Advice needed for aspiring RAF pilot
I don't remember you being devastatingly handsome and with sparkling wit ! You'd have been a navigator if that was the case!
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I am intelligent academically, can retain information and I am pretty good at applying it.
It doesn't matter to me or anyone else on this forum, but if you're going through the selection process you will be asked about it and you will need an answer.
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Mental health took over when I was in my mid teens although now I have started to get back on my feet and I want to change my life. It affected me badly in exams and since Maths GCSE's are now 100% exam-based and have been since around 2008-2009, that is why I failed it. Unfortunately I couldn't help my health at that time, it's a struggle but now I am able, I want to go for it.
T93
I commend your openness and honesty. It will get you far in life. Despite what anyone says on here you will never know until you give it a shot. Best of luck.
B48Nav. Your memory is obviously failing you. It must be your age!
BV
B48Nav. Your memory is obviously failing you. It must be your age!
BV
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What Bob Viking said.
T93,
Keep pushing. The system will determine if you've got what it takes.
By way of encouragement, I've flown with a couple of people over the years who have had challenges with mental illness at one time or another. Both overcame their issues and went on to have happy and successful lives and careers, in the RAF.
Good luck to you.
Sun.
T93,
Keep pushing. The system will determine if you've got what it takes.
By way of encouragement, I've flown with a couple of people over the years who have had challenges with mental illness at one time or another. Both overcame their issues and went on to have happy and successful lives and careers, in the RAF.
Good luck to you.
Sun.
Mental health took over when I was in my mid teens although now I have started to get back on my feet and I want to change my life. It affected me badly in exams and since Maths GCSE's are now 100% exam-based and have been since around 2008-2009, that is why I failed it. Unfortunately I couldn't help my health at that time, it's a struggle but now I am able, I want to go for it.
See this for more details, but note it's not exhaustive. Your only answer on that can come from OASC.
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None of those psychiatric disorders apply to me.
As a very young child, I supposedly had asthma, although I wasn't dependant on medication then and am certainly not now. I don't even need it. So I am not sure where the GPs got that from, although I'll ask OASC.
It looks like I had better get this seen to ASAP as I am 21 now, if I need laser eye surgery then it will have to start ASAP.....
As a very young child, I supposedly had asthma, although I wasn't dependant on medication then and am certainly not now. I don't even need it. So I am not sure where the GPs got that from, although I'll ask OASC.
It looks like I had better get this seen to ASAP as I am 21 now, if I need laser eye surgery then it will have to start ASAP.....
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BTW, thanks BV.
It's something that I am going to seriously need to sit down and discuss with my GP, also. Being a GP he is quite well informed about the health issues that may or may not effect flying, for instance he told me that any form of heart problem = flying career over and I didn't know that before then (thankfully that doesn't apply to me).
Asthma barely effected me at all, in fact I can't remember a time that I was seriously ill with it at all as a child. I am being optimistic here and will presume OASC will look at applications on a case-by-case basis as opposed to looking at a script and saying, "you're in" or "off you go sunshine".
It's something that I am going to seriously need to sit down and discuss with my GP, also. Being a GP he is quite well informed about the health issues that may or may not effect flying, for instance he told me that any form of heart problem = flying career over and I didn't know that before then (thankfully that doesn't apply to me).
Asthma barely effected me at all, in fact I can't remember a time that I was seriously ill with it at all as a child. I am being optimistic here and will presume OASC will look at applications on a case-by-case basis as opposed to looking at a script and saying, "you're in" or "off you go sunshine".
I would discount laser surgery; I'm certain it's now an option for serving pilots, at our own expense and risk, in lieu of contacts or glasses (as long as you go for PRK and not LASIK/LASEK). It's not an option for new joiners; if you've had laser surgery of any type at the first medical, I don't think you'll get in.
Asthma and lack of qualifications are yet other hurdles. Instead of bothering with waiting for replies here, though, start getting in touch with the careers service. The nearest AFCO will give you the definitive answers, it matters not a jot if you get 50 people here saying "go for it lad!" if they've got no idea about the current medical and academic requirements, as positive encouragement isn't enough to get you to a first interview!
Contact the experts. Prepare for disappointment. There are still hundreds of applicants for every space; wanting it isn't enough. Good luck regardless.
Asthma and lack of qualifications are yet other hurdles. Instead of bothering with waiting for replies here, though, start getting in touch with the careers service. The nearest AFCO will give you the definitive answers, it matters not a jot if you get 50 people here saying "go for it lad!" if they've got no idea about the current medical and academic requirements, as positive encouragement isn't enough to get you to a first interview!
Contact the experts. Prepare for disappointment. There are still hundreds of applicants for every space; wanting it isn't enough. Good luck regardless.
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Thanks 5F6B.
I will definitely crack on with that. As far as academic requirements, I had a look on the RAF website and it just mentions 5 GCSE's or equivalent and a minimum of 2 A levels (but Critical Thinking and General Studies aren't accepted by the RAF) or equivalent (? IIRC re. A levels), which seems to be the case for all other Officer roles so I am assuming they are the minimum qualifications for Officer training.
I will definitely crack on with that. As far as academic requirements, I had a look on the RAF website and it just mentions 5 GCSE's or equivalent and a minimum of 2 A levels (but Critical Thinking and General Studies aren't accepted by the RAF) or equivalent (? IIRC re. A levels), which seems to be the case for all other Officer roles so I am assuming they are the minimum qualifications for Officer training.
