Joining as a pilot.

[The Southerner]

I rang up the RAF recruitment line today thinking they must have relaxed their entry criteria, but when I questioned the lad on the phone he simply said that they could make exceptions for "special cases" because the RAF is exempt from the discriminations act. It sounded like I was being fobbed off but I couldn't really question it further as I know next to fook all about it.
It does pee me off, but I suppose nobody ever said life was fair and by the sound of it I'm probably more suited to being a bootneck anyway.

Ref: The charity work etc- I can see your point but then you could argue that said candidate has only busted his balls to raise money for cancer/help build a school/whatever because he knows he'll need it for the RAF, so in that respect it's as good as compulsory if you really want to be a pilot.

Maybe I'm just bitter because I wanted to fly a chopper but I'm 25, slightly short-sighted and blatantly not of royal descent

[_chris]

I realise this is an old thread, but I've been reading into the requirements for RAF pilots since I heard Prince William (over 23 years old and wears glasses) had been accepted for pilot training.

First of all, isn't this blatant discrimination against everybody not of royal blood, and thus illegal?

Secondly, (with reference to the above post) why is the RAF interested in whether or not you've done charity or community work? It hardly seems relevant to flying helicopters or fast jets, and seems like just another way to potentially overlook a modern-day Johnnie Johnson.

Theres a women up my road caleld Betty, sweet old lady, is it not discrimination we sing God Save the Queen, what about Betty? Should we not save her?

Hes royal, hes our future king, hes getting to know the inside of all our forces to prepare him for that role. Yes he gets to do all the cushy jobs, but he is royal, hes not the average joe of he street.

Also, hes never going to be used by the RAF as front line, so its not as important hes 100% for the job, hes only learning how to fly a jet for his fun.

And the recruiter was right, the armed forces are exempt from the discrimination laws. Thats why they can still force people to retire based on age which is also illegal. And the forces have many genuine reasons to be exempt from such laws.

[SupFAC]

_Chris a good post and I totally agree with you.

[Hyperlithe]

Thing is, he's not been accepted off the street for pilot training, he was already a serving military officer. The requirements ARE different.

And the Armed Forces have to be exempt from discrimination laws, otherwise we'd be having to fit wheelchair ramps to our aircraft, tanks and ships, have a certain percentage of personnel with learning difficulties etc...
Some might say we already do!

[Wholley]

How many tanks and ships does the RAF have then Hypers?

I know,

I'll get me coat.

Hope you had a good Crimbo.

[Skiddywinks]

...so in that respect it's as good as compulsory if you really want to be a pilot.

Bingo.

Choppers are Army Air Corps anyway my friend :p

I can appreciate the fact that the armed forces are exempt from discrimination laws, it is only obvious. However, the fact is he wears glasses, and is therefore unfit to fly. I understand he is an officer, and therefore in a much better position to fly than any of us, but if I was slightly short sighted, or needed glasses for any reason, I wouldn't even be allowed to apply. Fortunately, I have 20/20 vision, but that's not the point :p

Alas, that is the way the world works; certain people get certain privileges. There is sweet FA that we can do about it except for whinge on a forum

[Hyperlithe]

If you're already a serving officer, the eyesight requirements are slightly less than if you're a civvy wanting to apply. Same as if you're already a trained pilot and your eyesight deteriorates slightly, that's not too much of a drama either. It's because of the huge number of applications for people wanting to join as pilots, they can afford to be picky. As it is, the RAF won't have to spend the money on his officer training, so they can be a bit more relaxed on the eyesight. It won't have been a case of "So you're as blind as a bat? Never mind, come and do the training anyway!" His eyesight must still fall within certain parameters. The only reason anyone's making an issue out of it is because of who he is. I know Nav's who wear glasses, who have later retrained as pilots.

Wholley - I had an average Christmas (something to do with turning 30 the previous day...) and an awesome New Year, cos I was in Vegas for that one!

[Wholley]

and an awesome New Year, cos I was in Vegas for that one!

Hope you did'nt visit the'Little White Chapel'and end up married to an Elvis look-alike

[London Boy]

How many tanks and ships does the RAF have then Hypers?

Never heard of the RAF Regiment? Each field sqn had quite a lot of Scorpion tanks in my day! And the Martime SAR squadrons still have plenty of launches

I wonder does the RAF still have any trains......

[Wholley]

Scorpions are Light Armored Recce Vehicles and launches are not ships,their boats

[London Boy]

Scorpions are Light Armored Recce Vehicles and launches are not ships,their boats

Now you're just playing semantic pedantics We in the Regt called the Scorpion a tank. Alvis who built them called it a light tank. Ship, boat, dinghy - they all bleedin well float!

But the main issue here is this, do the RAF still have any trains?

[London Boy]

Scorpions are Light Armored Recce Vehicles and launches are not ships,their boats

Also, while we're being pedantic its: they're boats not their boats.

[Hyperlithe]

And the Armed Forces have to be exempt from discrimination laws, otherwise we'd be having to fit wheelchair ramps to our aircraft, tanks and ships...

I never even mentioned the RAF in this sentence, Wholley was trying to be funny, so can we put a stop to this little argument now please?

[London Boy]

And the Armed Forces have to be exempt from discrimination laws, otherwise we'd be having to fit wheelchair ramps to our aircraft, tanks and ships...

I never even mentioned the RAF in this sentence, Wholley was trying to be funny, so can we put a stop to this little argument now please?

What argument? Top-flight comedy is what it is!

[Hyperlithe]

Really?
Hmm, I must have missed a post or something!
In that case, carry on!