The guys on the E3 did stay put it is true many ducking and weaving to retain their flying pay. I know some however that had to accept ground tours under ground to get the FC ground time in as E3 FC did not count as an in-branch tour.

This may have changed with the recognition that we are an expeditionary force.

getmeupthere

Then again there is the career pattern followed by a colleague of mine. Joined as an FC, worked hard and did well but felt that better reward was to be found elsewhere. Left and became a civilian air traffic controller. Did well again, worked in the tower at LHR. Worked for his commercial pilot licence during this period. Left ATC and is now a 737 captain. The common thread running through this was that he put everything into whatever he did but made sure that he alone made the decisions about his future, not relying on ther people or organisations.

Good luck whatever you decide.

YS

Branch Change...
 

... post IOT -

In 2 words - No Chance! While there is some flexibility before you start training, once you are in uniform, that's it!. It is even included as a warning in the final brief before you leave OASC,

Quote
"Once you have accepted any offer that is made, it is highly unlikely that you would subsequently be able to change"

If you do request a branch change before you even start professional training, you are begging the question 'why did you accept the offer in the first place?' and the follow-on ' Maybe the RAF would be better off without someone who doesn't know what he wants'!

Getmeupthere,

M2 is spot on. I am not 'the horses mouth' but I am pretty in regular touch with it!

In reply to a point raised earlier in the thread the pass rate for FC is 60% or thereabouts at the moment.

Good luck whatever you decide.

JD

Mach 2 its not that i dont know what i want. I have always stated throughout, the thing i want the most is to get a commision into the service, its just i would love more than anything to fly but can accept under the current circumstances that its extremely tough to be given the chance to. Therefore i will try to branch change and if i am not successful i will happily continue with the roll of F/C and give it my best.

Thanks for all the input i no feel i know alittle better what to expect and have been made aware of certain facts such as the chop rate and how getting airbourne although possible unlikely due to the E-3 F/Cs staying put the minute they get their paws in the door, fair play to them id love to be given that opportunity.

Thanks Again all

There has been a lot of good advice given to you, getmeupthere, but I think something has been overlooked. Have you thought about an aviation career in the RN or AAC? There are good opportunities avail as a pilot or observer in either of these Arms of the forces. There are also Common Wealth Countries that you could look at...........

Good Luck whatever you decide.

:ok:

Bruiser Loose,
The Navy boys still have observers, but I think the AAC got rid of observers and gunners years ago.

Good luck anyway Getmeupthere...
Regards,
M2

RN observers are trained as fixed-wing and rotary pilots.

getupthere,

Now for a bit more advice whatever you do. Use CAPITAL letters where appropriate. It is I not i and it is never raf.

It is correct to say raff in the context riff-raff but NEVER in the context of the Royal Air Force.

Nothing will go down better at OASC than to here a candiate say he "Wants to join the raf to fly."

ARE A EFF but never raf.

Incidentally "want to join the RAF to fly" will immediately open you to the next set of questions: Why? What? Waht do you know about . . . "

The interviewer is always setting you up for opening questions. If you do not want to go down a given route make you first answer adequate and closing.

"I want to join the RAF to fly in fighters because . . . " It will still open up the interview but gives you more control.

Either that's not what you mean to say, or you don't know what you are talking about!

An observer in the RN is what the RAF used to call a navigator, and their front line role is in Merlin ASW, the Sea King ASaC (AEW), or in the Lynx.

Pilots are pilots and obs are obs, and that's it! See the RN page on the subject.

I got my information from working with helo aircrew, who said that their observers had to qualify fixed-wing before progressing to helo, and that they had to be able to fly the beast as well as do their "day job".

I will happily defer to anyone who anyone who knows better and hang my head in shame....:{

RN obs train on the Jetstream, so perhaps that's where the FW connection came in.

The RN website says that some Obs (and it won't be many) may sit in (RAF) Nimrods, but they have had no in service FW role since the Phantoms, Buccs and Gannets were withdrawn.

I understand that the bar for entry has been raised and that pilots have to have "passed" for obs on their aptitude testing. Whether it's also the same in reverse I don't know.

I didn't mean to mislead anyone, sorry. What I meant to say was one could have a successful career as a pilot or observer in the FAA and a pilot in the AAC.

Airborne artist is correct when he says the only connection an observer has with the FW community is during training on Jetstreams. Observer's have no formal training to drive helicopters, standfast the one-eyed freak show boys on 849 Sqn, who get a little.

The aptitude requirements stated earlier are correct. To go any further in pilot selection, a candidate must pass for both pilot and obs. The same is not true for observers, who need only pass for obs.

Hope this clears things up.

Fly safe, :ok: