While it's not got a direct bearing on new officer applicants, it's worth bearing in mind that some, perhaps all current university bursary recipients are being re-boarded this summer. The aim seems to be to reduce their numbers by 30% or more. Those chopped will not have to re-pay the amounts already received, and those who are retained will be re-confirmed with a place on IOT up to a year after they graduate.

One thing I reckon will come out will be a rise in the pass score for aptitude tests for aircrew at least, which will affect those applying to OASC in the normal way. I can't guess on how high the bar will rise, but it seems pretty likely.

I had heard it was 40% of bursaries were being cut. And with regards to an increase in the aptitude tests, it increased in January when I attended OASC at that point it had been raised 125.

Just out of curiosity is it still 90 for AAC, and what is it for Navy?

The FAA has had an implied level at 130 - although you can get to AIB on >112, it's been rare for several years to get to BRNC on less than 130 for pilot.

As A_A says, there is a base line and a practical minimum. Bit like a grade D in GCSE; you have a GCSE but not one that is good enough.

I've seen a fair few WSOp (Cmn) return to OASC, be selected for pilot (and other branches) then commission and complete their training. However, I have seen a greater amount go to OASC and fail and then stay where they are without even wanting it.

Just so you know, funky, the training to become a breveted WSOp (rotary Cmn) will be 2 years minimum, with at least 6 months in an ocu. You'll then have to complete a frontline tour (at least 3 yrs), probably 2 (6), before your chain of command even consider letting you move on.

My moral is, only become a WSOp if you want to be a WSOp, don't use it as a vehicle to transport you to greater things, you'll only be disappointed.

Unchecked it quite right. In the past where there have been rapid transfers it has probably been in time of pilot shortages. In the 90s there was a successful nav-pilot crossover but once there was a sufficiency of pilots the scheme was dropped - why train someone twice?

One commercial operator, now defunct, did not even retrain his existing aircrew when he got a new type in. It made sense to let people highly experienced on an old type retire and recruit new blood trained on the new type.

RAF recruiters will become more commercial. Why lose a trained WSOp to pilot training (which he may fail) when he's already cost money to train and not fully repaid his training costs, even if he's done his ROS on paper.

A pilot with WSOp training won't automatically be a better pilot, plus he'll be older when he starts pilot training than a fresh young grad/DE, and thus a higher training risk.

On the other hand his/her airmanship might be pretty good

And make him more valuable on the sqn or in the OCU.

We all know sqn cdrs who have blocked people's careers to keep them and who have had people promoted and posted to get rid of them!

Purely playing devil's advocate you understand. I was always surprised at the reluctance of the Army to commission from the ranks, and impressed by both Dark and Light Blue who were very used to it and in modern parlance, embraced it. Buying a commission went out over a hundred years ago :E

Thankyou for replying NDW, I'm going to crack on and try my hardest to follow my dream

No problem & and I wish you the best of luck.

I'm in two minds at the moment, I'm not a defeatist by any means, but I am being realistic that I may not stand a chance in the years to come.

I would love to re-locate to a foreign Air Force such as the RAAF or the USAF and try to pursue a career as a Nav (or CSO or ACO - respectively), but its those damn Visa and foreign educational requirements problems as always.

Might have to call it a day and focus on something else - speaking of which I was accepted into Merchant Navy Officer training as a Deck Officer - but not sure that it is what my heart is set on :confused:.

Time will tell and I will have to see.

Thanks

NDW

How old are you? what sort of GCSE etc have you got mate?? Do you no if its harder to get in the navy as a pilot than the RAF.. I take it its the same, havent really researched that side yet. Have you considered the army air corps at all?

cheers

jobby89,

PM Sent!

OASC Bulletin 29
 

OASC Statement - Pilot Bursaries

This OASC post aims to dispel the misinformation in earlier posts, from other contributors to this forum, about pilot bursars who expected to enter IOT in this financial year.

Each bursar has been written to individually and made aware of how they have been affected by the SDSR and the options available to them as a result. However, none are required to return to the OASC for re-boarding, although all are required to attempt the current pilot aptitude test battery. Moreover, OASC will not be de-selecting any bursars to satisfy a quota; currently a training place remains available for all pilot bursars – albeit not in the timescale that was originally planned.


Please note that, although OASC will endeavour to answer generic questions that arise, we will not be engaging or commenting on individual cases. In those cases, the individual is advised to contact their nearest AFCO who will be able to deal with any queries. All information published is for information only.
Information regarding a career in the RAF can be found at http://www.raf.mod.uk/careers

Is it too much to hope that those who represent OASC are able to communicate in English? I can't be the only woh who thinks that makes no sense whatsoever.

MOTN, a former member of OASC would agree with you; they could not make sense of it either.

We must hope that the letter to individual receipients of pilot bursarys is more litterate.

got my phase 2 oasc date through the post on tuesday, 19th july, pretty excited about it, much preperation to do

Was that deliberate? :}

trash = litter