VS,

Thanks for the reply! Interesting point about not staggering flight lessons. Just out of curiosity, did you take your lessons as part of a program? Was it part of a PPL or can you book lessons without having/or working towards a PPL?

I just went to the flight school and asked to work towards my first solo. I didn't end up making it to solo, but by the first 10 hours I had a basic understanding of basic aircraft manoeuvres. But as I said; I staggered my lessons so I feel as though they were of limited benefit, though the board was satisfied with my motivation.

If for some obscure reason the flying school doesn't like your vague approach, I would imagine that doing the first 10 or so hours towards your GFPT would be a good way to go. Otherwise, I've heard gliding is an excellent way to learn and teaches you good rudder control, which sometimes receives less attention than it deserves from civvy flying instructors

Yeah, I'm starting to think I should book some powered flights as well. Not sure if gliding counts towards your license and it will surely be handy to know more about powered flight. So Very Sneaky, have you already gone to FSP? Are you currently waiting on an offer or are you already in?

After perusing the forums, it looks like the first test that you do during the spec testing is very strict, I could only find that it had something to do with dials?

Do some gliding and go solo there first before you do powered flying, once you convert 3-4 flights and you'll be solo there anyway + gliding teaches you much better co-ordination and rudder control. As someone who has gone solo gliding and done a bit of powered flying I can assure you gliding is much more challenging!

Just as a side note, the current Chief of Air Force started gliding and is still involved in the QLD Air Force Cadet gliding scheme - I personally walked him to and from a glider in 2010 when I was there.

With regard to the first test on aircrew testing, its just instrument reading nothing to hard, just be quick and accurate :ok:

I was unfortunately not lucky enough to receive an offer after FSP. I've learnt some hard lessons though, so I'll try to remedy my shortcomings and try again in a few years.

Good luck to all attending flight screening next Saturday ! :D

Would anybody have any idea about when to expect calls for the November/December flight screening?
:ugh:

There are no courses for December according to their schedule (http://www.airforce.gov.au/docs/FSP-...le-FY13_14.doc) and there is only one course in November for DEO, the rest are ADFA courses.

From talking with people who have gone to FSP you will receive a phone call giving you almost exactly 4 weeks notice. If you don't hear anything by the 3rd of October then you will be looking at a 2014 course.

Winged Wombat

True, but perhaps Slezy9 may choose to respond?

Over the years I think you'll find there have been quite a number of "I made it" posts on this thread. Perhaps this isn't in the best traditions of the steely-eyed warrior, but is in the tradition of people excited about their future career and gives encouragement to those still trying.

cheers
layman

LOL I am actually hoping to get a spot for the ADFA PSA. So, four weeks prior to the dates of the testing. Thanks mate

For those of you on the waiting list for distribution, I was recently informed by the PSA, when I had called to inquire about it, that the next round of distributions are in November for all three forces.

I'm apparently, right in the middle i.e. average, on the list of candidates. I hope I get selected in November, as my FSP file expires pretty early next year. However, given the low demand and intake numbers, I'm not so sure.

Well, just thought I'll share that info.

septerra,

Would you happen to know if that's just for DEO or whether ADFA offers are included as well?

Cheers

Layman,

Copied and agree. I might have gone a tad hard on Sleezy9.

But in the end the content of thread has returned to genuine and intelligent information sharing.

And for all:

As far as I'm aware, direct entry allocations occur throughout the year on a trickle feed basis. ADFA allocations are completed after the final ADFA course in December some time. I had a friend's son go though last year and he was not notified until quite close to Christmas.:)

Sounds like the perfect Christmas present to me. :ok:

'You have been accepted into the Australian Defence Force Academy'.

@captainsail

Sorry mate, I'm not sure about the ADFA side of things; I'm DEO myself.

Do any of you have a rough idea of how far ahead in time the files are sent to Canberra before an intake, at which point you receive a phone call from PSA? I was expecting that a November intake would perhaps require an intimation around this point in time, given it's just over a month away.

Nervous wreck. :sad:

I would have thought they would have waited until after all of the courses for 2013 were completed - but I might be right off the money.

FSP Dates
 

From what I've been told whilst at FSP there is a tri-service distribution for DEO on the 20th of November and the ADFA distributions will be after the last courses for 2013 are held and before January.

Flight screening spot
 

Hi guys,

I recently called up P.S.A in Tamworth to see if they could give me an indication on whether or not I may be competitive enough to get a spot on one of the four A.D.F.A flight screening courses that will be running mid November/December this year, and the FLGOFF told me that I had been ranked in the middle (average) and been paper boarded well.

Has anyone been in this situation..I'm so nervous and not too sure on whether I will be getting a spot.

Thanks :)

General flight screening info
 

Hey guys,

I had my assessment day on the 29th of August, ironed out a few medical issues and had a phone call on the 17th of September to go to screening starting on the 19th of October. Originally I was really excited about how fast it was all moving, but now I'm about 10 days out, and after a lot of phone calls I found out today that DFR has finally posted all my info for flight screening but I probably wont receive it for a couple of days still.

Can anyone provide some real basic info on screening so I can start preparing before I receive my info? Just things like what is the day to day routine like, what specific things should I be studying, I live south of Sydney, will I be getting their via bus or plane, and I've heard a few people say that I may need to have a prepared speech for OSB as well as impromptu speaking, can anyone shed any light there?

Any help at all is greatly appreciated, cheers!

Flight screening
 

I GOT A FLIGHT SCREENING SPOT!!! WOOOO!!!

Going up on the 16th of November! This is for the ADFA stream! Cannot wait!!

:)

Hey ToniAlessandra,

Good to hear, looking forward to meeting you!

I got my email this afternoon with most of the information, so that was pretty helpful. Still haven't received flight itineraries but I was promised I'd get them in the next two days. Any knowledge on speeches? I've been told all air force OSB's have to have a prepared speech but I have no info to say that that's fact.

Yeah, I got the email today as well, so I finally have a bit more of an idea about what to expect! Sorry, no I have no idea about the speech for the OSB but I imagine they wouldn't tell you what its about until just before.

I imagine I received my flights earlier because we probably deal with different Defence Force Recruiting Centres, as I am coming down from Queensland.

But for now I guess we will have to wait to see what to expect next week! :)

speeches
 

Hi Pigs, when I attended flight screening any speeches we did were "on the spot" or we were given a topic and time to prepare them. Most of the subjects were relatively simple and focused on our motivations for wanting to become pilots.

Hey guys, did you guys all get your pathology tests done before you were given a PSA spot?

Another Exception: have you been put on a flight screening course yet for the adfa stream?

Nah not yet..

Pathology tests come after flight screening

PSA called and I've been placed into course 44, beginning 3rd Nov, anybody else in the same boat? Exciting times :)

Captainsail, are you sure? I just had my tests but I haven't been to screening yet. :ooh: :8

PhilipMatejko - I have been contacted by DFR to get paperwork organised as they wanted to get me in for OSB. I'm not sure what to make of it though as 3rd of Nov is the last PSF/OSB (non-ADFA) for the year.

I was expecting a call today from DFR and had a few questions lined up. One of them being the order of events.

I haven't had an assessment day (military and psych interview), I have only had the YOU day and pilot aptitude testing. Originally my education wasn't up to par so I've spent the last four months getting HD's in Math and Physics at university. Am I correct to think that PSF would be the last part of the application process?

I have also read that GSO's may do the PSF in the first year of RMC. This doesnt make sense to me as you need to do OSB to see which faction will make you an offer if any. Can anyone confirm this?

Thank you,
Preo

Huh, didn't know that. I had mine after flight screening despite the ~3 months between assessment day and FSP, so I assumed that's how it was. My mistake :rolleyes:

FSP Recommendations
 

To those who have successfully completed FSP,

Did any of you who were placed in the middle of the pool end up getting a RAAF offer? And if not what services did you hear from?

1. Order of events: YOU, Specialist Testing, Assessment Day (Initial Medical, Psychological, Job Interview), Flight Screening, Further Medical (involves Pathology and Dental tests and only occurs if you get a recommendation), Letter of Offer.

2. There are two ways that a GSO can be a pilot in the Army. The first is to go to flight screening and get recommended as a GSO Army pilot, which involves being given what's called an "aviation scholarship"(or cadetship?) to RMC. This essentially means that you've been streamed into the specific pilot role prior to going to RMC. The second, and the way that all other GSO's gain a specialisation, is to attend RMC and be streamed to a specialisation based on your results on course. I'm not sure about the specifics of how this is done, but I would imagine that specialisations requiring a higher level of aptitude would require better results (seems obvious), also with consideration for the demand of that particular stream. This second method of attending RMC without a specialisation is likely what you've read is in reference to. A candidate in their first year of RMC (who doesn't have a specialisation already) could attend FSP to determine whether they would be suitable for the aviation stream.

Does this make sense?

This is based on my understanding of what I've been told, so if anybody who has actually done this has more up to date info or can correct me on any point please do so.

Thank you VSneaky. :ok:

Yes it makes sense, I cant see the second method of pilot GSO entry as being beneficial to anyone who knows they want to be a pilot.

I am hoping that I get my Assessment day very soon. Would be very happy to get FSP done this year.

Offers
 

Hi Guys,

Could someone please tell me how many candidates will receive letters of offers to become Pilots in the ADF through the ADFA stream.

And when do PSA send out the letters?

Thanks!

Hey GIA,

Your best bet for that question would be to contact PSF directly, I forget their number but I think you can find it on the air force website

FSP OSB
 

G'day everyone,

Just signed up to this forum and the information in it has proven to be very helpful.

Wondering if anyone else is heading up to Tamworth for FSP and OSB on the 19th this month?

Cheers :ok:

Very Sneaky,

That should clear it up for these guys. You almost sound as if you work at RMC or the PSA?????:sad:

Do the guys who go to RMC first and want to be pilots get to go to flight screening? Also, is the sign on period the same for GSO and the other pilot type?

Haha nah I don't work there WW! I just had a couple of in depth conversations with the Army rep Maj. Heffernan while I was at PSF. He was very helpful at clearing these kind of questions up.

As far as I'm aware you can't be streamed to the pilot role without attending flight screening, so I would assume that this would take place at some point during RMC. As preo mentioned earlier, there may be an opportunity to do so within the first 12 months. If selected for the aviation stream, all GSO candidates go through BFTS at the conclusion of RMC.

In terms of sign on period, the sign on period for GSO is 13 years where it is only 9 years for SSO. I would assume that this difference would have something to do with the length of training. GSOs spend 18 months at RMC, where SSOs only spend 32 days, but this may also be due to the fact that GSOs are considered 'career' officers, where SSOs are essentially just there to fill a position, at least this is the way it was explained to me. This is however reflected by the limitations placed on progression of the SSO pilot to a maximum of Major or, under special circumstances, Lieutenant Colonel.

Hey ryankjames,

I'm heading up to screening on the 19th also, definitely some mixed feelings about the next two weeks. Very nervous, but excited as well. Looking forward to meeting you

Good luck to those going to PSF tomorrow. Hope to hear good things and details, haha.

I have spoken again to DFR and it defiantly sounds like they wanted me for the early Nov FSP, PSF but I still haven't heard back about an assessment day. If it doesn't happen very soon I guess all spots will be filled and I'll be waiting for next year.

I have however done a bit more gliding and am booked in for a powered aerobatics lesson next week so I have something to look forward to even if they don't get me in.