airborne_artist

1. I want to fly helicopters. Thats primarily why I want to join. Is it likely that i would end up a pilot or is it like a 1/1000 chance? I'm fit, pretty smart, qualified in design and engineering and have some flying experience.

You'll need to pass the aptitude tests and the officer interview board, and then be high enough in the pool to get in before you are 26. About 50% pass rate at aptitude tests, and more than that at AIB, I'd guess.

2. I still aspire to being a commercial pilot some day. Is the navy a good route to acheiving this? I mean I would very much enjoy the navy lifestyle etc, but i wouldnt want to be seen as using the navy just for a CPL.

Yes, it's a good route, though you won't get loads of hours that fast.

3. I have family and friends and a girlfriend in Aberdeen. How often would i realistically see them if i was a navy pilot?

Depends. Whilst training, quite bit, but thereafter, not too much! Not much FAA in your part of the world.

4. While moeny isnt everything I would be giving up a farily high paid job to do this. What should i expect to be paid (roughly) after training?

Check the RN careers web pages.

5. Search and rescue really appeals to me! Are there opportunities to work in this field or is it fairly difficult to get into.

Very few compared to Merlin/Lynx/SK4 roles, and no-one goes SAR straight from training.

Moving to the Navy would be a BIG move for me and I would be giving up a career which I have worked hard for in exchange for living the flying dream. I just want to make sure while im living the dream I can still maintain other aspects of my life and manage to 'pay the bills'.

One other thing... im not saying i would leave the navy early, but if that was the case, how soon after training can you leave if working as a pilot.

At least five years' return of service, IIRC, perhaps more. And that's on award of wings.

mustflywillfly

Ok,

So you want to fly helicopters.

Yes you are too old for the RAF.

Your questions indicate that you have a lot more research to do before you would stand any chance of passing the Admiralty Interview Board. Granted you are doing some research via pprune but you need to get to your local AFCO and explain your ambition.

If you want to fly helicopters then the RN is a good choice, I wanted to fly fast Jets (FJ) but got streamed onto helos (and was pretty cack at it!!), 99% who get through Elementary Training will end up on helicopters even if their scores indicate that they may be suitable for FJ (like mine were) I sometimes rant and rave that if you want to fly then the first choice should be the RAF, but I base that on the fact that, for me, fixed wing was my preference. I made the mistake of joining the RN. However if you want to fly helicopters then the RN is a very good career choice.

Be completely open and honest with the Careers Liasion Officer that you are only interested in flying otherwise you will get persuaded to look at the more general Warfare Officer. Do not get fooled into thinking that if you join as a Warfare Officer (fish head) that you will be able to get an easy transfer - that is bollox.

Your questions:

My Answers:

1. See above. Apply for Pilot NOTHING else

2. Your post already indicates that you want to use the Navy first for a commercial career. So be careful with your wording. Plenty of people do it and it is perfectly accepted that most will move on to a commercial flying career. Just keep that right at the back of your head. Your Return of Service after training will be 5 years.

3. Realistic chances of seeing family etc in Aberdeen? Well you will end up being based in the south and deploying to sea. Relationships can work but it will be long distance. Be absoultely clear on that. I know many people who have suffered from Aviation Induced Divorce Syndrome (AIDS). Be realistic.

4. Roughly during training £24k - £35k, after training £35k - £41k (as a Lt.) You will also get flying pay, roughly £300 a month but only after training.

5. Yes there are oppurtunities but they are going fast. Shall be a completely civvy function soon.

Paying the bills = no snags

Mainiting relationships = Hard, especially during training but do-able.

Think very long and hard about a major lifestyle change. Make your mind up and throw yourself into some hardcore Navy research. Pass aptitude tests at OASC, pass the AIB, get selected for entry to the Navy. Enjoy.

Hope this helps

MFWF

sleepyrascal

Thanks for all the comments so far. I must add that I have been doing research into the Navy but only via their websitem which to be fair, is comprehensive ... i think.

I took their trial apptitude tests and got 100% pass although i suspect its just a taster test as its quite easy.

The major thing for me is being away from home. Not so much home as in Aberdeen, but more my girlfriend and my life. Thats the only thing stopping me walking into the recruitment office tomorrow. How do people get around this? Do they just give up everything?

airborne_artist

SR - once you've passed AIB you then go into the pool for BRNC entry, and they take from the pool on aptitude, not AIB scores. Aptitude tends to peak at around age 20, so it's possible that you may be beaten to a place by a spotty yoof. Candidates can only stay in the pool for 12 months, but you won't have long if you are already 25. It'll take you a good 20 weeks to get from here to completing AIB I understand.

Best to crack on IMHO, and take the weighty decisions about life when you have the offer, not faff around now.

Fray

SR, it isn't a case of getting around it. You accept that you are taking on a new role, job and a new life completely different to what you have now.

Everyone considers these subjects and it is an area that the ACLO is particularly interested in when you apply. In my case, yes I would have to live in the West Country, be assigned to a ship and be away from the family and the girlfriend (probably a lot!, is that good or bad?). What appeals however is the head start i can get, should the situation arise, i could be in married quarters (grotty as they may be) and get a real kick start which would be ideal for an impoverished student like me!

Everyone's situation is different, just think it through and consider the pro's Vs. con's, all careers have them.

ALM In Waiting

Hi All,

I'm a serving Airman who has recently attended OASC Part 1 and was told this week I have been selected for NCA subject to passing the medical and fitness tests. Just a couple of quick questions:

1. How long do the various Airman Aircrew specific test results take to come back? (I presume things like chest x-rays and blood work will take longer than my three days at OASC to come back, thus no answer on the day).

2. I'm aware that the medical standards for Aircrew are extremely high, however, apart from eyesight requirements, do standards differ slightly between FJ, WSO, and WSop? Or is everyone required to be FJ A1 standard regardless of role?

The reason I ask (apart from worried curiosity) is that i will soon be deploying to the sand pit. Although, if I pass the medical, I won't. This is why the length of time in getting the results has assumed a larger importance than otherwise might have been the case, and an early answer will let me and my Sqn know where we stand with regards to pre op training, clearing etc etc...

Advanced thanks for your future replies.

PS I'm aware OASC could probably answer this for me but with the ongoing postal strike I don't wish to add to their workload unnecessarily.

dagowly

SR - its a decision a lot of people think about. I'm going to pretty much give up my relationship with my current GF as i know how long i'll be away from her. And yes, i won't see my mate, but there are methods of communication remember we're in the 21st century.

Yoof the Fifer

Hey ALM in Waiting, check your post on TSR, i've replied there.

guitarwillie

Hi

How hard is it to become a harrier pilot in the RN? Is it harder than becoming a fast jet pilot in the RAF? Also will i need a degree to fly harriers or will i be able to do this at 18 ?

Thanks

GW

Tombstone

The RN is certainly on a recruitment surge for pilots due to the shortfalls in manning on their Harrier Sqns & if you fit the criteria for fast jets, you'll end up on the GR9.

The RAF has a wider diversion of types & as a result, there is no guarantee on which, if any, fast jet you will end up on.

From an academic point of view, a degree is not mandatory. The RAF does try to recruit a mixture of graduates and sixth formers. Those who come into the RAF at 18 offer a potentially greater pay back, in terms of years served, than those coming in at 23 after university. Either way, it's a difficult road that will require absolute dedication & sacrifice from you in order to get through flying training.

If you want it, get stuck in and pop into an Armed Forces Career Office with your list of questions.

Good luck.

airborne_artist

Less than 10% of RN pilots go to the Harrier straight from elementary flying training. I think it's still one per course, and there's five a year. A few more go later after completing RW training and a couple of tours.

AFAIK there's no graduate bias, but you do need to be a fast learner with substantial spare capacity. That's not predictable by looking at academic qualifications, and I don't know if the scores at aptitude testing bear any correlation.

In sheer percentage terms you've a greater chance of flying FJ if you join the RAF. That may change if/when the RN JSF programme gets going.

Alexluis

Hi guys
It´s about the bleep test!
I´ve just done it yesterday, and I achived LEVEL 9

Alex

dagowly

keep going alex. You need to get to level 9.10

Taffer

There was me thinking it was 0%! Last I heard they went to Tucano, then Hawk, then Harrier (after monster holdover)!

Pedantics over, you're right about numbers - about 1 per course go FJ (sometimes more, sometimes none), so about 5-7 each year.

Even with JSF, it's doubtful whether that will increase much, if at all. Crab Air is still the way to go if you want a better chance of flying FJ.

AlJH

Current holdover for RN is about 9 months between DEFTs and Linton, not sure between, Linton and Valley, and 19 months between Valley and OCU. So yes, pretty large.

Lamenting Navigator

Ha! You'll soon get new GFs, don't you worry. And ones which are more understanding of the culture, long hours, general whinging, etc. etc.

I'm looking forward to telling my other half about becoming an active reservist... I'm looking forward to life as a singleton shortly afterwards. Please clear a spot on the shelf for me, chaps!

michael15

my name is michael and im fifteen, and i was looking for advise on how to become a pilot in the RAF, it has been my ambition to become one for most of my life and i really would like to acheive my dream and would like advice on how to be prepared and get me the best chance i can of becoming a fighter pilot in the RAF.

WildDart

The majority of your answers are awaiting for you in this thread

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=251490


Sign up to Flyer newspaper, read as much flying material as possible. Build up a good knowledge of aviation and more importantly learn as much as you can about the RAF, such as all their aircraft and bases etc. With this knowledge you will have a better chance.

In addition try to get best gcse and A level results and ring up the RAF ASAP and theyll happily send you information and guide you for your first interview when your around 16.

Hope that helps, best of luck pal

BluntM8

Michael,

As my learned friends have mentioned, most of the answers you seek are in the sticky thread at the top of this page (and were I feeling more grumpy I would have made a sarcastic comment about how you ought to have read it before posting your really rather general request!).

From my own experience (chopped from Linton, re-roled as a WSO), the best advice I can offer you is to that the people I work with come from a wide range of backgrounds, and have a wide range of skills and aptitudes - but they all share two common characteristics. They are all very dedicated and work exceptionally hard to achieve their goals, and they are all willing to grasp any opportunity that is presented to them. When the time comes for you to visit OASC you will be given the chance to show that you share those traits. Think hard about any opportunity you have to learn these skills now, and you will be in the best possible position to shine at selection.

Hope this helps, and best of luck to you,

Blunty

Tigs2

Michael
As Bluntm8 and the others have rightly said, it is down to hard work. There are 10's of thousands of kids leave school every year and maybe in one year 100 people may make it as a pilot in the airforce. I started with nothing, my father could never even afford a car for the family. It is all down to how much you want it and how hard you are willing to work. How much do you want it??? It is hard, it is tough (but the best things in life are), it is not particularly well paid, but it is the sport of Kings! Your mates may well go on to be stockbrokers in the City and earn lots of money, but every single one of them will dream of the chance to do what you want to do. At dinner, nobody wants to hear about stocks, they will want your stories. You will get the chance to do something that Lewis Hamilton would give his right arm for (sadly he gets paid £10mil a year, such is the price of your fun!)

Go and watch the film on this thread

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=295566

I saw Paddy go through training only 2 years ago, look what he is doing now!!, its grown up stuff.

The only bit of advice i would give now that you are 15, apart from all the other good stuff you have been given, is get fit. Get really fit. A healthy body, healthy mind etc etc, and that is what will make the difference for you. Doing one hours fighting, pulling 6-7 G can be as tireing as doing 80 mins in the front row with England. Its knackering, its exhilerating,.....- and you can't beat it!

Good luck