Thanks for the info ant, much appreciated! That puts my mind at ease a little, though I might just ask the psych to satisfy my curiosity.. Cheers!

Hey guys,

For anyone that has already been through PSA, do you know anything about distribution dates coming up? Last I heard RAAF not til Feb next year, but I'm hoping that has changed for some reason. Any ideas?

Thanks

Medical Appeals process
 

Hi,

Like most on this thread I am in the middle of a long and drawn out pilot application for the ADF. This forum has been a great help throughout the initial stages and specialist testing, so thanks to all who have contributed.

However, I have since been sent a letter stating I have been assessed as medically unfit due to "hypertension" (high blood pressure). Although disheartening, I plan on appealing this decision and was chasing a little help from those of you who have experienced an appeal and more specifically medical rejection due to high BP. As you can all probably relate, assessment day and getting poked and prodded is not the most relaxing environment and hence one may experience raised BP readings. Subsequent readings from my GP are below the stated guidelines and will form the basis of any appeal.

I would appreciate any help from those who can shed light on this process. Again many thanks.

Cheers
Dan

Dan

Get a specialist report- GP probably won't cut it. Aviation med qualified even better. They (RAAF avn Medicine) will only be doing the same with your appeal. Do their work for them, find a credible specialist to confirm your GP's findings.

Good luck :ok:

Oldpinger, lesnak, thanks very much for your advice. I have seen a specialist regarding this and hopefully with the help of my GP and further results disproving Avmeds findings I can get him to write a favourable statement. I presume any appeal would take time like you have experienced lesnak. I would very much like to hear your thoughts on other items which may add substance to any appeal, further to a specialists report.

Thanks again.

Cheers
Dan

Just got back from Tamworth and was recommended for Army SSO as my 1st preference. I was told in my OSB that SSO is almost non-existent at the moment, very few positions being handed out and likely to be that way till the backlog clears/new choppers come on line. GSO was the main avenue being pushed. I count myself very lucky as others were not being recommended for SSO. I was also told that there may not even be another intake this year for any of the services. :{

Lesnak, that is great news, well done.

Hopefully all things being equal I will have as much success with my appeal. Thanks again.

ADFA FSP Course # 201127
 

Hey guys,

I've got a mate of mine leaving for course # 201127 this Saturday at Tamworth for Flight Screening. Is anyone else going down for the same course? If so, PM me and I'll put you in touch with each other. :)

Nice work lesnak, hopefully more good news follows!

I spose I'll probably see your mate there Dilmah, but I won't be there for screening :ok:

Hi Lesnak,

Excellent to hear that. My husband has spent the last six months working towards specialist appointments and also lowering his cholesterol to the normal range without medication which he has done. After your suggestion he is also going to get his personal trainer to write a letter - who happens to be an ex commando.

Any hints on what you actually wrote in your appeal letter? I'm not sure where to start.

CHeers
Liz

Hey guys

If any of you who've done the FSP happen to have a few minutes to spare, could you please send me a PM as I have a few questions I would like to ask in regards to Flight Screening.

There is a good chance for me getting into one of the upcoming FSP/Boards and would really appreciate any information that can be shared. I am also beginning a re-read of the thread, but Id be extremely grateful for any snippet of info you are able to provide in regards to this.

Thank You.
Best Regards
Sep

Help with math and eyesight
 

If anyone is having issues with DFR with regards to maths grades or eyesight, I had to tackle those two issues a few years back and may be able to point you in the right direction.

When I went through I had to re-do Math B which I did via TAFE. This was after first having done a bridging course that I was told do to by DFR, who then subsequently denied it was valid...I'm sure I'm not the first or last to experience this.

Additionally one of my eyes was not 6/6, which means they take into account levels of astigmatism and I was out of limits. I ended up getting PRK laser surgery, however it was a 9 month battle with DFR convincing themselves it was not acceptable when in fact it was. That was 7 years ago and I still hear of people being told your can't get laser. You can, I have, and I'm in.

If you have specific issues within the bounds of these two areas feel free to PM me. I can also recommend Dr Stephen Holding, I did his two day aptitude preparation course in 2003 and found it really helpful.

Lastly, DFR seem to get a lot of people on the asthma bandwagon when they've never had asthma. I know of a few people who put down on their sheet that they'd had bronchitis and been subsequently rejected as an asthma risk. So don't give them something to look for as they will tend to find it whether it's there or not. Good luck.

Does anybody know when the allocations for the September FSP's are made? I had my hopes set on a spot in September, and have been checking the mailbox every day! So yeah, just wanting to know when i'd be notified if i did in fact make it on.

cheers

You usually get about a month's notice sometimes less. They will ring you if you get a spot. :ok:

Att: Army pilots
 

Hi,

Are there any current Army pilots available to answer a few questions?

Thanks

Questions
 

In The Weeds,

Thanks - I was hoping I'd catch your attention.

1. Following employment training at Oakey, what is the likelihood of being posted to 171 or 173 in Sydney as an SSO?

2. With respect to posting stability, and notwithstanding service needs and deployments etc, what is the general length of time spent at a particular squadron (lets say either squadron in Sydney)?

3. In light of the financial investment in pilots (and retention issues), how does the army treat its pilots with respect to posting preferences?

4. How is aircraft type determined during employment training (trainee preference or instructor recommendation)?

I appreciate you taking the time to shed light on these matters.

Thanks
Rito

In The Weeds,

Thanks for your response.

I note what you have said about 173, however would you elaborate on whether trainees are posted to 171 from Oakey (noting the nature of their role). Are there any particular squadrons that are sought after? Are there any least sought after squadrons?

When you say that army pilots are treated less favorably than RAN and RAAF pilots, can you give some examples to put this into context. I'm interested to know how army pilots are treated on a day to day basis by the hierarchy (in light of the fact that you are an officer and have a big responsibility flying expensive aircraft).

Thanks again mate.

Rito

Rito

Aviation in the army plays very much second fiddle to the other corps. It's just a function of where the army has evolved from and what its focus and point of view is. I guess you could say in the Army's eyes, the choppers and RAAF transports are just buses, the RAAF jets are just close air support. Not necessarily right or wrong, just a point of view.

So if you're in the army as a pilot you're not as much of a big deal as you would be if you were an infantry, special forces, or tank officer.

AY1483,

Thanks for your comments - much appreciated.

Check your PM.

Cheers
Rito

I finally had an assessment day!
Everything went alright and I've been recommended for board pending some requested docs. The bad news is I'm half a centimetre too tall for the Army which was my second preference! Half a centimetre!!