Helicopters and asthma

[Mr Maroon]

Hi chaps. Can you become a pilot if you have previously had asthma. I've been clear from asthma for 7 years, is that OK. I start sixth form in a couple of weeks and will hopefully get good A levels. I would like to fly helicopters preferably Chinook or Merlin. My dad who was a pilot in the RAF said that the aircraft that you fly is all down to how well you do in training. I.e. if you are a high flyer in training you are put in the fast jet section if you are average then you are put in helicopters an if you don't do very well then you're put in the transport section. That was how it was conducted 100 years ago when you was doing training. Is that still how it is conducted nowadays and if you're put in the helicopter section and advance to helicopter training do you have any preference as to what you fly. Thanks lads.

[EH_BURNETT]

The official RAF spiel;
ASTHMA AND SELECTION FOR AIRCREW The Asthma policy for those seeking
a career in any of the Aircrew
branches is as follows: (1) Candidates with a current or past
history of asthma are to be made
permanently unfit for aircrew duties. (2) Candidates with a history of a
single episode of wheeze in
association with a respiratory tract
infection after their 5th birthday are
to be referred for specialist
assessment. Those with a negative assessment on formal testing may be
acceptable for aircrew selection.
Those with demonstrable bronchial
hyper-responsiveness after the
infection has resolved are to be made
permanently unfit aircrew duties. An accurate history is the most
useful tool OASC has in deciding
whether a candidate has had asthma
in the past; this is gleaned from both
the candidate on their medical form,
and their general practitioner who provides OASC with a report. NOTE: If you are unsure whether
you have had disqualifying asthma
you should fill in an asthma Medical
Supplement leaflet via your AFCO
which will then be assessed at OASC.


So it doesn't look good for you I'm afraid. However you can still be ground crew and/or Army or Navy.

[EH_BURNETT]

Hi chaps. Can you become a pilot if you have previously had asthma. I've been clear from asthma for 7 years, is that OK. I start sixth form in a couple of weeks and will hopefully get good A levels. I would like to fly helicopters preferably Chinook or Merlin. My dad who was a pilot in the RAF said that the aircraft that you fly is all down to how well you do in training. I.e. if you are a high flyer in training you are put in the fast jet section if you are average then you are put in helicopters an if you don't do very well then you're put in the transport section. That was how it was conducted 100 years ago when you was doing training. Is that still how it is conducted nowadays and if you're put in the helicopter section and advance to helicopter training do you have any preference as to what you fly. Thanks lads.

Oh and also you said 100 years ago average flyers were selected for helicopters. Spot the problem there