Pilot Streaming

[Xiang]

Quick question: When pilots in the RAF, RN or AAC reach the EFT stage of training what is it specifically that determines what aircraft they will be streamed onto for further training?


Would I be correct in assuming some of the following factors will affect the outcome?

• Flying Aptitude Test Score
• Aircraft Control (What would the different skills for different aircraft consist of?)
• Ability to absorb information quickly and retain
• Spatial Awareness/ 3D Visualisation
• Ability to Multitask

Which of these skills would need to be particularly proficient for a FJ pilot?


Thanks

[TorqueOfTheDevil]

Flying Aptitude Test Score

If you mean the aptitude tests done at selection, these are used to determine who gets into the training system in the first place. Once on EFT, the actual performance in the air tells a much better story than the computer tests.

[TurbineTooHot]

Aircraft Control (What would the different skills for different aircraft consist of?)
Ability to absorb information quickly and retain
Spatial Awareness/ 3D Visualisation
Ability to Multitask*

Xiang, for FJ certanily all of the above. Your grades from each trip on EFT are factored into your EFT End of course report which is sent to a streaming board along with your colleagues' reports. You are ranked and streamed there. It's a sweeping generalisation, but for the most part those at the top of the table head to the fast jet stream next to Rotary and the Multi-Engine. Personal preference is accommodated if possible but it ranks a distance third in priority to ability and the needs of the service at that time. It's not a perfect system and the boys and girls tend to develop their ability at different rates so there are occasional problems further down the line, but in general we achieve very favourable results. Additionally, with the requirement getting smaller and smaller, we can afford to be even more selective which is noticeably driving up the raw standards of the trainees as we only need take the very best......

*And be really really good looking, irresistible to the opposite sex (or the same, E&D etc), able to hold one's booze and give off a general air of awesome. (Caution: The above may not be true in all cases...)

[teeteringhead]

and the needs of the service at that time.

... which may prove to be the overriding criterion, which particular seats we need the bums on at a particular time!

[Xiang]

Thanks very much for the replies folks, good info.

If you mean the aptitude tests done at selection, these are used to determine who gets into the training system in the first place. Once on EFT, the actual performance in the air tells a much better story than the computer tests.

Yes, I'm referring to the tests carried out at RAF Cranwell. So, the scores from the test don't play a factor in streaming; the decision is based purely on performance at EFT?

Xiang, for FJ certanily all of the above. Your grades from each trip on EFT are factored into your EFT End of course report which is sent to a streaming board along with your colleagues' reports. You are ranked and streamed there. It's a sweeping generalisation, but for the most part those at the top of the table head to the fast jet stream next to Rotary and the Multi-Engine...

So, it would appear that those who achieve a score that is high enough to get them streamed to FJs would generally have a natural ability in the cockpit. So, hypothetically, would all pilots be able to achieve this standard if they had additional time to train or is the skill gap too large?

Thanks again,

Xiang