Royal Navy FAA Helicopter Pilot
 

Hello yall i am new to this forum. I am interested in becomming a helicopter pilot in the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy. I don't really know anything about how to achieve this, so i would appreciate greatly any advice. I am particularly interested in knowing how difficult it is to become a heli pilot, compared to a fixed wing pilot. I understand that i would have to become an officer in the Royal Navy before becomming a heli pilot (am i correct on this point). I am not posh or anything i didn't go to a public school so do you think that this would hinder my chances of becoming an officer in the navy, and finally becoming a helicopter pilot? Also i don't have perfect eyesight and i have a history of mild asthma, would these factors immediately mean i would not be accepted for heli pilot training?

Thanks in advance

Plenty of information on the website:

www.royalnavy.mod.uk

Plenty of careers offices - again, see the careers section of the above.

Very recent PPrune thread:

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...hreadid=122133

I'm applying for both the RN and RAF at present.

I highly recommend you learn lots about the RN before you go for an initial interview.

For example, not just about the FAA, but also the surface and submarine fleets.

A PPruner called Rusty Cessna has asked many of the questions before, search for him using the PPrune search engine.

Best of luck

Stonca

A mighty fine choice from a switched on character.....putting the FAA before the crabs.

Eyesight/mild asthma could be a big problem, but the only way to find out is to apply to join and attend the medical.

Posh or not is irrelevant and unlikely even to be noticed. What matters is ability, attitude, aptitude and character. Even if you don't get aircrew there are a whole host of other interesting jobs available.

Check out other threads on pprune.

F

Recruitment and selection for RN Officer
 

Kommando,

As a non-grad with 8 years in I can tell you that it will hinder you not one jot if you never went to Harrow/Eton etc. RN officer core is far more classless than I imagine it once was.

As for being a pilot/observer you're asking the wrong guy - but I would say that landing a Lynx on the back end of a Type 42, at night in **** weather is probably one of the most difficult, but probably fulfilling things, you could do with your time. Landing a SHAR at night on the deck of a CVS, minus NVG of course, is just silly. Naturally, only a pilot would enjoy that sort of lunacy.

It's not for everyone - and the white paper rumour mill is depressing enough - but our uniform kicks ass compared to the crabs and, more importantly, we take the bar with us wherever we go.

Kommando,

I work in recruiting.

Aircrew must be clear of ANY asthma symptoms. Its a no go I'm afraid.

Eyesight is also a big stopper. You must be classified S1 by an optician.

Sorry to crash those dreams but better early than late.

:(

Melrin Dip

I am on my way to joining your fellow RN brethren…hopefully :)

You mention that eyesight has to be “S1”. What exactly does this mean?

Thanks for your help

Geez :cool:

I think it means perfect, uncorrected eyesight...but I'm sure Melrin Dip has the official definition!:E

Unfortunately, I don't have my recruiting manual with me as I am on leave till next week.

I WILL get back to you!

Amongst the handouts at the recruiting office, I was given this one

Outline Guidance on Medical Standards required for Officer Entry into the RN, RM & QARNNS

For aircrew, standard 1 visual acuity is required along with colour perception 1.

Standard 1 is:

to be achieved with correcting lenses:

Right eye 6/6 N5
E 1
E 1
Left eye 6/6 N5

to be achieved without correcting lenses:

Right eye 6/12 N5
E3
E3
Left eye 6/12 N5

Refraction limit

Right Eye

Total
Hypermetropia +3.00 sphere
Astigmatism +1.25 cyl
Myopia (in any meridian) -0.75 sphere or cyl

Left Eye

Total
Hypermetropia +3.00 sphere
Astigmatism +1.25 cyl
Myopia (in any meridian) -0.75 sphere or cyl


To be honest, a lot of it doesnt make sense to me (N5? E1?) but your local optician will understand it.

Just for the sake of completeness, here is the colour perception standard as well:

Colour Perception Standard 1 : The correct recognition of coloured lights shown through the small apertures on the Martin Lantern at 6 metres distance.

Hope this helps Geezer, as I had the info to instantly to hand, I thought i'd spare Melrin Dip the "pleasure" of typing it all out!

kommando,

It's a few years since I left, but no doubt any advice is welcome advice.

There are 2 ways of becoming aircrew in the FAA. I stress aircrew because pilots and observers take the same entrance tests, you just choose a preference. If you are sucessful you could be offered one or the other.

The first way is to join as a general list (ie. long service) seaman officer, spend vast amounts of time on ships and try your luck after a few years at getting an aircrew course. The minority of pilots/observers come through this route and it reallly depends on your love of grey boats and your career aspirations.

The more normal (sane?) route is to join from the start as aircrew. Whilst technically you will be a Seaman Officer, you will be supplementary list (aircrew specialisation). The crux is that these folks are employed on 12 or 16 year commisions for the primary purpose of flying (pilot or observer). Whilst supplementary list they can only achieve Lieutenant Commander, although if they have overwhelming desires to drive big grey boats they can transfer to General List.

I don't believe childhood asthma is a complete bar, but if you are still getting attacks or need medication forget it. Likewise if you need glasses at all, consult your opticion with the figures above, but I wouldn't hold out much hope.

All Officers go through BRNC Dartmouth for their initial training, but entrants are streamed if they are aircrew into an aircrew entry. My guess is that seeing as the Navy will be spending millions on training and so want to get people frontline as efficiently as possible.

In terms of the application process, you get various hoops you need to jump through, and at each stage you get very closely scrutinised. Each time you complete one stage you move onto the next. They include (not sure of the order) application, aptitude tests, Admiralty Interview Board, Medical then a long wait to see what if anything is offered.

The best tips I can offer are:

Get the medical side checked out soonest.
Do some extracurricular activities that show your desire to push yourself/extend your horizons. (participation in Duke of Edinburgh Scheme or team sports are good).
Read a broadsheet newspaper every day for several months prior to the Admiralty Interview Board.
Be yourself.
Be honest.
Learn everything you can about the current Navy, including all of the ships and aircraft operated, areas of operation, engines used, role of the vessels etc. (Navy News can be got from newsagents if you order it and get some books from the library).
Better still get yourself down to Navy Days for a good look around.

No doubt others will have more uptodate information, but best of luck. If you don't try you will never know.

Regards Obs cop