kippermate

Due to the number of slots available at IOT, especially for pilot, the RAF can afford to be choosy. Consequently, the chances of getting a letter saying 'Well done. You're in.' are slim. If you are being held for 'the sift' then you have probably done reasonably well, but OASC are waiting to see if anyone better, and more competitive for a slot at IOT, comes along. If you are unsuccessful this time they may put you in the sift again.

Unfortunately for those aspiring for a career as a Service pilot, it is most definately a buyers market.

Good luck, anyway.



kipper.

me_chambers

Hi i was wondering if anyone could let me know the cut off height for being a military pilot.

BigGrecian

It eventually depends on the aircraft you will fly. However, I know there is an initial height maximum when undertaking the medical at OASC - I will try and find out on Monday.
There are some guys who fly fast jets taller than 6 foot if that helps?

An extract by Squadron Leader Mark Byrne from the BBC website says:

airborne_artist

BG is right, but in practice 6.3/6.4 seems to be the normal maximum.

Vage Rot

I was accepted at 6'3", as said above: it's buttock to knee length that's most important. Otherwaise you end up being knee-capped if you eject!

I think that as long as you are OK for the training types then your height would not stop you from being recruited - It might restrict your choice of aircraft types out of training though.

Of course, if you are a 7' gorilla then you won't fit in anything!!

cobaltfrog

I was accepted at 6' 5ins although, I ended up down the rotary route. I think the important bit, as has been said, is your buttock to knee length. There was an American on 899 a few years back who was 6' 6 (obviously his nickname was Tiny!!)

Where there is a will etc...

Feck

I'm 6'4" and fly FJ. PM me if you want more info.

Pontius Navigator

Its not just leg length that matters as I know someone who had relatively short legs but very long body. He too had limited fit as the seat would not go down far enough to get his head in the right place.

Lord Daddy Flash

I was in exactly the same situation in March this year, got through OASC then was 'evaluated' in a 'Selection Meeting' in May. Needless to say I didn't get in which has turned out well for me now, but at the time I was gutted.

I've heard all sorts but mainly;
they're taking about the top <1% of pilot applicants,
they're cutting 8,000 jobs RAF-wide,
pilots fresh out of IOT have holds between 6-12 months,
some FJ pilots are getting though training then being offered redundency.

Just a few things, but worth consideration none-the-less.

I wish you all the best.

LDF

Sinker

Pontius Navigator is quite right and it might even be me he is talking about. My sitting height was too big for the Gnat, so I was not accepted for pilot training, even though I was really only interested in flying heavies.

When I tried to re-role, the safety equippers had to fit a new dinghy attachment strap on my LSJ in order to lengthen it by about 3 inches.

Your body proportions have to be a fairly normal.

sarboy w****r

I'm 6' 5" and a RW pilot. I had a look at the limits when I joined and I think I'm pretty close.

SBW

airborne_artist

The limiting factor when I joined the RN in 78 was the Bulldog - so anyone who was 6.2 and above was put into a car and taken to SUAS at Hamble for a full and free check!

PH98

I'm pretty sure that the current limiting type is the Hawk. Certainly, a couple of friends who were on the limits got winched out of a hawk on the ejection rod to make sure they wouldn't knee-cap themselves using the loud handle. One of my friends can't fly the Puma because he is too tall but he can fly al FJ's.

It's not really an overall height thing. If you were perfectly on the upper limit for everything you could potentially be about 6'6" but it's a bit unlikely. I'm 5'10" and my legs are nearly too long and my body nearly too short. Consequently I have to have the seat nearly all the way up but the pedals all the way back.

havick

Anyone else looking like they will be going to officer training on the Jan intake for Navy, or feb intake for airforce?

chrisburden21

Hi everyone,

Just a quick question. I recently attended OASC, appyling for Pilot, and received a letter notifying me that my application will be reviewed by a panel in December.

My question is, does anybody know what the Phase2 Medical involves? and if i am asked to attend a Phase2 Medical, on the basis i pass, will i be accepted?

Any info related to this would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Chris

PH98

The review thing means you've been put forward into a pool because they're not going to offer you anything just yet. If they come back in December and ask you to do a part 2 med you'll have to do and ECG, chest x-ray, blood test and an EEG (brain scan).

Assuming you pass that you should be in, unless the system has changed. They should send you a letter saying that you've provisionally been selected for pilot pending the outcome of a part 2 medical if they're going to accept you.

BigGrecian

PH98 is right about the medical and assuming your successful you are normally accepted pending Medical and Security clearances.

You should be aware recruitment is tight at the moment, and this is already evident by the fact that you haven't been boarded yet. They have probably boarded you in December as there were no spaces available so they'll wait till the next board.

Good Luck - and let us know whether you were successful.

scotsman

Hi,

I'm in exactly the same position as you, - reviewed in December and I know of at least 3 others. I know that there aren't a lot of spaces up for grabs but there seems to be alot of us hanging on waiting for an answer.

No-one on my OASC was given an outright yes and only two were put forward for further review. I also know of one person who went to OASC in June, was put forward for further review in August, then put forward for review in October and now is being reviewed again in December!! I don't know how long they can keep stringing you on for but that seems to be rediculous.

Good luck to us both.

Scotsman..

littleme

I also received that letter, however, I am not applying for aircrew. I wonder what the situation is for people applying for ground branches? Any ideas? Guess it all finally boils down to how many slots they have left on the next IOT course?

Cheers

LM

amb_211085

The RAF have a backlog of Aircrew waiting for training, however as the FAA use the RAFs resources for a large chunk of their training, does that mean FAA guys and gals are waiting for similar periods of time or are they pushed through as they are not RAF?