is greatly Appreciated.


Thanks

Wader2

cmba,

There is plenty of advice here in this thread and not too far back.

One piece of advice is to play darts. This brushes up both hand-eye coordination and maths skills.

The next is to create all sorts of time-speed-distance questions in ordinary life - you are in a can, when will you arrive, what speed will you need to do to arrive at a different time, how much fuel will you use etc?

airborne_artist

Learn your 60x table, and the fractional ones too - 135 kts is 2.25 nm/min.

The Q may ask how far you will travel in 10 mins at 135 kts, for example.

muppetofthenorth

Over on thestudentroom.co.uk there's a big armed forces forum with lots of OASC resources, links to websites and all manner of helpful information.

Braddersb

Hi,
I am currently applying for a sixth form scholarship with the RAF and hope to become a pilot. On the application form it asks what is your first and second choice of branch. Obviously my first choice is pilot, however i am unsure as to put down a second choice such as WSOp.

I have spoken to an RAF pilot who told me dont be afraid to be bold with your statements to the afco, and tell him you want to be a fast jet pilot and not to let him persuade you otherwise. However i have also been told not to be single minded and think 'pilot,pilot,pilot' as this will give off the wrong impression, lower my chances of gaining a sixth form scholarship, and a career as a fast jet pilot.

Any advice?

Pontius Navigator

Pilot yes, WSOp no. You need to put WSO which is a commissioned officer whereas WSOp is non-commissioned aircrew where, dare I say it, competition may be fiercer.

You should also consider non-aircrew branches. These typically fall into aptitude branches and application branches. The former would include air traffic and aero-space systems; the latter would include engineer, catering, physical education. In between you would have force protection such as provost, regiment and admin.

muppetofthenorth

In all honesty, competition for a VI Form Schol is so intense that it's not really worth putting down more than one choice.

When I applied for one [2001] they only gave out six for the entire year, both pilots and engineers.

Just say you want to be a pilot. If they pick on you during interview - or rather, when they pick on you - just say that you are quite singleminded right now, but if you were unsuccessful your subsequent attempts at OASC may involve a wider range of Branch choices, depending on why you were unsuccessful this time.

airborne_artist

A note of caution here - 6th form scholarships for aircrew are few and far between. I'm told that there nearly were no university bursaries this year as the pot was close to empty. Money has since been found, but it has delayed decisions by four to six weeks.

These schemes exist to tempt in people for the hard-to-fill roles, and aircrew is not hard to fill. I'd be surprised if more than four were given out to aircrew each year. Not a reason not to apply, of course, but worth bearing in mind, as the time investment is considerable, at a time when your free time is limited.

NDW

Good evening all,

Just thought I'd let evryone know, that yesterday I received my GCSE results and I chuffed to bits with them, I admit hand on heart they are not the best, but I'm now taking A levels.

I received

Maths : C ( 9 marks of B) -I'm retaking the module in Maths which I didn't do to well on to push my final grade to B
Science Double Award : C x 2
Geography - C
English Language - B

I'm taking for A levels :

Geography,
Maths,
History and
Physics - hopefully.

Just thought I'd let everyone know.

Thanks