Re-Heat

You are indeed too old to join now. 23 1/2 upon entering IOT I believe is the limit.

Dyslexia will not hinder you if you are intelligent, accurate and motivated.

Pontius Navigator

No, 24 is the start IOT limit (on your birthday) 23 1/2 is a practical limit for applying at AFCO but is not to say that 5 months to go or even 4 or less would be too late.

Also no longer are you only considered for the branch to which you apply. Similarly you will undergo the full assessment process. If, at the end you are not offered a place in your chosen branch then you may be asked to consider other choices.

In your case Victor we might deduce that the RAF has a need for Fighter Controllers and Air Traffic Controllers. Like aircrew these are aptitude related jobs with similar skill sets to aircrew. Naturally if they fill up the aircrew slots and the 'extra' aircrew candidates depart it follows that ATC and FC will run short.

jester898

Does anybody know what the Pilot intake is looking like within the next couple of months. I've heard a rumour that Cranwell is struggling to fill places on IOT and therefore the intake is increasing?

Wader2

If there was a struggle to fill places on IOT, why would they increase the intake?

If there was a struggle then they need more suitable applicants to present at AFCO/OASC. It does not follow however that they would widen the acceptance criteria.

What it might mean is the tme from OASC to beginning IOT was much shorter.


This is a rumour only answer, not an absolute one.

Adski

Where did you hear that rumour Jester?

jester898

Heard from a friend of mine who is an officer within the air force. Also it mentions on the RAF careers website that many officer branches including pilot are apparently 'urgently needed'.

Adski

Thanks, I also noticed that it stated, 'urgently needed' under the pilot branch. It gives me that little bit of extra hope as i'm dedicating almost all of my time to impressing at Cranwell.

PN, I couldn't agree more.

jester898

I'm thinking of going for Pilot, I have been to OASC before and the recommend was 'encourage one year'. I like some of the aspects that military flying offers and will probably apply again.

What kind of marks are regarded as above average or good in the fitness test, bleep, press ups and situps?

PUT

I think it is ten and a half minutes but /i did it several years ago. I would just give the office you appied in a call and they will tell you

Adski

How long did you have to wait Jester after your P2 filter interview to be told your initial OASC date? It's been two weeks since mine but I still haven't been issued an offical date. I have recently moved area too, so with changing GP's it's going to take two weeks to send off my medical records to Cranwell. I assume they wouldn't offer a date until these have reveived the all clear?

Pontius Navigator

Adski, relax.

There are lots of AFCO, hundreds of applicants, and few people to process them. Then there are a limited number of OASC boards. As people need to be offered an interview, then write back and accept or request a new date, it will take quite some time to 'line all the interviewees up'.

Essentially they will sort you all in to a pile. You might wait 6 weeks of more.

Adski

Thanks PN, that puts it in perspective. I guess I just want a confirmed date that I can work towards, so that I can fit in all my preparation into a deadline. However, while waiting, I'm giving myself a time limit of twelve weeks to get everything done. If it's any longer then it just gives me that little bit extra time to prepare but at least I know i'm not going unprepared.

Surge

I am currently finishing term 1 here at RAFC Cranwell and will be moving into CHOM next Friday, if you want any certain facts then just ask me and I will happily help you out. I was the same before OASC Fam visit etc and a couple of guys helped me out with some info. At OASC be yourself, relax as much as possible and enjoy it. It is designed to select the right people for the course, if you somehow manage to slip through then you are not going to enjoy it here. As far as training and prep goes then get as fit as possible, push ups and sit ups are what they test you on in P'Ed as well as your mile-and-a-half time. You ideally want to be banging out 77 push ups, 80 sit ups in two minutes and running said distance in under 9 minutes. If you can do this then you will be ready for everything they have to throw at you. Don't wait for anything, start training now and don't let up. You are also going to be at least a competant swimmer, ideally a good swimmer. Aircrew have a bastard of a swim test consisting of 4 lengths and 2 minutes treading water before hauling your ass out, all done in a flight suit. There is a kit list that I can post if you would like. Bed beckons and I've still polishing and ironing to do, a good night.

samuraimatt

Why bother as you know it will take 5 min 47 plus half of that for the extra half a mile.

ATCO IN THE VOY

Any top tips on OASC and in particular, the interview. I go on Tuesday. I'm already serving as a SNCO in ATC.

Pontius Navigator

At this stage, relax, be yourself.

drwild

Hi, new to this forum. I was awarded a DE Sixth Form Scholarship for Pilot Officer last year, and I will be attending OASC on the 3rd of June for re-selection. Anyone here attending on that date?

Here is some information that people attending OASC might find useful. It is the stream, Course, AT, location, course length and Hours on type. This detailed information is difficult to find online, but is very impressive if memorised for the interview.

Stream - Fast Jet
COURSE 1
Course - Basic Flying Training
Aircraft - Tucano
Location - Linton on Ouse
Course Length - 37 Weeks
Flying Hours - 124
COURSE 2
Course - Advanced Training and Tactics
Aircraft - Hawk
Location - RAF Valley
Course Length - 32 Weeks
Flying Hours - 120

Stream - ME
COURSE 1
Course - MELIN (Multi-Enging Lead In)
Aircraft - Firefly
Location - Cranwell
Course Length - 10 Weeks
Flying Hours - 30
COURSE 2
Course - ME advanced Training
Aircraft - B200 King air
Location - Cranwell
Course Length - 24 weeks
Flying Hours - 70

STREAM - RW
COURSE 1
Course - Basic RW Training
Aircraft - Squirrel
Location - DHFS RAF Shawsbury
Course Length - 21 weeks
Flying Hours - 72
COURSE 2
Course - ME RW Training
Aircraft - Griffin
Location - DHFS RAF Shawsbury
Course Length - 31 Weeks
Flying Hours - 65

Hope this is useful.

Adski

Thanks Drwild, some useful information there. Has anyone by any chance got any more detailed information on the week spent getting your body used to the forces, strains etc... it will be put under whilst flying. I remember reading it was a week at a location I can't recall of the top of my head which is after the end of IOT and just before the start of specialist training.

ATCO IN THE VOY

Just wondered when the Hawk 128 will be hitting our streets at Valley? I know it recently flew a mission with its latest development of GPWS.......

jester898

Hawk 128-October 2008 apparently, that means some time in 2009.