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AAC chopper Pilot
Posted: Thu 21 Jun, 2007 2:01 pm
by varsity
Hi all.
A friend of mine is interested in possible applying for the Army Air Corps. I personally am looking into something, more than likely with the Navy (Navy Diver seems my cup of tea) so have very little info I can give my friend.
He is very interested in being a helicopter pilot. Has anyone done this for the AAC? Anyone know what sort of education you need/other requirements and can you apply to be a pilot, or do you need to do a stint in the AAC or Infantry then apply for pilot?
Posted: Fri 22 Jun, 2007 9:58 am
by Angry_Young_Man
Hi im currently in the application process for the Army Air Corps, however im joining as groundcrew and not as a pilot. There are two routes to becoming a pilot in the AAC.
1. Join straight away as an officer. This will require at least A-levels or 140 UCAS points (i think). You will do your initial officer training at Sandhurst and then go RAF Cranwell to begin Pilot Training. From what Ive heard only a small number of pilots get selected after Sandhurst. (anyone confirm this?)
2. Join as any other Soldier trade in the Army. After several years and once you have reached the minimum rank of L/Cpl , with a reccomendation for Cpl, you can apply to become an AAC Pilot regardless of what Capbadge/Regiment/Whatever you were beforehand. However, if you join as a Soldier in the AAC (non-flying role) you can apply to become a Door Gunner/Rear-crewman after a couple of years service, giving you some experience as aircrew.
Best place to get information is the Army Air Corps website, it gives a good overview of all the training pilots go through
http://www.army.mod.uk/aac/recruiting/index.htm
Posted: Fri 22 Jun, 2007 5:01 pm
by Hyperlithe
Odd, the 2 AAC pilots I know are a SSgt and a WO1.
But they've both been in a while, so maybe things have changed.
Posted: Sat 23 Jun, 2007 1:19 pm
by Hantslad
Hyperlithe wrote:Odd, the 2 AAC pilots I know are a SSgt and a WO1.
But they've both been in a while, so maybe things have changed.
Yeah but you still need to be minimum rank of Cpl to be accepted onto flying training. I also believe you can transfer to the AAC after a while and never go back to your previous capbadge.
I think the point you are trying to make is that AAC ground trades can be pilots too, which is correct.
One other route you have missed out on is be commissioned into any corps or regiment and then apply for flying training