I didnt find it insulting I just wanted to make sure you knew what position I am in!

Your right I dont have a lot of knowledge about the RAF or NAVY thats why I'm on here asking questions!

Regarding A levels it doesnt matter which one you take as long as it gains you the qualifications. I advise you to HURRY UP and try to get them as quick as possible because if you dont youll be competing in a few years with guys with degrees from uni.

You'll need GCSE Cs or better in Maths and at least one English, but check. Clearly you need to take advice from your tutors on choice of A-levels - I know from my daughter's experience that Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology are all hard work!

You need to realise that to pass for Observer and Pilot you'll need very good mental maths skills. If you are struggling to get a C grade at GCSE then I'd question your chances, personally.

Hi,

Just to add my 2p's worth, i reckon anyone (appart from mathmatically dyslexic people) can learn quick mental maths. I use to be quite useless at it, but with enough work you can do it. :ok:

Ok thanks airborne_artist!

I beleive I am very good at mental maths (I actually enjoy it!) i'm just not very good at the other side of maths that's why I got a D at GCSE!

Ok then I guess my next step is to get some info from my local college on courses, etc.

Thanks for your replies!

Anyone else reading this that wants to post a comment please feel welcome!

Cheers

Sainty

I've been thinking about this quite a lot. I think things are far from lost for you sainty.

If you were to go and get your GCSE's and A levels by the time you are 23 you will have a couple of problems. Firstly, is that you'll only have one shot at OASC or AIB, so you'll have to get it right first time. Secondly, everyone else who is 23 and applying will most likely have a degree of some sort.

As such, you'll need to get your GCSE's and A levels to high standards (I'd aim for at least B's in everything). If you can do this I think you will show good character and this will reflect well upon you at OASC. At the end of they day, you'll just tell them that things didn't go well first time round, and that this made you realise just how much you wanted to be a pilot. You've then gone back to school or college and done what is necessary to get it. To me that would show great determination, motivation and commitment to the RAF. Coupled with the fact that you've got a PPL this would make you a reasonable character on paper.

Obviously, that is only one part of the selection process, and sucess is far from guaranteed. I had to go through OASC twice before getting selected for my bursary, and I can tell you that there is a lot more to the selection process than pure academics. You may not have a Masters in Engineering, but you may still make a good Officer.

All the best.

Noos

Hi,

Also go to your opticians and have an eye examination, as i believe its one of the things people fail the most on in medicals!!


BEst of Luck to you on it.

Sainty
 

Just to add my little bit.
As others have mentioned, grades aren't everything. My GCSE's weren't startling, my A levels thoroughly average, I did get a degree but not an essential qualification. I now do what you aspire to do (ok maybe not on the aircraft of your dreams!) so all is not lost.
My point is that grades are not everything. If it's what you want to do then go with it and you never know. You may well have a lot more to offer than simple academic ability.
BV:ok:

Sainty, I've been following this thread with great interest as I'm facing a similar dilemma, only Downunder.

Firstly, I also recommend seeing an optometrist. I found that if you have any problems with your eyes, no matter how minor, it could delay and upset the application process. I had applied for the RNZN for pilot, and had ticked a box on the Medical questionairre asking about wearing glasses. I had been told by an optometrist that I needed glasses for night flying, as I have very minor shortsightedness. This is not listed as a Restriction on my civi PPL medical cert.
The same optometrist provided the Navy hospital with the figures, and they said I had no problems and was above their acceptance standard. Long story short, tick the wrong box and without any evidence on hand you get mucked around.

Secondly, I would ignore any comments directed at any lack of knowledge of the Armed forces or the application process, as this is an ideal place to ask people with experience about the ins and outs of it all. Especially when other people say the selection boards will want to know how much you know about what you're getting into, and the job you will be doing. I would also say that you obviously have the drive or else you wouldn't be on here in the first place.

Lastly, I was always told that it pays to have a back up. This is after all, how I've ended up maintaining Navy helicopters, and not flying them. I'm 26, and am about to have a second try at applying. Even though it was said that it's a young mans game, I feel I have a shed load more life experience and skill than I had when I first applied at 17. Although it seems you have a tighter time line to acheive your goals, before you are "over the hill".

Good luck, ask as many people you can to build up a good picture of where you're heading, and I only wish as many Kiwis and Aussies used this forum as the Brits.

ED

Lots of b@llocks being spouted on here.
As long as you meet the minimum educational requirements, and in my case even though I didn't, the rest is unimportant.
OASC, AIB are interested in totally different things in a pilot than superflous academic rubbish.
We are not interested in swotty geeks with degrees any more than thickys.
We are looking for people that can do the job. End of.

If you are interested, I have 4 3's at standard grade, and an A in A level Design (read woodwork. I was really good. no seriously, you should have seen my fruit bowl.)
Both RAF and RN have passed me at OASC and AIB.

Why dont you prove how smart you are by going to the RAF careers website, would that not be the right thing to do rather than look for educational requirements on here!

He's not asking here because he wants to know what the requirements are. He's asking people's opinions on whether he has a real chance of getting in. Stop being so bloody negative. I seem to remember you asking plenty of questions about asthma etc. on this website too. The pair of you are not so dissimilar in your goals. How about giving the guy some help rather than pissing on his parade?!?

Totally the opposite, he was asking questions which could have been found out easily on the careers website, isnt it a rule to do as much searching before you start a thread. When i posted a thread i was asking for opinions and not facts because i had already done research on the subject. I wish him all the luck.

Don't bother with the military. Go straight for the profesional aviators... Go BA!!

Dont bother with the RAF/RN
 

Really have to agree with the last post. You will waste years holding, get treated like crap, have a high probability of being killed so someone else who doesn't give a crap about you can get rich from oil, if you don't get chopped first!:}

Go civvy flying, a lot more professional, safer, fun, less morally dubious in this day and age.

I have seen both sides and have to say it is twenty times better where I am now.:O

Wow first of all thanks for the top class reply's people!

Ok so i've been thinking about this for a while now and I think the best thing for me to do is to re-do my GCSE's this coming September, and after that aim for my A-levels!

The fact is I might not get the qualifications in time but at least it puts me in a better position than i'm in now! I'm also going to go back down to my AFCO and have a good chat with them there!

As with the posts about becoming a civvy pilot, that was one of the routes I wanted to go down but it looks too expensive for me, plus it wont be the same experience as doing it through the military!

JAG3 if all your going to do is make unnecessary little coments like you are then I dont want to hear them! noonoos is right when he says we are not so dissimilar so a little bit of kind advice would be much appreciated!

Many, many thanks to all your reply's and again if you have anymore to say on this matter please post!

Sainty

Col K
"Professional" means paid to work. In my part of the world ex-mil are prized by airlines because of the very good, disciplined training on top machines that they get. Any young bloke who wants to get real kicks out of aviation instead of just bus driving would be mad not to join military as the first step - BUT consider carefully the consequences of joining up in these times!
GAGS
E86
PS I've seen both sides including 12 months where some on the ground did not appear to like me overly much.

Sainty, I tried to reply to your PM, but to no avail.

I'd have to agree that military flying is surely more exciting than civvi flying. I haven't seen too many 737 pilots landing an a/c on a pitching, rolling and wet deck that's barely bigger than the a/c itself. Don't even need a hostie, the crewies love bringing the pilots their tea and sandwhiches. Yeah right!

I always wonder how civvi pilots have paid for their flying, especially when it seems that a high number of hours are required for even the most basic airline. Most civvi pilots I have met either won't tell me how they got to where they are, have had quite a generous and well off family member, or have slogged it for years as an instructor, living on the bones of their arse, trying to pay off their student loan. Therefore, I would say the Military is a good way to go for a young guy with big ambitions and little money. Especially when the civvi aviation world is overcrowded by pilots, like it is over here.

Question: Is anything other than the normal free registration required to PM people?:confused:

I did my AIB when I was 22, having gone back to night school to get a couple more O levels. I was informed that one of the primary reasons for my acceptance was this very fact. The determination to improve my qualifcations in order to further my ambition. (I didn't have a degree or A levels).

Unfortunately, I was then let down (just) by my eyesight. Joined anyway and ended up as an ATCO.