Fleet Air Arm - Pilot

[MitchLambert]

hi,

As you can see by my signature, I am an Army Cadet NCO, however recently I have been interested in flying in the forces. My Maths result in GCSE has stopped the Army taking me, and I have spoken to a careers advisor who says that I am eligible to become a Pilot in the FAA RN.

I am about to do 2 years of 6th form to get the required UCAS points to become an Officer, and I am being sent application forms for interviews with the Peterborough Officer Liason guy. So most of that is pretty sorted out, however I was just wondering what the liklihood of actually getting into the FAA as a Pilot is, I was informed that there is a shortage of pilots?

Any information would be very helpful on all stages of selection and training and how to fare better

thanks,

[djmarkmclachlan]

hi,

As you can see by my signature, I am an Army Cadet NCO, however recently I have been interested in flying in the forces. My Maths result in GCSE has stopped the Army taking me, and I have spoken to a careers advisor who says that I am eligible to become a Pilot in the FAA RN.

I am about to do 2 years of 6th form to get the required UCAS points to become an Officer, and I am being sent application forms for interviews with the Peterborough Officer Liason guy. So most of that is pretty sorted out, however I was just wondering what the liklihood of actually getting into the FAA as a Pilot is, I was informed that there is a shortage of pilots?

Any information would be very helpful on all stages of selection and training and how to fare better

thanks,

I dont see your sig . Im guessing you went to the Army section of the AFCO, and you were advised from there for the RN? Your matsh pulled it down? How many A-Levels above C do you have? If you have 2, your cool. If not; you cant join the RAF/AAC/RN as a pilot.

The likelihood fo you becoming a pilot? Well that depends on how much you want it, if you study for it and focius on it then you will be in with a better chance. That said, if you aint right for the job, the selection will weed you out. If you are good right for the job youll get it, f not you wont.

Last I heard it, there is still a backlog in the FAA with pilots. However, they advertising that they are actively recruiting fixed-wing FJ pilots of the future to work on the JSF.

I cant even begin on the selection, gonna watch TV

Hope to have been to some assisstance, Mark.

[Doc]

Cant you retake maths GCSE alongside your Alevels? Im not sure of the system but an old oppos son did something similar at ALevel college.

Another friend of mine studied whilst serving as a Bootneck and then transfered to the RN and trained as a pilot. Where theres a will theres a way I guess

Good luck

Doc

[big_al]

I'm halfway through the Aircrew selection process for the FAA at the moment. Basically, you can get onto the internet, or go to your nearest AFCO and tell them you're interested in joining. They'll sort you out with a couple of interviews so they can answer questions, and ensure you're entirely committed to joining. The minimum requirements are 140 UCAS points, which works out to something like 3 E's at A2, and 5 GCSE's.
They'll then give you the application forms for you to fill in. Once these have been sent off, you'll be given a date for your Flying Aptitude Tests at RAF Cranwell. These basically entail sitting at a computer for about 6 hours doing various coordination, numeracy, verbal reasoning and reaction tests. There are 3 different tests, the Pilot tests, Observer tests, and the Air Traffic Control tests, but they are all combined into one. You'll have to be at Cranwell for 4 o'clock, and you'll leave the next day at about 3 o'clock, having been told whether you've passed or failed. For pilot, you'll need to pass all three.
Depending on whether you gained a strong enough pass or not, you'll then be called forward to the AIB (Admiralty Interview Board) at HMS Sultan in Gosport, near Portsmouth. This is a three day long officer selection course, which potential officers for any branch of the RN have to go through. Each selection board has 4 candidates. The AIB entails leadership tests, interviews (personal & reasoning, service knowledge etc.), written tests on current affairs (maybe, do not know whether they are still a part), verbal reasoning, literacy, numeracy etc. You'll also have to do a fairly basic fitness assessment: around level 9 on the bleep test, about 25 press ups, 30 sit-ups(?). At the end of this, you'll be told whether you passed, whether you have a strong pass, or if you've failed. If you gain a strong pass, it's fairly likely you will be offered a place. If you gain a pass, you may be offered a place. Depending on how badly you failed, they may ask you to return and try again.
I hope that helped,
Al

[MitchLambert]

thanks for the information, I got the application for an Informal Interview etc through the post today, and thats going to be sent off.

I can get the academic stuff done easily enough, the Flying Aptitude Tests and AIB worry me a little, but then they would.

Thanks for the help!

[MitchLambert]

i passed an eye test in category S1 today, so my eyes are good for the job atleast I've sent away the interview application form now too so just waiting to here from a local office for the interview (my guess is its going to be london as peterborough isnt listed as a Officer Careers Liason Office any more and apparently it needs to be one of them?? )

Any advice on what the Flying Aptitude actually is will be helpful, as I have no clue and thats whats got me worried.

[big_al]

Written above.

[wannabe_rock]

You don't need to be commisioned to be a pilot in the Army. You can join the AAC as, say, an aviation groundcrew specialist, then after a certain amount of time - im not sure how long - you can apply and take the tests for pilot. The Army is the only 1 of the 3 services you don't HAVE to be an officer to be a pilot.