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UK MFTS on or off the rails?

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UK MFTS on or off the rails?

Old 6th Nov 2020, 17:27
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Sky Sports, your statement is not 100% true. It’s not my place to comment yet, but if you are a budding RAF pilot, do not stop trying because Pprune says so. If you are at University or are deferred going next year, join a UAS right now!! Don’t give up on the dream
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Old 6th Nov 2020, 18:20
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Originally Posted by Sky Sports
They officially stopped accepting new applications on Monday.

Only option for wannabe military flyers is now the Army!
I had a conversation last week with a Flying Branch & Trade Advisor (SO1) and he told me that the RAF have certainly reduced the number of Pilot applicants that they're taking on, because the lockdown created quite a large backlog of applicants in the system and they need to get through them all, but, to my knowledge, they haven't stopped completely.

I personally contacted the Royal Navy and they have stopped accepting Pilot applicants for 6 months, initially (informed on 30th September 2020), again, due to a rather large backlog of candidates as a result of the lockdown. They will open this back up again soon, just keep checking.

What I will say, is that the RN have reduced their age limit requirements back to 26 for 12 months, so if you're older than 26, you need to wait until next summer, realistically, before you can apply to become a Fleet Air Arm pilot.

As for the Army, I genuinely don't know but I imagine the situation will be pretty similar, probably doubly so considering that they recruit NCOs as pilots from within the Service, as well as DE commissioned aircrew. Worth asking.
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Old 6th Nov 2020, 18:20
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From a post on Reddit:

Hi

The role was closed for new applications earlier this week, so yes, there won't be any new applications accepted until it re-opens. We only have a certain number of slots each role every year, once they're filled then we close it. You can still register for it via the role page on the RAF Recruitment website.

If you already have an application in the system it will be processed once we can get to it. It's taking longer than normal due to the covid 19 impact on the entire process etc.

Kind regards
Adam
RAF Recruitment
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Old 6th Nov 2020, 21:27
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Read my post again.
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Old 10th Nov 2020, 13:58
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Has the RAF cancelled the L3 contract? That is what I heard.
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Old 10th Nov 2020, 14:27
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...
Has the RAF cancelled the L3 contract ?
Could well be - 'L3 contract about to be completed as planned - job done.'

LFH
...
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Old 10th Nov 2020, 16:26
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L3 was only ever intended to be a stopgap until MFTS could handle the throughput. Now that has been reduced to a manageable trickle by COVID there’s no need for it I would suggest.
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Old 20th Nov 2020, 09:48
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UAS and EFT

Do the guys from a UAS have to do the full EFT, as per someone straight off the street, or do some of their UAS flying hours count as a 'credit' towards EFT and therefore reduce the course length?
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Old 20th Nov 2020, 11:10
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Originally Posted by Sky Sports
Do the guys from a UAS have to do the full EFT, as per someone straight off the street, or do some of their UAS flying hours count as a 'credit' towards EFT and therefore reduce the course length?
Unless it's changed in the last few years, UAS flying does not count towards EFT.

It used to, but then it was stopped (around 15ish years ago, iirc).
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Old 20th Nov 2020, 11:15
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Originally Posted by muppetofthenorth
Unless it's changed in the last few years, UAS flying does not count towards EFT.

It used to, but then it was stopped (around 15ish years ago, iirc).
05/06, iirc. Up to then, EFT was taught on the UAS. Then dedicated EFT sqns were set up which continues to this day (16 Sqn Tutors & 57 Sqn Prefects for the RAF).

Flying for university students is the same package but if you decide to join the RAF as a pilot after completing your degree, then you have to fly EFT again. The better students will miss a few trips because they already meet the standard for that teaching aim.
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Old 20th Nov 2020, 17:24
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The UAS to RAF system is changing right now. It’s not any secret, in fact it’s something we should be advertising. The plan is in place to cover the first term of IOT during your UAS time, meaning shorter training times. I repeat my last posts, if you want to be ANY branch in the RAF and you have the opportunity, join a UAS right NOW. Especially if you want to be aircrew. You will not regret the decision.
To the question of whether your flying bypasses EFT? No. But when you do get to EFT, it’s going to help get you through....... There’s a lot to learn in a very short time.
Sky Sports, is your lad, or relative at university?
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Old 21st Nov 2020, 08:55
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The plan is in place to cover the first term of IOT during your UAS time, meaning shorter training times.
Really? Who is supposed to deliver that? Do the numpties who dream up ever more inventive ways of ruining UASs realise that students are actually supposed to be studying for degrees during UAS time?
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Old 21st Nov 2020, 09:51
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A lot of stuff is already done at UAS. Believe me when I say, degree comes first and achieving that “tick” is optional. Beagle, I’m an old man now, cynical too, but with a bit of work from us, I think this is a good idea that will enhance the UAS experience. The flying clubs have gone, many students do their 3 years and have zero interest in getting airborne. They’re great kids with a great future in the RAF, but they don’t think like we did at that age.
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Old 21st Nov 2020, 09:53
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[..]many students do their 3 years and have zero interest in getting airborne[...]
Good grief!
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Old 21st Nov 2020, 12:37
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Originally Posted by BEagle
Really? Who is supposed to deliver that? Do the numpties who dream up ever more inventive ways of ruining UASs realise that students are actually supposed to be studying for degrees during UAS time?
First term of MIOT is all the basic 'warry' stuff. Uniforms, drill, weapons, first aid... All things they'll already have done. Using 2 or 3 years to deliver 6 weeks' worth of training isn't arduous or overly time consuming.
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Old 21st Nov 2020, 13:53
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Good Grief indeed!
Not everyone wants to be Top Gun anymore.
Please take on board....... Most of these kids are brilliant. They have great attitudes and love the fun and opportunity a military career STILL offers. I would pretty much accept any one of ours into a front line squadron crewroom. We go out of our way to help them be successful at OASC.
The most popular branch by far amongst our students at the minute is................. RPAS
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Old 22nd Nov 2020, 23:10
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Originally Posted by jayteeto
Good Grief indeed!
Not everyone wants to be Top Gun anymore.
Please take on board....... Most of these kids are brilliant. They have great attitudes and love the fun and opportunity a military career STILL offers. I would pretty much accept any one of ours into a front line squadron crewroom. We go out of our way to help them be successful at OASC.
The most popular branch by far amongst our students at the minute is................. RPAS
Of we could go the way of the USA ROTC system with signing the dotted line, awarded bursary after attending OAsSc attend drill nights and weekends without fail extend summer camps to be month experiencing different life on a station, Not fail any part of 3 year activities especially Leadership. Then st end of awarded degree and passing everything Tr GRP throws in then 3 week intense (similar to the old TA TCb commissioning course) voila.


Btw do those budding F-35 pilots have to fly couple of hours in say Juno to learn VTOL handling like the old,days of the Harrier course when studes picked for that flew 5 hours at Shawbury on the Gazelle.

cheers

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Old 23rd Nov 2020, 08:22
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Of we could go the way of the USA ROTC system with signing the dotted line, awarded bursary after attending OAsSc attend drill nights and weekends without fail extend summer camps to be month experiencing different life on a station, Not fail any part of 3 year activities especially Leadership. Then st end of awarded degree and passing everything Tr GRP throws in then 3 week intense (similar to the old TA TCb commissioning course) voila.


Btw do those budding F-35 pilots have to fly couple of hours in say Juno to learn VTOL handling like the old,days of the Harrier course when studes picked for that flew 5 hours at Shawbury on the Gazelle.
Whatever happens, let's hope it includes lessons on punctuation, spelling and grammar..
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Old 23rd Nov 2020, 14:02
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Originally Posted by chopper2004
Btw do those budding F-35 pilots have to fly couple of hours in say Juno to learn VTOL handling like the old,days of the Harrier course when studes picked for that flew 5 hours at Shawbury on the Gazelle.
No rotary flying needed because of all the exceptional work which went into developing the STOVL control system for the F-35B. It was all done in the UK on the VAAC Harrier and was one of the UK's entry tickets to Tier 1 partner status in the JSF programme. The aircraft retains conventional stick-and-throttle control (stick = up/down/left/right, throttle = fore/aft) at all stages of flight, unlike the Harrier which switched from conventional controls to helicopter-like (stick = cyclic, throttle = collective) during transition to the hover.
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Old 23rd Nov 2020, 15:56
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Re. the VAAC Harrier development work for the F-35B, try to get hold of the February 2020 edition of Aeroplane which has an excellent 6-page article about the project.
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