floating_rock

So, with the obvious caveat that the AAC work on the lottery basis, rather than aptitude testing, am I right in thinking that the tests an AAC applicant will do are the 4 I listed above, and the moving colour, capacity overload thingies are not done - and that ability is tested during flying grading?

(the following from the AAC website, but might as well be in greek for me)

Domain
Psychomotor

Spatial
Capacity

Workrate
Description
SMA = Hand - foot - eye co-ordination
CVT = Hand - eye co-ordination
INSB = Spatial reasoning (in relation to instruments)
Vigs/index.htma= Infrequently occurring event under high
Recall = Short term memory
Vig 1 = Mental workrate



Cheers

FR

Phil_R

Thankye kindly.

P

Faithless

Floating rock, Correct. If you pass the basic written tests (plenty old ones floating about) and then if you pass the interview its off to grading where the testing will start. You will find out if you have it or not....and some often find they dont enjoy it

J_W

Went to have a chat at the AFCO last week and the subject of previous employment came up. When i mentioned I had been a director of a company that had gone into receivership and as a result had to sequestrate myself, the recruiting officer looked shocked and told me this would most likely be a major problem, however he would get back to me with a definate answer.

Whilst I understand it could be a security risk if I was up to my neck in debt, I was discharged last year, and there was never any mismanagement or fraud involved in the companies activities. It hadnt crossed my mind that this would be a big deal.

Does anyone have any advice or opinions on what to do now?

Bernie

Dear Matt et al, it's not too late to change your mind! Go and join a professional aviation company, ie something ending in PLC. You'll hate yourself if you don't. If you do insist on giving it a go, bin it before you get your wings if anyone tries to suggest any aircraft type for you that doesn't begin with the words 'Fast Jet'.

Look after number 1. No one else will.

Fly safe

B

Bernie

Dear Ratty1, my point being that it's a little more difficult to fly a 'Fast Jet' for a PLC. As you bring it up however, streamed Multi Pilots are demonstratably of lower ability than their FJ brethren.

Look after number 1. No one else will.

Fly safe

B

heights good

Bernie, Im sorry to burst your bubble but as with everything in the military it comes down to cost. To be selected fast jet does not actually mean you are the better pilot. Most fast jets are actually easier to fly by a long way than most helicopters. The fast jet world in the main is a high tempo environment and piloting skills are not always the reason people are streamed this way. A perfect example of this is confidence and almost arrogant. If someone shows a lot of confidence then they will more than likely be streamed fast jet (providing the are not a complete fool) because they will be sure of their own decisions and unlikely to take advice. Not ideal for a multi crew environment where you have to function as part of a 3 or 4 man team (ok you have the final say as captain, however)
Some people just cant get to grips with aerobatics in the alloted time span (fairly common) however again this comes down to money and the system (i have a friend who this happened to and after his present tour is heading to ETPS) And the final reason is bums on seats. The FJ fleet is decreasing but every other fleet is increasing and is actually doing a job (excluding Harrier) Simple maths tells you that if there are 5 FJ slots and 20 Non-FJ slots then somebody is not going to get FJ.

I dont know your background Bernie, however i suspect its not military. FJ guys get all the publicity and rise to CAS however they dont always make the best pilots despite what they tell you. Remember a rich man never has to tell you he is rich........

Heights good

p.s. Im not a pilot btw.

Pontius Navigator

Heights makes some good points. It is a question of supply and demand and that changes all the time.

Certainly different skill sets are required for different types so it is not really horses for courses. Without being rude, there is an entirely different skill required to fly for 8-9 hours with a fairly low arousal state and then 30 minutes of terminal activity compared with a 30-40 minute arse on fire routine.

It is also true to say that many a V-force copilot, once the requirement for a previous operational tour had been dropped, were posted to V-force as they were deemed not yet ready to operate as a 1st Pilot/Captain. It was a long standing complaint that the Vulcan was a 4-engined extension of the jet Provost. It was also true that many flight sim instructors were ex-Herc copilots.

With a large in to service requirement it follows that the full range of aptitude skill levels would get selected. With fewer seats it follows that those being selected will all be nearer the top bracket.

Certainly there was a thought to post weak navs to GR1s where they would make or break quicker. Don't know how many fell in that bracket though; it was probably something inspired from the Buccaneer mafia (you'll know who I mean if you were around in the late 80s at ANS - later joined BWoS).

Phil_R

Is a harrier not a "fast jet"?

What're the criteria?

Thanks,

Phil

heights good

It is indeed I was merely pointing out that all the FJ guys who are "the elite" are not deploying anywhere and are merely training. There are nowhere as many FJ guys with multiple medals as there are rotary or multi's guys. Harrier guys are the exception at the minute with Afghanistan.

There is more to being a pilot than being "the elite" I can assure you that there would be many FJ guys who would have no idea exactly what the rotary (cant speak for the multi's) fleet does. If they did I think there opinion would change massively!

To quote a Harrier mate (display pilot no less) from a few years ago "if you want to know about flying and war stories, speak to those guys" he was referring to rotary crews.

Heights good

Bernie

Dear Heights good, it would appear you are speaking outside your area of expertise as your experiance of the pilot training system would seem to be made up entirely of chopped pilots crewroom excuses - 'I was the ace until they denied me my rightful 40hr flex package' , 'I just lacked a bit of confidence, had nothing to do with my crap aero sequence' , 'I was too fat'. All nosense, except for that last one! My point still stands, on any given intake the best go to FJ's, all others are, therefore, chopped FJ pilots. Fact.

Look after number one, nobody else will.

Fly Safe

B

heights good

Bernie I will be sure to tell my 2 ic (2000hrs FJ - Not sure why he changed types) and my mate (1000 ish hrs FJ - Now F3's) that they dont know what they are talking about. This is info from them.

Bernie to be honest its neither here nor there what we think. Fact remains that some people will get FJ and some people wont, whatever the criteria. Do your best, work hard and hope for the best.

Heights good

IncompletePete

Due to having dual nationality I have been reading about the USAF and the RAF, however there's a lot more information on the application on the USAF.

Thus I was wondering whether, as in the USAF, prior flying time will add to your application? If you have a PPL would that put you above an identical candidate without a PPL? I'm currently working up the hours and aim to go solo before applying, or would this all be in vain?

I have also been looking at their testing system, the AFOQTS which you can complete a trial version online. It's unlikely, but does anyone have experience of both systems and are there any similarities?

airborne_artist

Yes - it's of no use whatsoever. Shows you are keen, but it's of no practical benefit. Your aptitude score and your interview performance etc. will be the only criteria that matter.

Yes, people have got in with 100s of hours, but that's not why they got in. Within 20 hours of flying your prior experience will be of no assistance, probably much less.

Spend the money on gliding - much better stick rudder skills, or spend the time developing your personal skills in leadership, teamwork etc.

mattd_C152

Hey folks,

bit new to all this, i am about to both graduate with a civil engineering degree and hopefully comlete my PPL. I am very intrested in joining the RAF as a pilot, however i have heard mix reports regarding there attitude towards asthma. I have been clear for at least 5 years if not longer and it wasnt that bad to start with. Could any one enlighten me?

Regards

Matt

threepointonefour

Do a search for a similar thread. I recall talk of a Gp Capt doctor at Peterborough Hospital who is 'in the know'.

PTR 175

I have just spoken to my good friend who is now an Engineering Officer who suffered from this condition when he was young. He had to have a 10 year period free from recorded events in his medical history and go to see a specialist to test him out.

ProfessionalStudent

Are you sure he wasn't just a ham fisted t t and he SAID he'd had asthma?

JackDorn

Is anyone else on IOT 8?

ProfessionalStudent

No. You'll be the only one on it due to RAF cutbacks...