Gday stoneley,

We're in a similar boat it seems! I've just handed all my medical results off to DFR to have my medical status determined and awaiting a response before my file is sent to PSA.

My understanding is that PSA select candidates from the top of the list of recommended applicants to fill each individual course, where a candidates rank is determined by a number of criteria (of which flight motivation is one) and qualitative comments by your defence interviewer. Flight experience indicates motivation so it is probably desirable to have this (but doesn't necessarily infer any advantage at FSP or during training), however motivation can also be expressed in other ways so it is not the be-all and end-all. Your name will remain in the pool for 12 months or until your rank falls within range of selection and you are sent a letter of acceptance to FSP.

Your enlistment coordinator should be able to confirm your competitiveness in relation to other candidates and where you sit on the list (I'm pretty sure anyway), short of this I've heard of people calling PSA directly to find out.

Hope this helped!

Cheers,

VS

Hey Stoneley,

I have also had my file sent to PSA recently. As VS said, the time taken for them to send you a letter of invitation depends on how high they rank you.

My enlistment coordinator said that I would probably hear from the PSA before she did, so I suggest you call the RAAF switchboard on 1300 333 362 and ask them to connect you to PSA where you can ask them how your file is doing.

Hopefully see you and VS at Tamworth soon!

Stoneley,

VS has summarised it very nicely. There's probably not much you can do now but wait and hope that you become competitive to be invited to the FSP.

Don't waste your time though. Start preparing for the Officer Selection Board. Procrastination is never rewarded in this game and as I say, "You make your own luck" through hard work, a determined approach and detailed preparation.

WW

Hi guys,

I'm also currently in a similar situation to a few of you. Just passed my assessment day for RAAF pilot and engineer- and now been reccommended for the Flight Screening Board and also OSB for engineer. I'm currently in yr 12 and want to got ADFA. I haven't had any flight experience though - is that really going to be an issue?
If anyone's got any tips for either, they'd be greatly appreciated :)
Also if anyone knows to get in contact with a RAAF pilot or aersopace engineer, or if there are any on this thread willing to talk to me that'd be great :)

Hi ATP,

You'll find the answer to flight experience in my previous post directed to stonely44. As for tips, I recommend reading through this thread in its entirety. I understand it is a long thread, but it is filled with tips, advice and experiences from people who have taught on FSP and BFTS, as well as people who have been through the process and been both successful and unsuccessful.

I see you're from NSW... did you get a chance to go to Avalon for the airshow last weekend? It would have been a perfect opportunity to have a chat to a few pilots as well as engineers with the trade exhibition on, and (if memory serves correctly) a lot of engineers are based at Point Cook. If not, I'm sure there a few people on these forums who would be willing to point you in the right direction :)

Cheers

VS

April flight screening
 

Anyone got onto the 28th april FSP?

I'm assuming you did? Out of interest how long ago did PSA receive your file?

Thanks Very Sneaky, I live on the south coast which is quite a fair way from Avalon and Point Cook. My nearest Air Force base is in Williamtown which is 4hrs away :/ Yeah i've had a bit of a read of the thread and the info's all really great but also from a few years ago, i was just trying to get advice from those who have really recently gone through the process (wasn't sure if anything has changed much or not). Trying to get in touch with people is hard for me, being where i am, which is why i'm trying this thread

Hey ATP9, give Williamtown a call and ask to arrange a base visit, they will tell you to organise it through your enlistment coordinator. Ask then for the email to send the application to and make a note of the name of the person you speak to. That way you can give this information to your enlistment coordinator without them turning around and saying that they dont have a contact at the base. You should be able to get a visit organised pretty easily, and get a chance to talk to some pilots.

Thanks heaps, i'll give that a try. Also does anyone know what the extra medical tests for pilot entails??
Again - big thanks to you guys for helping me out here

As in post FSP? If i recall correctly they do a dental check and a blood test.. I have a feeling I'm forgetting something though.

Hi Guys,

I'm interested in joining the RAAF and will apply within the month. What would my chances of applying for pilot be? I'm 32 and I don't have a degree. Is this a requirement? Or is there a way you can prove you skill and dedication to the job without such qualification?

Regards

No, as in before FSP (I think). They told me on my assesment day that they did all the tests they could and I was class 3M which as good as I could be, but that I had extra tests I had to do for pilot at a later stage...

Quite sure there is a rather intensive eye check in there too! It's interesting how this doesn't occur before flight screening. I guess it must cost DF a bit.

Ps thanks for the great replies.

Thanks guys. yeah i contacted my DFR and the lady said they do the tests post Flight Screening because of the cost.

Hi Resolute,

This is taken straight from pilot career info on the DFR website:
"...preferred maximum age on entry to ADFA is 24.5 years so that candidates will not be more than 27.5 years of age on commencement of pilot training. Applicants older than 27.5 years of age may be considered for selection if they demonstrate significant potential for Air Force Pilot training."

I would assume you would have to score exceptionally well at the YOU session and really impress at Assessment to even be considered for flight screening. In terms of showing dedication to the job I’m sure they would want to know current/previous employment and flight motivation (i.e have you done any flying). It's likely that DFR staff would discourage your application due to your age, however nothing’s impossible if you want it badly enough. Keep in mind the IMPS for RAAF pilots is 13.5 years, so you’ll be over 45 years of age before you can even leave.

I wouldn't say don't fly rotary wing, however remember you will have to do about 220 hours of fixed wing training before you start on rotary wing in the ADF system.
Get yourself about 15 hours on fixed wing. It's also a helluva lot cheaper than paying for helicopter time!

Hey guys,

I am currently going through the process of becoming an ADF pilot, and and last week i got the call to attend Flight screening on the 11th of May. I was wondering if anyone can give me some good tips on how to fully prepare for not only Flight screening board but also the Officer selection board? i am a bit lost at the moment and any help would be much appreciated, Cheers.

Mate i am on the 11th of may one, so i might see you there

Hey jonesb101,

If you haven't done so already, go back and read this entire thread (maybe from here back, some of the earlier stuff might be a bit outdated). There's an enormous amount of helpful information in here about everything to do with the whole process. If you've got any specific questions feel free to message me and I'll see if I can help.