RAAF Enlistment

[db2007]

Hey guys,
im now in my last year at school and fairly confidant i want to join the air force as a pilot when i leave.
i was hoping someone would be able to tell me what sort of lifestyle it is like in the air force ?
do you get to select your aircraft specialisation or do you get told ?
also, some advice on wether direct entry or ADFA is the best way to go would be a great help ?

thanks.

[Toppie]

DB,

Before you get pasted by the forgiving souls on these forums, there is a thread in Military Aircrew called RAAF Flight Screening that will answer most of your questions.

Specifically, the lifestyle and flying are unsurpassed for a starting-out aviation career. Lots of travel, operational flying and good pay.
You can express a preference for aircraft type approaching the end of your flying training but ultimately type is allocated by the RAAF based on your assessed performance and aptitudes during the course.
ADFA/Direct entry - it's a personal choice. Despite the great number of for and against arguments it really can be boiled down to do you want a University Degree or not. It won't really affect your ultimate career in the long run but you'll start flying three years later if you got to ADFA.

Best of luck.

[Like This - Do That]

You may have considered the search function first up, and paid more attention to correct written form.

http://www.pprune.org/military-aircr...am-merged.html

[j3pipercub]

db2007,

You should also consider that if for any reason you do not make it through 2FTS (the course before you are posted to a squadron) , you will have to go back to the civillian world if you wish to continue flying and (correct me if I'm wrong), you will only be granted a GFPT... That's a lot of stress IMHO, 2+ years where you are only 3 flights from getting cut.

j3

[Taildragger67]

... but on that point,

... a mate of mine got scrubbed part-way along, took his RAAF hours to date to a private training establishment, finished his licences, spent a couple of years doing bank runs in the bush and now occupies the left-hand seat on 737s. He's been offered bigger toys to play with but loves the short sectors and lots of hand-flown cycles he gets on the 737.

Another mate went to ADFA, flew fast jets and is now right-hand seat on 737s (could be LHS but has chosen to stay at his current base).

Do a Youtube search of things like beat-ups in F111s, F18s, etc. and tell me that doesn't look like fun...

As for the degree (ADFA) route - 3 years now out of the rest of your life? Small price to pay for a few years of uni student life.

[rodney rude]

Like this - do that

Just couldn't resist could you knobhead. By the way, correct written form??? "and" never follows a comma. Glasshouses and stones come to mind.

[Like This - Do That]

Thanks for your contribution rodney. Fair 'nuff - we'll call it a draw.

Although for what it's worth, my 2iC frequently sends back my stuff covered in red ink! I'm the product of the state system and of an era not celebrated for the teaching of strict grammar.

Maybe I'm a knobhead, maybe not. Either way, if young db2007 learns now that many in the ADF get precious about standards of written work, he'll be better off for it.

Cheers pal

Edited to add:

"and" never follows a comma

I was going to concede that one to you, but curiosity got the better of me. It seems that "and" may follow a comma between independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction.

[Aussie]

Is this a spelling test, or an aviation forum? Let get on with it...

[peuce]

db2007,

One thing I can add ... from personal family experience .... once you set out on the RAAF Pilot path, it can be a very rocky, strenuous and stressful path. If you go down that path with the understanding that some participants do not make it, and you may be one of them ... then that's a good start. It's not about not setting out to be successful, it's about accepting the reality that not all of us have the right stuff.

As others have said, if you don't make it all the way ... there are other options to fall back on.

Best of luck.

[Toppie]

Perhaps. It is more difficult than other routes to professional aviation. Predominantly because it asks more of you as an aviator and a person. You'll likely end up in charge of not just an aircraft but people and serious situations. I think from having seen quite a few students pass through ADF pilot training, that those that aren't fully committed tend to be more likely (not assured) to falter. It is certainly a route that requires total commitment and a fair amount of drive to be successful but it is also within the capabilities of normal people. I wouldn't go down the Military road if I wasn't sure it was the right way ahead. My observation was that the most successful students were those with the most drive and not necessarily the best skills. Hard workers tended to receive more time and effort from instructors (above the norm anyway).

Another note on a previous comment - if you go through ADFA you will gain a Return-of-Service obligation and if you fail pilot's course you may be required to serve out this obligation in another role.

Mate, if you want to work hard and do the best flying available in the country, don't doubt yourself - have a crack!

[Truckmasters]

Another note on a previous comment - if you go through ADFA you will gain a Return-of-Service obligation and if you fail pilot's course you may be required to serve out this obligation in another role.

You need to check this, it used to be the way. However I believe it has changed.
My understanding is that the current way is 2 years at ADFA for a (B Aviation) then the pilots course. You do not get your degree or ROSO until you pass pilots course.
If you fail you can still take all your studies and hours to another university for the appropriate advanced standing to complete your degree.