Your vision must be 6/6 (for Goodness' sake, get over this '20/20' thing - that is not used in UK!) in each eye. It is not a combined vision thing, both your eyes must be 6/6 or better.

As I have already said (but some people either can't or won't read), the RAF does not pre-select pilots for a particular aircraft category. All pilots are selected on the basis that they are fit for any and all roles. During training, you are streamed to the role which your ability and aptitude best suits you, and for which vacancies are available. You do not have a choice to which role or aircraft you are sent.You may be asked your preference - but thay won't take any notice of what you say!

planecrazy the RAF are not taking people with 'poor' eyes. Nothing in this thread has suggested they are.

Scroggs

Scroggs, perhaps it was the case when you went in 22 years ago re: not being able to pre choose which aircraft type you wish to fly, but in todays RAF, you do get a choice.

Routes are:

Fast Jet, Multi-Engine or Rotary.

All pilots complete their basic flight training at 1 FTS RAF Linton-on-Ouse, then fast jet boys go down to Valley for their Fastjet conversion on the Hawks, not sure where the other two groups go (as all my RAF pilot friends, went fast jet). From valley you then either get creamed to go back to Linton and instruct, or stay at Valley and instruct or move onto your OCU. (operational conversion unit) depending on which type particular aircraft. I think where some confusion has reigned, is that you get to choose which Route to go, but you dont get to choose which type i.e You choose FASTJET, then RAF chooses if you go Jaguar, Harrier, Tornado etc.

No, ZH, you are totally wrong. You do not get to choose. I may have joined the RAF 29 years ago (not 22), but it's not that long ago that I left it, and I am still in touch with the people that recruit, select and train new pilots - and I was one of them, for some years.

The RAF has never allowed people to choose their streaming.

From the RAF Careers website: (http://www.rafcareers.com/jobs/pilot.cfm)

Scroggs

Perhaps then they take into consideration your requests where possible dependant on operational requirements. I know for a fact that my friend got asked which he wanted to do, and he asked Fastjet, after 1FTS, he went Valley, was creamed to stay at Valley, then after a tour there went onto his OCU. He's now a GR4 Jocky.

Eitherway, you'd be lucky to get into the RAF these days as any pilot.

The current intake at FTS Linton consists of 3 students. Thats 3 new pilots for the entire 2006 intake.

I refer you to my post No 19 of this thread.

Scroggs

I appreciate what you're saying Sir, and I dont doubt your knowledge. I am speaking from personal experience of what i have seen.

In some circumstances, they WILL take into consideration your request to fly a certain aircraft. Im guessing that if you're skills and aptitude suggest that you would be suited to all roles, and if they had vacancies in all areas then your request would, and IS honoured.

The same applies for actual postings. They ask you where you want to go, 9/10 times they wont actually listen to what you say, except some times they do.

I've a good friend whos an ATCO in the RAF. He did 2 tours up at Prestwick, come the 3rd tour, they wanted him down in Leeming, he asked if he could say up north for a little more time as he was doing some courses outside of the RAF and they honoured his request. He is now, 2 years later than planned, based at Leeming.

You're both pretty much getting to the same answer, but Scroggs has the cold hard truth of it.

Fact is, while they do note your preference when it comes to streaming, that can have next to no effect on where you end up. The RAF will place you just where IT neeeds and IT wants you regardless of what you want.

ZH, you're friends got lucky. They asked for fastjet and they happened to be streamed for fastjet. Thats just luck of the draw more than anything and is not an indication of any new procedures that allow new recruits to choose what stream they want.

Your example of the ATCO is a very different situation. Comparing someone who's been around for a bit, has built up some experience/contacts/life in the RAF to new recruits who all want to fly fastjets but can't.

NB: I'm not RAF so feel free to disagree with whatever I've said! I did look into the whole process and talk to people a lot though before eyesight problems ruled me out of joining as a pilot.

Same as me, damned eyes!

You flying now privately? Been looking at the NPPL and wondering if its worth while doing.

ZH, please don't call me Sir! I left all that behind a few years ago now. Just believe that I know what I am talking about, and there is no benefit to me in leading you or anyone else up the garden path. Quite the contrary: I spend a great deal of my time trying to ensure that you guys get the truth.

Scroggs

Sorry Fella. I wasnt calling you Sir based on your RAF experience, i work the corporate world and find that addressing your peers as Sir is a good way of gaining their respect. It helps get deals done.

Guess its the old adage "dont call me Sir; I work for my living" ;)

Yeah, the eyesight requirements catches a lot of people out. Was a suprise to me since I'd never worn glasses, I was only below the standard on one eye and my other eye always compensates. Was a quite gutted, but still, my dream is to fly whether its military or civilian at the end of the day so still pushing on. Looking at the (few!) sponsorship/bonded schemes there are at the moment. If not, try and scrape the money together to go it on my own.

Was a massive blow to me as at the time i was flying with 642VGS at RAF Linton. Flown solo many times, had a fair few hours under my belt and was training to be instructor. Sat the medical on station, eyes failed me. Asked what the requirements were for the aircraft we were flying.. and they were the same as those for Tornado guys etc... we were only flying Grob 109B's. :*