Career as a pilot!
 

Hi guys,

Ok i've got a few questions to ask so if you would take time out of your busy schedules it would be much appreciated!

I'm currently just completing my PPL and I know that what I want to do for a living is to fly! I'm also stuck in a pretty dead-end job so am looking at my options. Now one thing that strikes me is to join the RAF as a pilot.

Only problem is my qualifications are'nt up to scratch. Now I want to go back to college to polish up my GCSE's and get a couple of A-levels. I'm 19 so time is running out (cutout 23) but I beleive if you want something badly enough and put the work in anything is possible!

Question is will the fact that I had to go back to college to get my qualifications hold me back? Also if I join as a pilot how likely is it that I will become one?

Many thanks for reading this, any comments welcome!

Sainty

Future Piolt
 

In a nut shell going back to college will in no way hold you back or be held against you.

Unfortunatly the odds are always going to be against you in becomming an RAF Pilot. ie a shrinking air force, less aircraft equals less opportunities. Also still lots of young bright kids still out there still competing for those slots. Additionally selection tough, training long and tough.

That said still one of the best jobs in the world for a young single guy and if you dont try then you will probably always wonder.:ok:

Don't forget that the Royal Navy should (Gordon willing) be expanding their pilot force at a very fast rate in the next three years to gear up for the F-35. A dark blue suit will have the advantage of not being confused for RAC or ambulance staff, plus your accomodation will take you to all the best resorts on the way to the real fighting.

Fly Navy, eat Cr_b

What academic qualifications have you got? Not being nosy but essential for compitition wise on joining as military aircrew.

Do it, ASAP, or you'll spend your life wondering.

Bear in mind that the type of flying you'll be doing as a military pilot will not be like tootling around in your cessna. You'll work long hours, planning missions that you'll be so wrapped up in that the view out the window (in the aesthetic sense) is way down your list; you'll be looking for people trying to shoot you down or crash into you (ask a recently bed ridden turkish F-16 pilot) while looking for your target/LZ/friendlies/tanker etc.

Yes most of the people on this forum whinge about the job, I do too, but lets face it, if it was that bad we'd all leave. I talk-the-talk all the time but the pay is good and I haven't got enough hours to go to the airlines. Yet.

The truth is, we forget what its like to not be able to do the job and get blase about it. The every-day takes over; same-old same-old. Oh, hang on thats same old 250' 540kts (not for bombers!) over Wales, going supersonic, rolling inverted at 40 nose-up looking all the way up the coast, air combat, getting gunned by real fighters*. Who else can do that? Bizarrely, its more fun thinking back over it, than it was at the time- see first paragraph.

Thats the training though. Training to get sent so some A***-hole corner of the world to project foreign policy; then it's not so good- hence we all whinge.

None of us are conscripted and I know I'll be ready to leave when the time is up so don't listen to all the moaners here. Its probably because we don't have a "Professional Pilots Big Themselves And Their Jobs UP" Forum that you don't hear of all the good things that we should all sit back and think of.

Oh, and if you fail OASC, you could always FLY NAVY!

I'm going for a cigar now.

Ray

*(soz- gp2/3 mates insert your own fun trips)

As said above, you need to seriously consider whether you want to fly or fly as a pilot and an officer in the RAF.

Bear in mind that thousands of people apply every year to become a pilot. Competition is very fierce. You will need to work very hard to get in. It sounds as if your academics are not strong at the moment, so go and get the qualifications to the best of your ability - the maths and science subjects are favoured. There will be lots of applicants that are extremely qualified, so to maximise your chances, you'll have to show strengths in other areas too. Your motivation for joining will be examined, so you need to prove that you have wanted to fly in the RAF for a long time. If you are not already, think about working with Air Cadets - maybe as a CI. You need to maximise your exposure to the RAF. Also try to get involved with projects/expeditions/adventure training etc.

As for the question about the chances of becoming a pilot once you have joined. If you have been selected, then the board has placed a certain confidence (on your ability, motivation and work ethic) that you will achieve it. That said, I know a lot of old friends who ended up getting chopped or left of their own accord. More so than I imagined at the start of training.

Used to be the best fun you could have with your trousers on, dunno what it's like nowadays.

Nothing matters very much, most things don't matter at all.

You'll be lucky to Join the RN as a Pilot....were absolutely toppers with them at the moment. So full of them that we are cross training pilots to be Observers.

Volunteer as an Observer and they'll bite yer hand off....

RN as a Pilot-absolutely toppers with them at the moment
 

rafloo - what utter manure! However concur that anyone would be lucky to join the nations's premier air farce.

Whats manure? The fact that the Lynx force is overborne with Pilots and are re-treading 3 of them to be Observers? Sorry my friend...its gospel.

The guys that are being re-treaded, is this post wings or after being chopped from 702? It's quite normal for people who fail pilot training to get offered observer at NARB, isn't this just the case with these people?

I'd also heard a recent rumour that Observers who cross over to Pilot and subsequently fail to achieve single seat recommends are going back to being Observer and not offered rotary.

The first group of pilots who are being re-treaded are very much post wings....over 3000 - 4000 hours type guys. One is a 21/2 and the others are Lts The next batch may be more junior. The RN is desperately short of Observers...somewhere in the region of 30-35% gapped. Critical shortness....which is why the extreme measures of retreading experienced pilots to be Observers is taking place.

rafloo - are you telling me that the NavSec agreed that 3 x 3000hr+ pilots would be allowed to change specialisation? (and more importantly the pilots agreed?!!!) Are these FTRS types hanging on in there or blokes still on CC/FTC?

Rafloo.
3000 4000 hrs on lynx makes the pilot about 45 yrs old.
Methinks you talk cr@p

Think the first chap to start training is older than that actually. The process has been given the go ahead from VL....just waiting for fleet to endorse it and its chocks away (so to speak)

They are all FTC guys. (Not sure the appointer would let a CC bloke go)

I didn't say they had 3000-4000 hours on Lynx.

Prey tell what nature of foul photos does the appointer hold over these pilots to coerce them to do something so peculiar?

I think (not sure) the plan is to populate the new 809 NAS....

The first "pilot" is destined to be the first "Sobs" of 809 - how wierd is that

I think my Universal translator has just packed in.

Back to the point
 

Just to get back to the point of the original thread, there's no reason why you shouldn't aim high Sainty, but you've got a massive uphill struggle ahead. Unfortunately for you, there are plenty of kids out there who are sh*t hot and brainy as anything who nailed their qualifications first time, and a lot of them would kill for the job. Basically you're going to be at a bit of a disadvantage because of your age and that you failed to reach the standards first time. But that by no means makes in unachievable.

If you decide to do it (and my in my limited experience I'd say the job is awesome) you'll really need to prove to the RAF or RN that they need you.

Noos