University Air Squadron FAQ (WIP)

Original post by @_joalgo

What at experience do you have? I'm a member of the UAS and I know the standards, they are the same throughout for everyone. Everyone has to pass the RAFFT.

RE Asthma, Hayfever - my point still stands

Far more experience than you.

And while you're technically right that someone can apply with those medical issues, it doesn't mean they're guaranteed to be successful. UAS' get hundreds of applicants and weeding out the ones who aren't as medically fit as others is just one way of conducting the recruitment process.
While the UAS' have the same standards to to run by, they are given latitude in how they apply those standards. Just because someone with hayfever can join doesn't mean they could or should join over someone who does not have hayfever.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 784

Original post by @_joalgo

What at experience do you have? I'm a member of the UAS and I know the standards, they are the same throughout for everyone. Everyone has to pass the RAFFT

Student, holding officer, permanent staff. I've only been on four Sqns though.

As Lauren states, what a UAS chooses as a criteria for entry, and what UAS AIs require personnel to pass by the end of the "induction period" (around easter time in first year on sqn) are two different things. Having a pass mark slightly below RAFFT standards as a selection criteria sounds like a superb idea from UBAS. I know of sqns selecting using RAFFT, and I bet they lose capable candidates who fail it by quite small margins. I know of other sqns that don't fitness test until post attestation, and then have the baggage of trying to get them through it when they fail it during the induction period.

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(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 785

EllieN95

Do you have to have a full driving license in order to join? As I haven't passed my test yet, and probably won't soon as I've stopped lessons while at uni.

Reply 786

Original post by EllieN95

Do you have to have a full driving license in order to join? As I haven't passed my test yet, and probably won't soon as I've stopped lessons while at uni.

No.

When people have mentioned DVLA they're talking in a roundabout way of the medical standards required.

Reply 787

Ich Dien

14

Original post by Fritz Bollinger

In my experience UASs are unlikely to recruit asthmatics (current or former), as they are of little potential long term benefit to the services. Same for hayfever and knee ligament sufferers.

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for me, it was no symptoms of asthma in the past 4 years. I made them aware of the fact that I had asthma as a child at any point throughout the process where it was relevant.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 788

Original post by Ich Dien

for me, it was no symptoms of asthma in the past 4 years. I made them aware of the fact that I had asthma as a child at any point throughout the process where it was relevant.

It may depend on the squadron in question. If they see themselves as recruiting X potential pilots, then they may discount asthmatics (current or former) entirely. Some may be a little more "modern" and consider it on a case by case basis. :smile:

With the number of applicants for each squadron they can be very selective, when you might only be taking 10% of everyone you see at fresher's fairs.

Reply 789

NotSnoopLion

I got on this year! Couldnt be more pleased. Especially after coming on here last year and drewski consoling me about how its due to too few places! Cheers man! Anyone else on EMUAS?

Reply 790

teasin_tina

8

Original post by NotSnoopLion

I got on this year! Couldnt be more pleased. Especially after coming on here last year and drewski consoling me about how its due to too few places! Cheers man! Anyone else on EMUAS?

Ah EMUAS, the memories. When I was on ULAS we nicked half your sign and half your crew room at the rugby 7s. Hope your fellow students have more of a sense of humour than they used to!

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Reply 791

Original post by teasin_tina

Ah EMUAS, the memories. When I was on ULAS we nicked half your sign and half your crew room at the rugby 7s. Hope your fellow students have more of a sense of humour than they used to!

The EMUs have never had a sense of humour.

That's why everybody hates/d them :wink:

Reply 792

Original post by teasin_tina

Ah EMUAS, the memories. When I was on ULAS we nicked half your sign and half your crew room at the rugby 7s. Hope your fellow students have more of a sense of humour than they used to!

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The crew room crimes were understandable (as was the "kidnapping") some of the other things not so - particularly with a shared crewroom!

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Reply 793

Original post by Drewski

The EMUs have never had a sense of humour.

That's why everybody hates/d them :wink:

I thought it was due to them winning the important stuff. I have to admit, it's a very successful Sqn in its output into the RAF. :biggrin:

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Reply 794

Original post by NotSnoopLion

I got on this year! Couldnt be more pleased. Especially after coming on here last year and drewski consoling me about how its due to too few places! Cheers man! Anyone else on EMUAS?

Good for you. They aren't joking when they say come back again next year!

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Reply 795

Original post by Fritz Bollinger

I thought it was due to them winning the important stuff. I have to admit, it's a very successful Sqn in its output into the RAF. :biggrin:

It's all good fun. A lot of good guys on my IOT were Emus.

But, at the same time, during my time they didn't win all that much... :tongue:

Reply 796

AlistairH

6

Hello there, I wonder if I could draw on any medical wisdom here? I've planning to either do Aeronautical Eng. at Loughborough or Aviation Eng. at Brunel this September and am interested in joining the UAS. However, I am slightly shortsighted and astigmatic, enough to wear glasses, and have mild asthma which is controlled with low doses of preventer inhaler.

I know I'm capable of passing a EASA/CAA Class 1 medical to fly civilian, but will either of these conditions present a problem with a UAS medical? I'm aware that asthma is pretty much a no-no for joining the forces proper.

Thanks for your help.

Reply 797

teasin_tina

8

Original post by AlistairH

Hello there, I wonder if I could draw on any medical wisdom here? I've planning to either do Aeronautical Eng. at Loughborough or Aviation Eng. at Brunel this September and am interested in joining the UAS. However, I am slightly shortsighted and astigmatic, enough to wear glasses, and have mild asthma which is controlled with low doses of preventer inhaler.

I know I'm capable of passing a EASA/CAA Class 1 medical to fly civilian, but will either of these conditions present a problem with a UAS medical? I'm aware that asthma is pretty much a no-no for joining the forces proper.

Thanks for your help.

Look on the RAF careers 'am I eligible to join' page (don't have the link handy as on my phone) that lists eye regulations and any medical information that could prohibit entry.

As far as I'm aware (which I think is still the case, willing to be corrected if I am wrong) the same medical restrictions apply to both the UAS and the regulars.

Hope that helps a little, sorry it's vague.

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Reply 798