Remember to listen, and learn to read a clock!:ugh:

Excellent man. Haha I know, the last couple days have been the happiest I've had in a long time. I first applied back in August 2008. Patience pays off.
That goes for anybody else applying as well. Stick at it. If being a pilot is what you really want to be then don't ever deter even for a nanosecond. If it's meant to be then it'll happen, but that doesn't mean that you won't have to work hard for it. Its been a fairly harrowing 14 months. Keep at it.


The Dos, tell me a bit about yourself mate.
My name is Matt, I'm 21 years old, living in Perth.
As was forementioned, the last 14 months of my life have been spent working towards this moment. I had my assessment day in July and have been clearing up medical issues since then so it felt pretty good to hear back from the PSA so soon.

KD.

Hey Kunedo

my names Hayden, from the gold coast, 20 and applied last November. Have you done any flying before?

Dos

Yeah I've done a few flights in my hometown of Albany in a family friend's Cessna 182. I've done about 5 flights since I was 15. They were mainly joy rides but they gave me the taste I needed to spur me to apply. I had always wanted to get my private licence when I was younger but could never afford it. How about you? Have you received any emails or letters from PSA? I was told to expect it within a couple days.

I have done a fair bit of flying I am currently working towards a CPL but since this has been going on I am putting all of my time into the RAAF on prep. Not as yet I haven't got any emails I am waiting for those to with baited breath.

Awesome. Well I look forward to meeting you there.
October 10th cannot come soon enough.

Until then...

KD.

Y.O.U Session
 

Hi there
Could anyone please give me a run down of the written testing (specific's please) at the Y.O.U Session.
Thankyou kindly.

Wow :)
 

(I'm new here, don't mind me)

This thread is absolute gold, I have no idea what I'd do without the 20+ pages on here. :)

I'm currently in High School over in Perth (10th Grade to be more exact), and like most others here, being a Pilot is the only damn thing in the world I could see myself doing, so like any committed person, I've been trying to do some prep for the YOU session and hopefully Specialist Testing in pursuit of ADFA-Entry Pilot. At the moment I've bought the "Wings Book" from here : Get Your Wings. How to become a Pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force. (RAAF) And I've downloaded a book called "Military Flight Aptitude Tests" by Solomon Wiener, which looked pretty good, but it's tailored for applicants aspiring for the US Armed Forces (Are their tests *that* different to ours?)

So without getting too long winded

- Are there any other books/materials that would be of use?
- For someone aspiring to ADFA, how badly would only doing double maths in Year 12 affect me? (There's been a major course overhaul for maths over here, so yes, that IS possible)
- In regards to the maths end of Pilot Specialist Testing (assuming I get that far), what are the questions like? Are they "Aviation Maths" focused or more general?

Hello all, I'm also new!

Firstly, I'd also like to say a HUGE thank you to all the people who have made contributions to this merged thread over the years. The advice and general discussion in here has been a monumental help, and a lot of inspiration. It's so pleasing to see so many aspirations turn into a reality. Well done to all you guys and girls who have been selected!


A bit about me: I'm 27, and I've just finished my apprenticeship in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, working in the Deep Maintenance of the C-130H at RAAF Base Richmond (hence waiting till now to submit my application). I stumbled across this thread at the start of this year, and submitted my Direct Entry application at the start of July. I passed the YOU session and the Specialist testing in July and August, and I'm in preparation now for the Assessment session which I have on the 29th - next Tuesday.

I was just wondering, is anyone aware of how early the flight screening courses get booked out? I've looked at the flight screening schedule for the rest of this year, and there's only 4 DEO courses left - starting the 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st of October. Assuming I do well enough in my interviews on the 29th of this month (fingers crossed!), which courses, if any, would still have positions yet to be allocated? If it's possible for me to receive an offer for the start of next year, I want nothing more than to be there!




Dilmah: I have both of those books.

Wings is OK, but it does seem to contain a lot of information that is available off the RAAF sites, a lot even copy-pasted by the look of it.

The 'Military Flight Aptitude Tests' book is pretty good. There's a few tests/types of questions that are common to our tests (for example the stuff on instrument comprehension/aircraft attitudes), but most of their tests are different. It's still good just getting used to completing tests in the specified time frame.

Another thing I found helpful was a workbook you can download from Flight Aptitude Test Guide for RAF OASC Cranwell FATS - about $15. Gets you used to the Time Speed Distance questions. They're not particularly difficult questions, it's just useful to speed up your calculations.

Here is another Time Speed Distance source. Not as good, but free.

Here - Another useful thread if you need the practice.


There is some 'general' maths, more so in the YOU session testing, but the Spec testing I'd say is more 'Aviation Maths'.

I hope that's helpful!


Also, good luck KuneDo and the dos. Hopefully I'm right behind you. :OK:

Thanks Jimwyze. Best of luck to you also. I'm sure you'll do fine, just keep at it.

Tony360: I've seen the website, lowest form of maths acceptable is Applicable, which is roughly equivalent to what I'll be taking in Year 12 + the equivalent of G+T, which is the subject that leads onto Calculus. And as far as age goes, I'll be 16 and a half in 10 months, so I'll be putting my application in during the next year. I've got about 40 minutes on an introductory flight in a 152, and about 4 hours right-seating on a 172 a few years ago. School grades are hovering around B+ to A- at the moment, so I'd say they were *okay* for the time being. I'm guessing they count a lot for ADFA applicants? On that note, if one were to ace Spec Testing and have B+/A- kind of grades, would it count more than someone who had just passed Spec Testing and had A+'s all round in relation to Flight Screening spots? jimwyze: Thanks a million for those links. :) Yeah, I noticed the copy-pasting going on in the Wings Book (Oh, and Good Luck to you!). I can do the spatial questions with the aircraft and the compass fairly easily that they have in the American Book + The Wings Book, Instrument Reading seems to get a fair few people down though..

Tony360

Civilian flying qualifications are not a requirement for ADF selection. An interest in aviation to the best of your economic abilities/personal situation is much more important. I'll expand- if you can't afford to fly, you will not be disadvantaged compared to someone who isn't as passionate but has 500hrs because they can afford it.

Do whatever you can to get into aviation and you won't go far wrong.

Well, actually no.

What they assess at FSP is rate of learning, NOT what you know already.

Tony, you seem quite an expert for 17??

Experience is used to see if you do the basic or advanced version of the course, ie whether you do less or more sorties in the CAP10. Talk to your contact at PSA for details.

Didn't mean anything ref the expert comment, good effort on the PPL at high school.:D, just be careful with giving definitive advice as there are people on proon who have direct experience in this field, both past and present who do actually know the answers and are willing to help!

Happy Flying:ok:

I have recently returned from FSP. There were 4 people on our course that had NO flying experience what so ever!! Three of these people received decent stanines and were also recommended. There was also a guy that had an excellent flying scores (average 8) with 200+ hours and a CPL that was not recommended.
They are not assessing how good of pilot you are already but rather assessing how 'trainable' you are, and on top of that and most importantly your officer qualities. Someone with no CT-4 time compared to someone with 20+ hours would be on an even playing field. Sure you may know the aircraft a little better but you don't know the techniques and sequences that they want you to know instinctively.

<br>Dilmah: Your motivation sounds spot on! And by the sounds of it if you keep your school marks up and you go well in your Spec and Assessment testing, you will be placed very well. PSA recognize that not everyone is able to afford flying lessons. There are many other ways to show your enthusiasm and motivation if you can't afford these lessons. Such as going to air shows, talking to pilots and having as much knowledge on the ADF and aviation history as possible.<br><br><br>

Hey Georgo, I take it your eyesight test went well?

Congratulations mate. I read posts like yours with much envy, but also much anticipation. :ok:

Might I ask out of interest, why 26 or 27 until you applied?

Tony360: Ah, I see, thanks. Well in regards to Flight Experience, I'm taking a seventh subject, Aviation Studies, for one hour a week in Years 11/12. At the moment I'm taking only the theory component, but I have the opportunity to undergo an accompanying Practical Component, which of course, involves flying. At the moment, I'm debating whether to take the Practical Component, though I've heard that pilots with extensive previous experience find it hard to adjust and have "Bad Habits" in regards to military flying and so on. Georgo: Thanks for that advice, I'm in the process of learning where the RAAF's Squadrons are base/Which aircraft they operate etc.. I'm in two minds whether to pursue flying lessons, would it be *that* much of a plus in the eyes of the OSB, assuming I got that far? The other issuing which is bugging me is my eyesight, I've heard about laser-surgery being accepted, and I think I may have read a bit on it on this thread, but at the moment I'm -3.5 in both eyes. I'm not completely sure how that'll affect me...

Ah yeah, I've read that a few times. Well, if I didn't love every second of being strapped into an aging 152 and a 172, then I wouldn't be putting every fibre in my body behind this. :) The cost as well is what's prevented me from going up recently, the local HJ's laid me off because they were "Overstaffed", and that was a year ago. The part-time job front hasn't been looking very good to me lately, however I think I might be able to get in for work experience at RAAF Pearce about this time next year.

Yeah, I've had an extensive read on Laser Surgery in the past few months, including a Defence Health Article relating directly to the issue. Are there any School-Leavers currently at ADFA now or in the RAAF after having succesfully gone through the process after undertaking LASIK/LASEK? I sent an e-mail to DFR about the issue, they told me eyesight for aircrew positions was assessed on a case-by-case basis. So either way, I'm going to wait until the medical and see what they have to say.

Read the thread.

FSP
 

Got my call yesterday for October FSP! (24th-7th)

Over the moon and relieved to say the least. I have been praying on that call for a while. I had my assessment back in late June. I'm 31 so I was feeling a little old compared to most of the others on the day! Just need to knuckle down now, study big and do the hard yards at FSP, can't wait. :cool:

Chris

Congrats :)
 

Congrats CJ, and good luck! :)

Cheers Dilmah and right back at ya! :ok:

Waaaaahhhhh!:)

CS

Well, just finished a tiring battery of tests at Spec in Brissy today. Passed - and finished all of the tests with a bit of time to spare! Thanks to everyone on this thread that offered advice, it all worked out ok in the end. Seems like a big hurdle, but then again, theres no doubt that it wont be the most stressful one in the career we're all aiming for, nor the last one where its all on the line. So this can only mean one thing - back to the books, because the toughest part is yet to come! :}

Well done Chris, good luck at flight screening!

Mudrat - I'm in the same position as you mate, having completed spec testing. I like to focus on one hurdle at a time, the dream seems more ascertainable that way... :ok:

Don't suppose you have a good idea of what to expect at assessment day? I've done my homework (and read the rest of this extensive thread!) - theres a psych and defence interview, medical .ect, but what I'd really like to know is whether anyone here has done it recently and can give me any fresh insight into the process?

I happen to know someone that used to do the psych part of this assessment and previously the OSB for the RAF at Cranwell, but all he has to tell me is "What they're assessing in your interviews are: 1. If you've bothered to research the job and 2. whether you're good at interviews!" Another bloke has told me it was all very straightfoward with little questions like "whats that plane in the picture on the wall" and whatnot and was all very easy and streamlined. On the other hand, I've heard some disaster stories!

Rest assured, I've been getting to know the trade through talking to the guys who either currently fly for the air force or those who used to, and reading over all the info I could get my hands on over the last few years, but I think that last ounce of confidence gained through knowing what's to come from those who have been there would be invaluable!

Gents,

Dont get too wound up over flying experience or lack there of. I have seen trainees with instructor ratings fail the course, where those with limited prior knowledge have aced the course. Remember, the PC9 is a different kettle of fish to the CT4.

MudRat,

Did mine about 6 weeks ago.
When you get there they get you to fill out a behavioural questionnaire, maybe 30 questions. As with all behavioural q's answer honestly. This will be used by the psych tester to confirm that what you say in the interview matches up. Before you have the psych interview, they put you in a room for 15mins and you have to write a short essay. Then they interview you. I think this goes for about 30-45mins. She was madly writing a lot down about what I was saying. Questions like "when was the last time you took an elicit drug?", "never" of course is the right answer. (Note: how that question assumes that you HAVE taken elicit drugs - psych tactics) Bare in mind that all this info is being taken for future reference in OSB etc. So what you say may come back and bite you if you have been telling lies and wind up contradicting yourself later.

Then interview with defence personnel. Mine was from the army. This was suprisingly easy for me but i think i got lucky. This guy asked questions like what is that plane on the wall, nothing obscure just one that the RAAF operate. Then where will your training take you in terms of OTS, BFTS, 2FTS, where ARE these places located ie, on a map. Once this guy could see I had done my research he just told war stories of his time in the ADF and how cruisie his job was and how good the view was from his office window. NOTE, he was asking questions straight off the website on his computer, then would take a sec as he read through it to check that i was right. :rolleyes:

Then the medical. Ishihara test. You can get a hold of this online and memorise the numbers if you really want. Though i wouldn't recommend it. Nothing that special about the medical other than you either are medically fit or your not. Oh, and wear nice undies for the duck waddle they make you do. :O

I got FS on the 17th of Oct. Anyone else out there going down then? I have about 6000 words to write for my last semester of a Bachelor or Aviation and a heap of study to do for the RAAF. Only two weeks to do it. My pants are about to explode!

I trust you lot will show a little more enthusiasm for flying than the course that’s here now. Pulling a sickie because you can’t hack flying more than once a day doesn’t go down well.:hmm:

Cheers for the information aviationascent!

Thats very surprising! I suppose some get there and realise its not what they thought an aviation career, let alone one in the defence force, would be like. Do these blokes have much experience? Sounds strange to me, I'm convinced after talking to all the relevant people and getting up and having a fly whenever I can that there's nothing else I'd rather be doing!

Just out of curiosity, are you one of the BAE or ADF blokes based at the facility in Tamworth?

No.
You and me both. However I guess if it isn’t an air conditioned cockpit flying straight and level it isn’t Gen Y’s thing!:hmm:
Nice try. Have a look back through this thread and draw your own conclusions.

Only once a day? These Instructors sound a bit soft ;)

Bluddy flying - interferes with uckers!

Its always worth a try! Conclusions already drawn ;)

Looks like I'll be in good stead; all that glass-canopy experience gliding on a blistering mid-summer Queensland day will really play in my favour! Then again, I bet its a different kettle of fish alltogether when its a plastic parrot and you've got an instructor assessing you all the while!

On a more serious note, FSP couldn't come soon enough. Really looking to get into one of those mid January FSP slots for DEO next year. Anyone got an offer for next year, or know if they are even thinking about filling those places at the moment?

Aviationascent - I have a feeling we're both working on the same assignments :ugh:

hey guys

I wish i'd joined this forum earlier, I've completed my interviews with Defence recruiting in Brisbane and have a place on the FS Course on the 17th of Oct, so aviationascent looks like I'll be meeting you in Tamworth.

Just out of interest, how long did you have to wait between Assessment day and getting the call for FSP?

Hostie crossing over to the other side :P
 

Hi everyone!

I am currently working as a good old air hostie but have been wanting to join the Air Force for years. Family circumstances and life led me in a different direction for a while... needless to say I am back on track again, well 5 years later :) What can I say... I have come to my senses :P

Wel...l I have my YOU day end of this month and I am getting myself into prep mode by studying up as much as possible on the Air Force, the recruitment process and what to expect.

For the girls/guys that have just recently been through the process, could I ask someone, if you have the time, to pm me.. and give me the low down on ACTUALLY what to expect?

The problem with researching on the net is that you never know what is accurate and what isnt. I don't want to stuff this up and I would be very grateful to anyone that could just drop me a line, instead of me having to spend hours reading through thousands of posts on here, distracting me from practising my aptitude tests :)

I would just love a heads up on what to focus on. I barely scrape enough time off work to sleep these days, so fitting in study too is tough. So prioritising is a BIG thing for me... plus it would be nice to make some friends in the process that think alike :P

Anyways, BIG congrats to everyone that has been successful recently and I hope to hear from a buddy soon!

Hannah

mudrat, I did my Assessment day on the 17th of Aug so it I had to wait about a little over a month between my Assessment Day and getting the call for the FSP

Cheers Alex!

That timing would work great for me (though I'm well aware that it varies). Pretty much guarantees FSP for me next year if ever, which gives me a great 'holiday' period to spend prepping.