question for navy and raaf pilots
 

gday.
at the end of the year after i finish my maths and physics i am applying for a position as a pilot in the defence force.
the recruiters tell me that you nominate by writing a 1,2 and 3 in boxes to nominate which services you want to be considered for. i was interested to know from pilots in the navy and raaf what their job is like as i am interested in both services. flying fast jets or maritime patrol would be great, more than great but i would also like to know what it is like to land helicopters on the back of a rolling deck in bad weather in little or no light. `if anyone could give me their experiences or pros and cons for their flying jobs in both services it would be great. i have freinds flying hornets and FAC pC-9s and i would like to know how to get in touch with some navy pilots to talk to them about their amazing jobs.
in the end i just want to fly.
cheers
teapoo

Think you apply for the position you want,but they choose which you are more suitable for and which section of the forces you end up in.
I went for chopper pilot in army but didnt have to worry as i didnt get past first hurdle---------failed the Iq test or what ever they call it lol.Got answers right but not enough in given time.Was told by someone to just tick anything and finish,but dumb-arse didnt listen.

You'll have a great time where ever you go. If you choose the 'rolling deck, bad weather at night' option, just remember, you have to sleep there also...

When I was going through the application process my recruiter gave me the phone number of the NAS in Nowra, and I called and talked to several pilots.

A few tried to tell me how much they hated their jobs after 18 yrs in the navy, but others loved it. A great way to get some inside information.

One thing the selecters look for is how bad doyou really want to do this. If they see that you're not one of the many people who apply and put no effort into the application then it really stands in your favor. Being able to tell them that you have talked to active pilots will help.

You can expect to be asked what your understanding is of what Navy/Raaf pilots do. If you can discuss flight operations with them from having talked to pilots this will also really help your application.

I was even lucky enough to spend a lunch with a navy pilot, and he described to me how fleet protection works as a helicopter pilot among other topics, and so I was able to discuss these things with recruiters... they loved it!

TP,

I'm ex RN helicopters, and wouldn't have swapped it for quids ;) FJ's are sometimes more glamorous, but the skills and experience from navy helicopter flying is unequalled anywhere. Walked into civvie flying afterwards, and still enjoying my flying.

What else is there in life :cool:

Tp-

Best thing to do, get down (or up) to Nowra and talk to people. As mentioned above, you will have people that don't like the job and want to get out, BUT make your own mind up and talk to lots of pilots.

Certainly the best job ever in my opinion. As the only (or one of two) pilots on a ship and you are it as far as the ship's aviation asset goes. Much better than being part of the herd on a jet or truckie sqn. Especially when as a junior officer the captain is looking to you for advice on how to employ the aircraft.

Nowra runs a work experience program, but don't take any c$$p from recruiting as they sometimes lose the focus as to what the ADF needs, ie pilots and lots of them! I can pointn you towards a phone number if you want. email if required.

Cheers- good luck!

Flight Screening
 

teapoo

Go to the nearest Recruiting Office and tell them you want to be an ADF pilot. You will need to jump through a bunch of hoops including hand/eye coordination, aviation knowledge, some psych stuff, etc (I'm not sure of the exact subjects). Don't let them put you off, just keep pushing for ADF pilot. Some recruiting offices are now civilianised; don't let them distract you because, for them, recruiting pilots is sometimes harder than other trades.

Getting through this process is, unwittingly and unintentionally, one of the ways the uncommitted get weeded out.

Once you get offered Flight Screening and go to Tamworth, you will then (for the first time that it means anything) be asked which Service(s) you wish to apply for. They give you three ~30 minute lectures on the three Services to help you with your decision.

At Tamworth, you will fly 10 times on the CT4B and CAP10 in the 2 weeks you are there. You will also do an Officer Interview Board, which includes group and individual interviews.

After the two weeks, you will be given a score based on your performance, which ranks you in the pool of potential ADF pilots. After that, you just have to wait until the Service(s) you have applied for give you a call. Easy!

Go here for more: www.defencejobs.gov.au

ID

Hi,

As a former RAAF instructor, my advice is say/do whatever is necessary to get accepted into the program because what you finally get has nothing to do with what you desire. That is determined by others at the end of your training when they know how good you are. At the end of each course the powers the be determine what vacancies exist in the system and the senior officers at FTS fill the slots according to skill/psychological/and other factors of each graduating student.

However considering the the available course stots and the number of applications all I can say is - GOOD LUCK.

Have a nice day

cheers
 

thanks guys. i want to know as much as possible about the system and the training process. you have all been great. if there is any more that you can tell me, mostly navy, it would be great. oldpinger i have sent you a message. if anybody has any other info on the service that you would like to share with me you i can send my email address as i would like to know as much as possible.
cheers you have all been great.

teapoo

Found a better link for budding ADF pilots:

http://www.defence.gov.au/raaf/psa/

This one details the whole process of applying for the job.

ID

Does anyone know what life is like for a RAAF pilot who has a wife and two kids?

I have heard that marriages get broken.

My interview is next month.

Cheers,

PA

Does anyone know what life is like for a chartered accountant who has a wife and two kids?

I have heard that marriages get broken.

My interview is next month.

Does anyone know what life is like for a hamburger flipper who has a wife and two kids?

I have heard that marriages get broken.

My interview is next month.


Does anyone know what life is like for a parking policeman who has a wife and two kids?

I have heard that marriages get broken.

My interview is next month.
Cheers,

DA

The job isn't the issue, it's the marriage.

Yes your marriage will be tested. A lot will depend on how much support you are getting during the application process. Your partner will have to understand that becoming a RAAF pilot is like getting married again because it will take a lot of your time and your partner must understand that. Having said that, it helps to involve your partner in the various activities that come along. I and my partner had 10 great years in the RAAF without any problems in that area.

On another point, when considering what wing of the ADF you are interested bear in mind one very inportant thing - retiring age in the services is quite young and therefore you must consider your future beyond the services. So carefully consider which types of aircraft you might like to get experience on if you intend to go into civil aviation at the end of your service career. The right background is very important. For example; fighters and helos are no help for airline employment but can be useful in other areas.

Good luck

Have a nice day

For example; fighters...are no help for airline employment but can be useful in other areas.

What a complete feed of ****. Bhing, that might be true wherever you specifically are, but don't make such a broad generalisation and mislead the guy. QF, CX are full of FJ types, as well as from other backgrounds. RW is another matter, of course.

Deciding to become a pilot in the RAAF or RAN, above all else, is a COMMITMENT. Teapoo et al, remember you are signing up for 12ish years, and you have to do some hard yards at times. You will need complete dedication to get through to wings. That includes significant support and patience from your better half if you have one. These days more and more guys are rocking up to pilot's course with family in tow. That in itself is not an issue at all, but it quickly becomes one if the student doesn't have the complete support and understanding of their partner.

The bottom line teapoo, is that it really doesn't matter where you go off course. 99.9% of guys have a huge time at wherever they go, and remember, with a ten year ROSO there is a lot of scope to completely rerole and change direction - one of the many advantages of the RAAF. There are HS748 co-pilots who become F/A-18 test pilots, P-3 drivers landing Sea Hawks on the slippery deck, and new Air Force graduates from 2FTS off to things as diverse as Army Blackhawks and USAF E-3 AWACS. It is only going to get more diverse.

Like anything, you get out of it what you put in. If you work bloody hard, the world's your aviation oyster. If you are a lazy tosser on course you will get scrubbed and be flipping hamburgers in no time. You sound pretty enthusiastic - join the club and find out for yourself!!!

teapoo,
You may wish to consider some negative aspects of joining the ADF. Over 12 years, consider erosion to your social skills and lack of individuality development (herd mentality). Many find it hard adapting to civilian life again. You will most likely be spending extensive periods devoid of diversity, the opposite sex, and with many of not the smartest people in the world. Only need to look at their TV advertisements, not very believable, and obviously not pitching to anybody even slightly intelligent. Not only question would you feel at ease living with these people, but would you feel comfortable killing other people?

Winstun

Your comments here and on other forums (yes I have read them all) don’t deserve a reply. All I’ll say is pull you head in or f**k off. Your smart arse remarks are not welcome here.

:mad:

Yawn.

Why bite? Winstun is a piss-poor wind up merchant. Such clumsy attempts to get a rise deserve contempt, not a response.

Move on...

Relax guys. The village has lost it's idiot. He'll find his way home eventually :}

Somebody wrote that flying fighters or helo's won't help your airline prospects? Horsefeathers!

I fly with both types and they are among some of the most proficient (and enjoyable) types to work with :ok:

Everyone is entitled to an opinion and the 404's style of comment are a bit over the top.

bhing mentioned certain background qualifications that may or may not be helpful. In times past I don't believe it was a problem as I myself have both helo and pointy nose time in my log book. However, times are changing and my more recent experience in the management side of the game suggest that background and education is becoming more important. What bhing seems to be hinting at is the end game. Do you intend to stick with the ADF or look at moving on.

From my point of view, work hard and do whatever is necessary to get yourself on a course. Then work twice as hard to finish because as mentioned above to rewards are simply fantastic. I had almost 10 wonderful years in the RAAF and would not give any of them back.

Have a nice day

Loads of unpaid overtime available = and just when you start really enjoying the flying (and the a/c) you'll get DPO'd into something that you won't enjoy at all.

I only ever started saving money once I got out (after 25 years on the inside). The last ten years of that were not nice at all.

I only ever started saving money once I got out (after 25 years on the inside). The last ten years of that were not nice.