Flying School vs RAAF
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Flying School vs RAAF
Hello
I was directed here by a friend who said that I should the questions I asked him to the pilots who on this forum.
I'm a mother and have a child who is turning 17 later this year and when the talk of career paths come up, we often have a clear confliction with how he should persue his ambition of becoming a pilot.
I've asked my friends and they seem to agree that a flying career through the RAAF would be the best choice but my son says that the RAAF are for those who have a desire to be a military pilot instead of a civilian pilot (which is what he wants to be).
So, the question that I am asking you would be which career pathway would you say is the most logical in terms of my son's career choice?
I understand the fees that I would need to pay if he undertook flying lessons at Bankstown.
Thank you to all!
I was directed here by a friend who said that I should the questions I asked him to the pilots who on this forum.
I'm a mother and have a child who is turning 17 later this year and when the talk of career paths come up, we often have a clear confliction with how he should persue his ambition of becoming a pilot.
I've asked my friends and they seem to agree that a flying career through the RAAF would be the best choice but my son says that the RAAF are for those who have a desire to be a military pilot instead of a civilian pilot (which is what he wants to be).
So, the question that I am asking you would be which career pathway would you say is the most logical in terms of my son's career choice?
I understand the fees that I would need to pay if he undertook flying lessons at Bankstown.
Thank you to all!
Hi,
The two disciplines (Civillian and Military) are very very different and are like vegemite (You either love it or hate it). I went the civilian route, whereas my brother took the military route. We occassionally sit down and swap stories and I can tell you from a person who always wanted to fly civilly, the military way of doing things seems quite different to how I was taught and how I would go about things, the initial training side of things especially. Therefore trying to do the military training simply as a cost mitigation technique may be self defeating, as if a person fails the military training, there is not much carry across for prior learning to the civillian side of things, except past the half way mark.
If your son wants to fly civilly, then yes, he is up for quite an expense. There are many good flying schools all over the country-side. If it is convenient, consider schools outside the city and Bankstown as they can be less expensive due to lower fixed cost and fees charged by the aerodrome.
At last count, from scratch to a Commercial Pilot (Commercial means that you can be paid to fly) with an Instrument Rating (allows a pilot to fly in bad weather) the total damage was $70,000 for myself. However that was over 4 years ago, others on here may be able to give you a better idea these days.
My one piece of advice that I can't stress enough is to try if possible, to get your son (if he isn't already) in contact with some pilots in the industry. They may be able to alert him to what he will be in for, especially starting out. I have seen on several occassions freshly qualified Commercial Pilots walk away from flying completely due to not wanting to go and get the first job in another state or out bush for 12 months. But if he is committed to it and loves his flying, it is one of the most rewarding, challenging and enjoyable career choices I can think of (I may be somewhat biased here).
Hope this was of some help.
j3
p.s. I have found in my humble experiences that the young pilots who have had to work to pay for their licenses are less likely to walk away from it all once they are finished as they have had to work very hard for it and not have it paid for.
The two disciplines (Civillian and Military) are very very different and are like vegemite (You either love it or hate it). I went the civilian route, whereas my brother took the military route. We occassionally sit down and swap stories and I can tell you from a person who always wanted to fly civilly, the military way of doing things seems quite different to how I was taught and how I would go about things, the initial training side of things especially. Therefore trying to do the military training simply as a cost mitigation technique may be self defeating, as if a person fails the military training, there is not much carry across for prior learning to the civillian side of things, except past the half way mark.
If your son wants to fly civilly, then yes, he is up for quite an expense. There are many good flying schools all over the country-side. If it is convenient, consider schools outside the city and Bankstown as they can be less expensive due to lower fixed cost and fees charged by the aerodrome.
At last count, from scratch to a Commercial Pilot (Commercial means that you can be paid to fly) with an Instrument Rating (allows a pilot to fly in bad weather) the total damage was $70,000 for myself. However that was over 4 years ago, others on here may be able to give you a better idea these days.
My one piece of advice that I can't stress enough is to try if possible, to get your son (if he isn't already) in contact with some pilots in the industry. They may be able to alert him to what he will be in for, especially starting out. I have seen on several occassions freshly qualified Commercial Pilots walk away from flying completely due to not wanting to go and get the first job in another state or out bush for 12 months. But if he is committed to it and loves his flying, it is one of the most rewarding, challenging and enjoyable career choices I can think of (I may be somewhat biased here).
Hope this was of some help.
j3
p.s. I have found in my humble experiences that the young pilots who have had to work to pay for their licenses are less likely to walk away from it all once they are finished as they have had to work very hard for it and not have it paid for.
Great answer from J3.
Basically, to get through the RAAF pilot training, you need at least 100% commitment. If your son is not that keen on being a military pilot, then he probably wouldn't make it. In fact, I'd doubt he'd make it through the initial interview process.
Going through the civilian process is is no way an easy process either, and of course it suits many people better. It is still very difficult, and what he gets out of it is proportional to the effort he applies - and the process continues to be an uphill struggle, as in any challenging career. The benefit of civilian flying training is that if you get stuck on any aspect of flying training, you can throw money at that lesson and repeat as required until you get it right. The military generally aren't as tolerant of 'sticky points'.
Basically, to get through the RAAF pilot training, you need at least 100% commitment. If your son is not that keen on being a military pilot, then he probably wouldn't make it. In fact, I'd doubt he'd make it through the initial interview process.
Going through the civilian process is is no way an easy process either, and of course it suits many people better. It is still very difficult, and what he gets out of it is proportional to the effort he applies - and the process continues to be an uphill struggle, as in any challenging career. The benefit of civilian flying training is that if you get stuck on any aspect of flying training, you can throw money at that lesson and repeat as required until you get it right. The military generally aren't as tolerant of 'sticky points'.
http://www.pprune.org/d-g-general-av...v-airline.html
A post I started ages ago.
I am in Year 12 at the moment. A few pieces of advise (if you don't mind taking it from a youn'un).
Your role as a parent is to guide not push, some of my friends have parents who have pushed them down a certain path they think is better, bottom line, the kid is unhappy because it's not what they are passionate about.
Either career path, you have to be passionate, it's not an easy job, particularly initially. It is better to go the way you want. I have the problem of not knowing WHICH way I want though :P
Put your application in for the RAAF, even if you have no intention of going. Each stage of the process will be valuable when you front for an airline later in life, it costs nothing and it also keeps your options open. Best case scenario is you get 15 hours flying free thanks to the tax payer!
Wish him my luck! Hope to see him in a cockpit one day.
A post I started ages ago.
I am in Year 12 at the moment. A few pieces of advise (if you don't mind taking it from a youn'un).
Your role as a parent is to guide not push, some of my friends have parents who have pushed them down a certain path they think is better, bottom line, the kid is unhappy because it's not what they are passionate about.
Either career path, you have to be passionate, it's not an easy job, particularly initially. It is better to go the way you want. I have the problem of not knowing WHICH way I want though :P
Put your application in for the RAAF, even if you have no intention of going. Each stage of the process will be valuable when you front for an airline later in life, it costs nothing and it also keeps your options open. Best case scenario is you get 15 hours flying free thanks to the tax payer!
Wish him my luck! Hope to see him in a cockpit one day.
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More simply, one is going to cost a lot of money and the other one won't.
If you are funding his aviation career you'll need to allow perhaps atleast $50k (open to suggestion here) minimum until he finds his feet and derives an income from perhaps a charter or instructing job.
With the military option comes a greatly reduced cost, however a return of service obligation, relocation (probably permanent) and many other options.
Worth talking about.....
If you are funding his aviation career you'll need to allow perhaps atleast $50k (open to suggestion here) minimum until he finds his feet and derives an income from perhaps a charter or instructing job.
With the military option comes a greatly reduced cost, however a return of service obligation, relocation (probably permanent) and many other options.
Worth talking about.....
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You might want to consider a slightly different option....
He could do an aviation degree programme and learn to fly at the same time. If the flying doesnt work out he still has the advantage of the degree to pursue another career. The University of New South Wales can give you details. Have a look at their website.
He could do an aviation degree programme and learn to fly at the same time. If the flying doesnt work out he still has the advantage of the degree to pursue another career. The University of New South Wales can give you details. Have a look at their website.
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The surly bonds of earth ...
Dear Cottage Cookies,
Firstly, my advice is try to talk your son out of a flying career if you can. Fly if he wants to, as a private pilot, but there are easier ways of making a more lucrative living than flying.
Next, under no circumstances encourage nor pay for him to be a commercial helicopter pilot - private helicopter piloting is fine. It is far, far more expensive than fixed wing flying, especially if he wants an IFR rating. The flying is fun but the pay is, well, generally speaking, far far lower than that of a commercial fixed wing pilot in an airline flying say 767, 737 or 747's.
The other downside of joining the RAAF, as well as those points contributed by other members of this forum, is that he could get shot at, shot down or shot dead. In Afghanistan. In Iraq. Or anywhere else our government might send him to. (Remember your history, ie that our governments stick firmly to the Gallipolli principle - send troops overseas to die under another nation's command for campaigns that cannot be won; like say, Vietnam - but I digress). The upside is obvious but I must say, you only have to die once to make that decision unattractive.
Finally, a wise man once said, "Son, you're going to have to make up your mind about growing up and becoming a pilot. You can't do both". Good luck and I am impressed that as an obviously caring mother, you have joined PPRUNE to seek opinions for your son.
Good Luck.
BF
Firstly, my advice is try to talk your son out of a flying career if you can. Fly if he wants to, as a private pilot, but there are easier ways of making a more lucrative living than flying.
Next, under no circumstances encourage nor pay for him to be a commercial helicopter pilot - private helicopter piloting is fine. It is far, far more expensive than fixed wing flying, especially if he wants an IFR rating. The flying is fun but the pay is, well, generally speaking, far far lower than that of a commercial fixed wing pilot in an airline flying say 767, 737 or 747's.
The other downside of joining the RAAF, as well as those points contributed by other members of this forum, is that he could get shot at, shot down or shot dead. In Afghanistan. In Iraq. Or anywhere else our government might send him to. (Remember your history, ie that our governments stick firmly to the Gallipolli principle - send troops overseas to die under another nation's command for campaigns that cannot be won; like say, Vietnam - but I digress). The upside is obvious but I must say, you only have to die once to make that decision unattractive.
Finally, a wise man once said, "Son, you're going to have to make up your mind about growing up and becoming a pilot. You can't do both". Good luck and I am impressed that as an obviously caring mother, you have joined PPRUNE to seek opinions for your son.
Good Luck.
BF
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Flying careers
Hi Cottage Cookies,
Loads of naysayers and opinion holders out there and I am sure all inputs are valuable.
For what it's worth and in my view, professional flying is an outsanding career. I have been doing it for more than 30 years and I wouldn't swap it.
I started in the military and had a great, fulfilling time with loads of overseas operations in loads of hostile theatres. It was all brilliant stuff and I am really pleased to have had the opportunity.
Now still happily flying commercially, I would advise your son to go boldly in the direction of his dreams and never let a naysayer or pessimist get in his road.
The way the ADF train these days is so commercially equivalent CASA recognise nearly everything they do. If your son is committed to being a pilot, then the military way is more about how much fun you can have in the most advanced machinery available than how much it costs, how risky it is or what you want to do later in life. Yes...it takes commitment, but so does the commercial route.
In the military you get to fly high performance aircraft in a well supervised and structured environment where you are helped to grow professionally throughout your service. Commercially, things can be a little more haphazard and success depends more on who you fall in with, whether you can get a job and what is happening in the economy.
It's a long time since an Australian military aviator died in combat, and yet Bell_Flyer wrote:
Sounds a bit too pessimistic for me. Is your son a winner or a loser? Be assured, I served in several militaries. Our military has a proud history of success and our Armed Forces are amongst the best in the world.
Neither a commercial nor military route to a career in flying excludes the other. At 17 your son can grow committed. Good on you for worrying, but tell him to get out there and get on with it. If he really is committed, once he starts there'll be no holding him back and he will no longer appreciate your assistance anyway! Give him my regards and best wishes.
Loads of naysayers and opinion holders out there and I am sure all inputs are valuable.
For what it's worth and in my view, professional flying is an outsanding career. I have been doing it for more than 30 years and I wouldn't swap it.
I started in the military and had a great, fulfilling time with loads of overseas operations in loads of hostile theatres. It was all brilliant stuff and I am really pleased to have had the opportunity.
Now still happily flying commercially, I would advise your son to go boldly in the direction of his dreams and never let a naysayer or pessimist get in his road.
The way the ADF train these days is so commercially equivalent CASA recognise nearly everything they do. If your son is committed to being a pilot, then the military way is more about how much fun you can have in the most advanced machinery available than how much it costs, how risky it is or what you want to do later in life. Yes...it takes commitment, but so does the commercial route.
In the military you get to fly high performance aircraft in a well supervised and structured environment where you are helped to grow professionally throughout your service. Commercially, things can be a little more haphazard and success depends more on who you fall in with, whether you can get a job and what is happening in the economy.
It's a long time since an Australian military aviator died in combat, and yet Bell_Flyer wrote:
(Remember your history, ie that our governments stick firmly to the Gallipolli principle - send troops overseas to die under another nation's command for campaigns that cannot be won; like say, Vietnam - but I digress).
Neither a commercial nor military route to a career in flying excludes the other. At 17 your son can grow committed. Good on you for worrying, but tell him to get out there and get on with it. If he really is committed, once he starts there'll be no holding him back and he will no longer appreciate your assistance anyway! Give him my regards and best wishes.
CC,
As has been explained, the costs involved in doing a civilian flying qualification are enormous, and result, initially, in being qualified for a low paying job, usually in a remote community.
Perhaps if you impress upon your son the reality that civilian flying will NOT mean flying big jets for an airline for several years, but WILL mean hard work, enormous expense and a fairly menial existence until he gets a break, and that if and when that break occurs has a lot more to do with the world economy than his individual talents and efforts.
My strong advice to you is to not contemplate simply paying for all his training yourself. Explain to him that if he wants to follow the civilian route, there will a roof and three meals waiting for him, but his flying will have to be funded by his own efforts.
That will either prove his motivation towards flying, or put the Military in a whole new light!
I concur with Bell flyer about Choppers- EVERY helicopter pilot I know wishes he had pursued fixed-wing- There simply is NO lucrative Carree in Helos, short of living somewhere very remote flying to oil rigs, which is dangerous, repetitive, and STILL not that well paid.
As to the dangers of Military flying, death in combat is actually a fairly remote possibility, but it is a more dangerous type of flying. I actually joined the RAAF way back, and failed the course. Of the twelve that graduated, two were dead within ten years in military flying accidents.
Edited because my post crossed with DBTW, and I think what he says is all very true. Going the GA route can ALSO be a great deal of fun and lead to terrific personal growth.
As has been explained, the costs involved in doing a civilian flying qualification are enormous, and result, initially, in being qualified for a low paying job, usually in a remote community.
Perhaps if you impress upon your son the reality that civilian flying will NOT mean flying big jets for an airline for several years, but WILL mean hard work, enormous expense and a fairly menial existence until he gets a break, and that if and when that break occurs has a lot more to do with the world economy than his individual talents and efforts.
My strong advice to you is to not contemplate simply paying for all his training yourself. Explain to him that if he wants to follow the civilian route, there will a roof and three meals waiting for him, but his flying will have to be funded by his own efforts.
That will either prove his motivation towards flying, or put the Military in a whole new light!
I concur with Bell flyer about Choppers- EVERY helicopter pilot I know wishes he had pursued fixed-wing- There simply is NO lucrative Carree in Helos, short of living somewhere very remote flying to oil rigs, which is dangerous, repetitive, and STILL not that well paid.
As to the dangers of Military flying, death in combat is actually a fairly remote possibility, but it is a more dangerous type of flying. I actually joined the RAAF way back, and failed the course. Of the twelve that graduated, two were dead within ten years in military flying accidents.
Edited because my post crossed with DBTW, and I think what he says is all very true. Going the GA route can ALSO be a great deal of fun and lead to terrific personal growth.
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Mum.
Bell Flyer gives good advise. Anyone who joins any section of the military could have to face someone who tries hard to kill them. Its called war, regional conflict, peacekeeping, etc.
If Military flying excites him and he's prepared to get shot at, go for it.
I remember a bloke I flew with in an airline who's son was lost in an RAAF training flight off NSW. The guy criticised the RAAF publicly for years, obviously tormented by the loss of his son. Very sad, for all involved, but blame allocation didn't bring him back.
Bell Flyer gives good advise. Anyone who joins any section of the military could have to face someone who tries hard to kill them. Its called war, regional conflict, peacekeeping, etc.
If Military flying excites him and he's prepared to get shot at, go for it.
I remember a bloke I flew with in an airline who's son was lost in an RAAF training flight off NSW. The guy criticised the RAAF publicly for years, obviously tormented by the loss of his son. Very sad, for all involved, but blame allocation didn't bring him back.
Am I missing something here?!!!
Hi Cottage Cookies,
don't take this the wrong way, my $0.02 is offered as genuine advice for your son (by the way, it's nice of you to venture here on his behalf)....
I think your son should NOT pursue the military option AT ALL. I say this not because of any issues with the military, but with the motivation of your son as provided by you. You state in your original post that when the topic of going the RAAF route comes up your son says "the RAAF are for those who have a desire to be a military pilot instead of a civilian pilot (which is what he wants to be)."
Now, that's fine that we wants to be a civilian pilot, but he essentially reveals he has NO DESIRE to be a military pilot, it would be (I assume) a means of having his training paid for whilst he works towards being a civil pilot. If this is the case, he will be wasting his time, and the time of recruiting staff who look to weed out that very attitude. If he somehow makes it to course, he is wasting the time of his instructors and is taking the spot that some very keen and genuinely motivated RAAF wannabe should have filled.
The RAAF is not a free training institution for those who want to be airline pilots. The airlines are full of ex-RAAFies who were motivated and did their obligation, and moved on - but that's a different thing entirely.
I have no problems with people joining the RAAF with, perhaps, an eye on a commercial career after they have done their time. As long as they started out in their RAAF career as a dedicated, motivated trainee military pilot who WANT to be in the RAAF above any other type of flying. But if they go in not really, really fired up first and foremost to hook into the military life and flying then they should be somewhere else.
To get through the system and gain your wings (and then have a successful time in the squadrons) you have to be hard working, and extremely motivated to get through the tough times. To be perfectly honest if his motivation is as you say, I bet London to a brick that he will come a cropper at recruiting, or if he does progress, somewhere well before Wings.
Hi Cottage Cookies,
don't take this the wrong way, my $0.02 is offered as genuine advice for your son (by the way, it's nice of you to venture here on his behalf)....
I think your son should NOT pursue the military option AT ALL. I say this not because of any issues with the military, but with the motivation of your son as provided by you. You state in your original post that when the topic of going the RAAF route comes up your son says "the RAAF are for those who have a desire to be a military pilot instead of a civilian pilot (which is what he wants to be)."
Now, that's fine that we wants to be a civilian pilot, but he essentially reveals he has NO DESIRE to be a military pilot, it would be (I assume) a means of having his training paid for whilst he works towards being a civil pilot. If this is the case, he will be wasting his time, and the time of recruiting staff who look to weed out that very attitude. If he somehow makes it to course, he is wasting the time of his instructors and is taking the spot that some very keen and genuinely motivated RAAF wannabe should have filled.
The RAAF is not a free training institution for those who want to be airline pilots. The airlines are full of ex-RAAFies who were motivated and did their obligation, and moved on - but that's a different thing entirely.
I have no problems with people joining the RAAF with, perhaps, an eye on a commercial career after they have done their time. As long as they started out in their RAAF career as a dedicated, motivated trainee military pilot who WANT to be in the RAAF above any other type of flying. But if they go in not really, really fired up first and foremost to hook into the military life and flying then they should be somewhere else.
To get through the system and gain your wings (and then have a successful time in the squadrons) you have to be hard working, and extremely motivated to get through the tough times. To be perfectly honest if his motivation is as you say, I bet London to a brick that he will come a cropper at recruiting, or if he does progress, somewhere well before Wings.
Agreed with DA,
BUT doesn't hurt getting him to apply to a) keep his options open but b) and more importantly, get experience with the interview process. Worse that can happen is he gets an offer he turns down.
BUT doesn't hurt getting him to apply to a) keep his options open but b) and more importantly, get experience with the interview process. Worse that can happen is he gets an offer he turns down.
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Put your application in for the RAAF, even if you have no intention of going. Each stage of the process will be valuable when you front for an airline later in life, it costs nothing and it also keeps your options open. Best case scenario is you get 15 hours flying free thanks to the tax payer!
Here's a word they may not have taught you in today's leftward-leaning, soft-ethics, anything-goes school curriculum, McGrath:
INTEGRITY.
The ADF selection process isn't free. Having paid plenty of tax, I'd prefer he didn't go through the process just for the hell of it. Having not (if it's true you're in school) paid any tax, yourself, then I'd prefer you don't go encouraging him to compromise his integrity in addition to wasting my money, by fronting up for a process he has no intention of completing just to gain airline interview experience.
A pilot I know went through the process years ago and secured himself a position on pilots' course. The applicants jump through many hoops and the ones who make the grade are, well, graded according to their perceived chances of success and chosen in that order for the available positions. So along the way, he bumped out one applicant whose ranking was slightly less than his own but whose motivation was most probably infinitely greater. This guy I know quit after about two weeks of OTS, long before the "arduous" bush phase, long before Combat Survival, long before he was even fitted out for a nice green flying suit. He quit because he wanted to go back to be with his girlfriend and fly as a civvie.
Fifteen free hours of training and then quit? Is that worth the scorn of everyone around you in that circle who will know what you did and why? Is that worth your own self-respect? Is integrity that cheap these days?
Ah, the impetuousness of youth. McGrath if you think you're the first to think of this "move", you are indeed a young fool.
CottageCookies, it's almost a dead-certainty you're pulling ths piss here to start a nice little brou-hahaha and so too, most likely, is McGrath. But on the off-chance someone impressionable is actually reading your thread and wondering about what you're suggesting, please accept my advice to tell your "son" to harden the f*** up, get a job and pay his own way through it.
YoDawg,
Should you not take every opportunity to better yourself, to learn something, to keep your options open?
The RAAF recruitment process is bloody long, you go through ups and downs of motivation because of it, I swear they do that just to TEST your motivation. But also you learn a lot about the services in the time. When I applied I year ago, I was sure I wanted to be a military pilot, but not sure the lifestyle, culture etc. would fit me.
So I put my hat into the ring anyway. As a part of my own research for the interviews, talking with the military personnel at DFR and military personnel I have met through other means, I have realised I would have no problems fitting in. Had I not put in my application I may have left it too late to do it for 2010 or even never found that out.
As mentioned before the worst that can happen is I realise I would hate to be in the RAAF and get some interview experience.
I disagree someone who does this is lacking integrity, it's his future. Getting or missing the RAAF is a life changing thing, at least 13 years of your life are committed to it. Keep your options open. It is smart planning for your future.
Should you not take every opportunity to better yourself, to learn something, to keep your options open?
The RAAF recruitment process is bloody long, you go through ups and downs of motivation because of it, I swear they do that just to TEST your motivation. But also you learn a lot about the services in the time. When I applied I year ago, I was sure I wanted to be a military pilot, but not sure the lifestyle, culture etc. would fit me.
So I put my hat into the ring anyway. As a part of my own research for the interviews, talking with the military personnel at DFR and military personnel I have met through other means, I have realised I would have no problems fitting in. Had I not put in my application I may have left it too late to do it for 2010 or even never found that out.
As mentioned before the worst that can happen is I realise I would hate to be in the RAAF and get some interview experience.
I disagree someone who does this is lacking integrity, it's his future. Getting or missing the RAAF is a life changing thing, at least 13 years of your life are committed to it. Keep your options open. It is smart planning for your future.
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The other downside of joining the RAAF, as well as those points contributed by other members of this forum, is that he could get shot at, shot down or shot dead. In Afghanistan. In Iraq. Or anywhere else our government might send him to.
Another consideration is the social aspect of the people in the airforce - people outside the forces just don't get it! Mates for life.
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A Few Good Men
The thing that the RAAF will give your son is the best maintained aircraft, more that can be said for some of the dodgy GA outfits out there. They dont go flying without a 100% serviceable aircraft - after all there is multiple aircraft to pick from on the flight line.
I was in Forrest when 3 Sea Kings flew in for Jet A1. They didn't shut down on the ground when they re-fuelled. There's a good reason for this. The crew told me it might not start again.
Then, there's the small matter of the Kanimbla helo split pin incorrectly fitted by maintenance staff, but let's not go there.
Too many other examples to list, but I think you know where I am coming from.
Another consideration is the social aspect of the people in the airforce - people outside the forces just don't get it! Mates for life
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If your son does not want to be part of the military then you should not force him. Military service is not for those that want a cheap ride to the airlines as there is far more involved in military aviation than showing up and doing your 9 - 5. Military aviation while conducted as safe as the next professional operation, has inherent dangers that take it off the option card for many. The training is however second to none and generally speaking the equipment listed in his or her log book by the end of the first 500 hours is something that many (read airlines) will look fondly on. Make him do his research as this will only have postive results for his future career whatever that may be. Best of luck!
FH
FH
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As long as they started out in their RAAF career as a dedicated, motivated trainee military pilot who WANT to be in the RAAF above any other type of flying. But if they go in not really, really fired up first and foremost to hook into the military life and flying then they should be somewhere else