airborne_artist

Call me old-fashioned (I took aptitude tests twice, passed twice, about 30 years ago) but if all else fails, read the $%&*ing manual. The standard, since you ask, is quite high. One of the attributes sought is the ability to use your own brain. The search facility is quite good, and reveals this helpful page.

ALM In Waiting

Just started clearing today, ready to head off to the joys of NCAITC. Many thanks to PN and all the others who took time out to give me advice.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all

4KBeta

OR alternatively give someone a 2 second answer which obviously you couldn’t be bothered to do. Imagine what you could accomplish if you read past the first line of a post.

HENCE I SAID, someone save me the time... aimed at people that knew a link of the top of their head. The fact that you browse the forums to post that type of reply is rather amusing.

Even that one link re-affirms some research, cheers.

Mr C Hinecap

4k - given your other 17 posts to date have been about civvy flying, your 1st post here was 'can't be arsed, but...' and your 2nd post was a bit of a bite, you'll fit right in sunshine. I'd expect you to be bypassing flying training and given a sqn before the summer

warty99

4KBeta - have you really only got one question to ask? How do you know that the 100+ pages don't contain all sorts of useful information that you haven't even dreamed you'd need to know?

Quite apart from anything else - just how keen are you? If 100+ pages puts you off, wait until you see the reading list for IOT!

warty99

Quote:

which obviously you couldn’t be bothered to do.

Loving the irony, BTW!

airborne_artist

4k - we get the full range of wannabes on this thread. Some are smart, have read/searched the thread, and ask a sensible, but mildly obscure question which we'll try to answer. Others just barge in, pulling the doors marked push

Negligent_discharge

I asked a reasonable question....

BluntM8

As an aside, I'll be starting to group the posts on this thread for indexing this week - should make it much easier for the hard of thinking to find what they're looking for.

If you can do a tidy up of your posts, please do, to make my life easier!

Pontius Navigator

ND,

I didn't answer your secondary question as I do not have recent information but as no one else has volunteered an answer I will post my observations and let the experts shoot me down.

In the days of Air Eng, ALM, AEOp there was no interchange between them in flying specialisations although they may have been assigned some generic NCA ground jobs.

Now they are all badged the same I don't think it has changed anything under the surface.

To take your example, Acoustics to Crewman, while it would be theoretically possible I am not aware of it happening except in one set of circumstances and that was SAR.

SAR winchman is a specialist skill and not all crewmen can pass the training. When the SK entered service the SAR crewman role was opened up to Nimrod AEOp. The Nimrod AEOp was of course already well acquainted with maritime SAR so this was a useful skill to bring the the SK with its greatly enhanced SAR capability.

As I say, my information is well out of date.

Negligent_discharge

Thanks once again PN.

kiwi chick

Mr C Hinecap

I was thinking of asking HIM some suggestions on how to expedite my way up the military chain.

He'll do well.

Seldomfitforpurpose

ND,

The "answer" is yes as a WSOp you can swap trade specialties however in reality very few folk ever achieve this.

In theory under the new WSOp system an ALM can re trade to Air Eng or AEop. Whilst I know plenty who have more than enough IQ to make the change the ALM branch is shorter than most Officers arms so it's never going to happen due to numbers. Then when you factor in the extra training costs.........

Conversely several Air Eng's have "seen the light" and in order to serve full term have sought to cross over to ALM but as their trade is desperately short of numbers that again is as rare as rocking horse sh1t

Hope that helps.

Pontius Navigator

SFFP,

As his question was acoustics to crewman. Given the planned reduction in the MPA numbers it would seem possible that a swap from acoustics to crewman may be more common in a few years time.

As the comfort zones are quite different it will make an interesting transition.

4KBeta

Yes I understand some are just lazy so maybe I did pull the trigger to quickly, which I apologize for.

But on the other hand I never mentioned anything about "putting me off" or that the other 100+ pages are irrelevant.

Either way, it doesn't matter now and don't worry ill be back asking other already covered questions

WSOgirl

Hello

I was wondering whether there is any chance of making WSO a few years after the age limit has passed or are there any other similar officer alternatives (I am aware of the NCO WSOp role) or other entry routes?

I have suitable qualifications including a PhD and have UAS, ATC experience.

Thanks for any advice.

Wader2

WSO there are two things in your favour: the PhD and UAS. Your best bet is to contact OASC direct.

Flik Roll

They've been giving out age waivers recently. Suggest you call OASC and also write to the group captain requesting an age waiver (obviously highlight what would make you a good candidate etc.) When you have a response then I would tackle your AFCO as a friend of mine found the AFCO to be particularly problematic despite having been given an age waiver!

WSOgirl

Thanks fof the advice.

I visited the AFCO over a year ago, whilst finishing the PhD, they told me I would be too old by the time I joined, even though I was the correct age at the time of enquiring.

I recently finsihed the PhD and looked into it again. This time I'd heard about an age waiver and asked about this. The AFCO concluded that I would be over 2 years too old, so said no.

I just wish they would have mentioned the possibility of an age waiver the first time I visited.

I will call OASC and also write to the group captain as suggested and let you know how I get on.

Pontius Navigator

AFCO can be a little rigid in their interpretation of the rules. OASC would prefer to make the decision rather than have the decision made for them.