RAF PILOT OPPORTUNITY, GO ON let us in lads?
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RAF PILOT OPPORTUNITY, GO ON let us in lads?
I have seen all the latest adds for the RAF and they seem to be on t.v more so recently. I am just curious they seem to have an endless need for pilots or so I gather. Now I know alot of people who hold a JAA class 1 med but because of glasses or contacts are not eligible for a RAF career. Surely it may open a floodgate of appilicants with a real passion for flying and military if they were to be more relaxed on medical standards and were to allow those holding a class 1 med to apply.
I know I would, Qaulified in avionics/communications/electronics/love to be a pilot/ 4yrs military experience corporal(RESERVES)/ BUT very slightly over the eyesight limits for military pilot but I hold a JAA med.
I have a few mates heavily involved in both flying and military and technical background who would kill to get into the RAF.
Is it a possibility or pipe dream MR MOD.
Its a bloody prime time with a gaggle of pilots on the market looking for a career, should the RAF cash in?????
I know I would, Qaulified in avionics/communications/electronics/love to be a pilot/ 4yrs military experience corporal(RESERVES)/ BUT very slightly over the eyesight limits for military pilot but I hold a JAA med.
I have a few mates heavily involved in both flying and military and technical background who would kill to get into the RAF.
Is it a possibility or pipe dream MR MOD.
Its a bloody prime time with a gaggle of pilots on the market looking for a career, should the RAF cash in?????
Join Date: Dec 1997
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The RAF is looking for something in the order of 140 pilots-into-training each year. That number can be easily found from those people who match or exceed the current physical criteria (which are more stringent than Class 1 in many respects). There is no reason to relax those criteria to anyone's abitrary concept of 'fairness'. The RAF, quite rightly, can and will employ only the best of those who apply.
Join Date: Aug 2002
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The RAF pilot recruitment process seems to assume all recruits are potenetial fast jet pilots. After completing JEFTS they are then streamed rotary, transport or jets. From my view point some choose not to go jets in favour of transport, some who don't make the jet cut see it as a failure on their half, leading to a loss of morale.
I would dearly love to join the RAF and have for some time, after getting a Flying Scholarship when I was 16 I passed most basic requirements to fly, failing the medical requirement on my eye sight. Since then I have gained a frozen ATPL.
The thought occurs, that I am aware I cannot fly fast jet, and have trained to fly heavy cargo/transport aircraft, could the RAF not employ someone like myself in the transport fleet and save themselves large sums of money in initial and advanced training? I would obviously require specific training towards combat/tactical flying aspects, but my basic handling competency has already been proven, thus decreasing the potenetial 'training risk'!
As for the eyesight, I've been flying long enough to know the irritation of contact lenses and glasses when airborne. In charge of an unpressurised multimillion pound fighter, and my contact lens slips in a high G manouever would not be good!, let alone in a wartime scenario, how are you going to escape and evade if your glasses are broken or your lenses have dried up?!?
Give the boys in blue a break, I'm sure the admin. staff know what they are doing? maybe?, we hope? honest!
I would dearly love to join the RAF and have for some time, after getting a Flying Scholarship when I was 16 I passed most basic requirements to fly, failing the medical requirement on my eye sight. Since then I have gained a frozen ATPL.
The thought occurs, that I am aware I cannot fly fast jet, and have trained to fly heavy cargo/transport aircraft, could the RAF not employ someone like myself in the transport fleet and save themselves large sums of money in initial and advanced training? I would obviously require specific training towards combat/tactical flying aspects, but my basic handling competency has already been proven, thus decreasing the potenetial 'training risk'!
As for the eyesight, I've been flying long enough to know the irritation of contact lenses and glasses when airborne. In charge of an unpressurised multimillion pound fighter, and my contact lens slips in a high G manouever would not be good!, let alone in a wartime scenario, how are you going to escape and evade if your glasses are broken or your lenses have dried up?!?
Give the boys in blue a break, I'm sure the admin. staff know what they are doing? maybe?, we hope? honest!
The RAF takes a lot of pilots from the Commonwealth, and has also taken pilots from Eire, but whether these guys had a Brit passport - I don't know.
I heard a rumour that the eyesight standards may be relaxed soon.
I heard a rumour that the eyesight standards may be relaxed soon.
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I believe that a historical agreement with the Irish Republic going back to independence allows Irish citizens to join the British forces without a British passport.
impartial
You have made some very inaccurate assumptions about the RAF:
There is no difference in the medical employment standards required of fast-jet, transport, helicopter or other pilots in the RAF. There are many pilots in all types, whose eyesight deteriorated after they had joined the RAF, who now fly with glasses. I was one of them.
There is no significant difference in the cost of training a Tornado F3 pilot and, say, a C17 pilot.
The RAF does not own or operate any 'unpressurised fighters', other than the Spitfires and Hurricane of the Battle of Britain Flight.
You cannot choose which type of aircraft you go to, nor which general field you are employed in, although you may be asked what your preference would be. They will take little notice of your answer!
impartial
You have made some very inaccurate assumptions about the RAF:
There is no difference in the medical employment standards required of fast-jet, transport, helicopter or other pilots in the RAF. There are many pilots in all types, whose eyesight deteriorated after they had joined the RAF, who now fly with glasses. I was one of them.
There is no significant difference in the cost of training a Tornado F3 pilot and, say, a C17 pilot.
The RAF does not own or operate any 'unpressurised fighters', other than the Spitfires and Hurricane of the Battle of Britain Flight.
You cannot choose which type of aircraft you go to, nor which general field you are employed in, although you may be asked what your preference would be. They will take little notice of your answer!
Join Date: Nov 2001
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The RAF don't look at you just for your potential as a flyer. Unfortunately/fortunately/whichever way you look at it, they are primarily concerned about your potential as an officer/SNCO. Rightly or wrongly, they want someone they can mould into the ambitious, capable military man/woman that they want and hopefully, you'll be a good pilot too!
Also, forgive me for being slightly presumptious, but I'm sure all of you who have ambitions toward the military route are well aware that it's not always an easy ride? You will be asked to spend many months of the year away from home, friends and family (especially if you end up on helicopters). You will be expected to carry out mundane duties in addition to your normal everyday workload, oh and just in case you'd forgotten, you might be asked to do some pretty dangerous things in some pretty desperate conditions too? FTLs? There are rules but not when you're in a fight!
Up for it? Then you'll have a great time and some great stories! Like your comfy family life? Stay well away.
Also, forgive me for being slightly presumptious, but I'm sure all of you who have ambitions toward the military route are well aware that it's not always an easy ride? You will be asked to spend many months of the year away from home, friends and family (especially if you end up on helicopters). You will be expected to carry out mundane duties in addition to your normal everyday workload, oh and just in case you'd forgotten, you might be asked to do some pretty dangerous things in some pretty desperate conditions too? FTLs? There are rules but not when you're in a fight!
Up for it? Then you'll have a great time and some great stories! Like your comfy family life? Stay well away.
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Age of entry
Does anybody know of the age limits for entry to the RAF as a Pilot now? I heard a rumour recently that they may have raised the limit from the original 22/23 to the wise old age of 28? Can anybody accurately confirm or deny this?
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The age limits for the RAF are under 24 when starting IOT (Inital Officer Training) as pilot, and under 26 when starting IOT as Nav. From when you first walk into the RAF careers office, it takes somewhere around 5-7 months before starting IOT if all is successful. There are 6 IOT courses a year. The age limits are extant, getting an age waiver is v. difficult, if at all possible.
The age limit for the Navy as pilot (I'm guessing Observer too) is 26, and I guess this is also when you start training. I think the Army pilot age limit is 28 or 29.
In the RAF and Navy you must be a officer to be a pilot, in the Army you can be a NCO, but first must complete 2 years as an NCO in the Army.
If you join the RAF as NCO aircrew, you can transfer to pilot (means doing IOT) up to around 31, but there are very few people who do this (I believe 4 a year).
F
The age limit for the Navy as pilot (I'm guessing Observer too) is 26, and I guess this is also when you start training. I think the Army pilot age limit is 28 or 29.
In the RAF and Navy you must be a officer to be a pilot, in the Army you can be a NCO, but first must complete 2 years as an NCO in the Army.
If you join the RAF as NCO aircrew, you can transfer to pilot (means doing IOT) up to around 31, but there are very few people who do this (I believe 4 a year).
F
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to clarify my comments
Scroggs,
I did not make my point about pilots being selected as fast jet very clear. I agree with your reply regarding the standard entry medical and what I was meaning to portray was the fact that all the pilot recruits are selected to the same level, the optimum one assumes, of medical health and fitness and not selected on varying levels of eyesight for each role.
As for the choices of streaming, I do know of pilots who have requested transport when they made the cut for fast jet. Obviously the ultimate choice is with the airforce. I have not heard of this through the grape vine, and I have met the people concerned.
My comments about unpressurised fighters - fair play, my error and I hold my hands up to that one.
I hope this shines a better light on my comments and shows I do have a little back ground information on this matter
I did not make my point about pilots being selected as fast jet very clear. I agree with your reply regarding the standard entry medical and what I was meaning to portray was the fact that all the pilot recruits are selected to the same level, the optimum one assumes, of medical health and fitness and not selected on varying levels of eyesight for each role.
As for the choices of streaming, I do know of pilots who have requested transport when they made the cut for fast jet. Obviously the ultimate choice is with the airforce. I have not heard of this through the grape vine, and I have met the people concerned.
My comments about unpressurised fighters - fair play, my error and I hold my hands up to that one.
I hope this shines a better light on my comments and shows I do have a little back ground information on this matter
Last edited by impartial; 3rd Sep 2002 at 13:35.
