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Navy FAT at Cranwell
My son if off to RAF Cranwell next Monday (30th) to do his FAT. He wants to fly Helicopters in the Navy and would love to be a Junglie.
We've seen some posts that give some clues to the tests involved but not a comprehensive list, if there is such a thing.
Has anyone done their FAT for the Navy recently and are there any tips you can give over and above those already on this site?
Many thanks in advance for your help.
Tony
(The bearded wrinkly!)
We've seen some posts that give some clues to the tests involved but not a comprehensive list, if there is such a thing.
Has anyone done their FAT for the Navy recently and are there any tips you can give over and above those already on this site?
Many thanks in advance for your help.
Tony
(The bearded wrinkly!)
Scroll to see replies
Hi there,
I did FAT's for the Fleet Air Arm last year, they are exactly the same as the aptitude tests that are done by the RAF and Army. Some good things to try and practice before would be:
-Speed Distance Time equations, i don't just mean simple ones that can be fitted into the nice SDT triangle but more complicated ones, well i found them very hard but i guess if you are mathematically minded they may not be so much of a challenge?!
- On the maths front as well, knowing your times tables very well is a must, there is a section where you have to just try and answer simple maths like 7 x 8 or whatever, so the quicker you can do these the better.
-Memory exercises. Try to practice remembering long lines of numbers in a row then reciting them 10 seconds later. A good tip i got taught( after i failed sadly!!) is to try and remember them as you remember a telephone number, hard to explain but when you say telephone numbers you usually have higher and lower sounds in your voice and pauses if you see what i mean!
-Sounds stupid but i also remember a part where knowing your left from your right well was helpful so brush up on that too!
-Some people recommend using computer games and things like that to help with the first parts of the test but i think it would not have much use unless it was a joystick and with rudder-like pedals because that is what it is like at the test centre. I'm not sure if just playing computer games helps, perhaps it does with hand eye coordination but then again i play the piano and racquet sports and things like that and did awful in that part. Try to relax before you get in because it is this part that you start with so its good to have a steady hand.
Sorry if i have repeated anything said before, hope this helps and good luck to your son!!
I did FAT's for the Fleet Air Arm last year, they are exactly the same as the aptitude tests that are done by the RAF and Army. Some good things to try and practice before would be:
-Speed Distance Time equations, i don't just mean simple ones that can be fitted into the nice SDT triangle but more complicated ones, well i found them very hard but i guess if you are mathematically minded they may not be so much of a challenge?!
- On the maths front as well, knowing your times tables very well is a must, there is a section where you have to just try and answer simple maths like 7 x 8 or whatever, so the quicker you can do these the better.
-Memory exercises. Try to practice remembering long lines of numbers in a row then reciting them 10 seconds later. A good tip i got taught( after i failed sadly!!) is to try and remember them as you remember a telephone number, hard to explain but when you say telephone numbers you usually have higher and lower sounds in your voice and pauses if you see what i mean!
-Sounds stupid but i also remember a part where knowing your left from your right well was helpful so brush up on that too!
-Some people recommend using computer games and things like that to help with the first parts of the test but i think it would not have much use unless it was a joystick and with rudder-like pedals because that is what it is like at the test centre. I'm not sure if just playing computer games helps, perhaps it does with hand eye coordination but then again i play the piano and racquet sports and things like that and did awful in that part. Try to relax before you get in because it is this part that you start with so its good to have a steady hand.
Sorry if i have repeated anything said before, hope this helps and good luck to your son!!
Hi again,
Sorry its quite hard to elaborate on what i mean because i did not really understand the questions very much!! I knew i could easily do SDT equations using the triangle but these would not fit in. Perhaps they also added in complications like how many miles an aircraft would do to the gallon or something, sorry i really cannot remember i just remember thinking they were hard and did not fit into the triangle. Perhaps someone who did it more recently could help? You do get given a piece of paper thoughs so you don't have to work out the complex ones in your head.
Sorry i can not be of any more help
Sorry its quite hard to elaborate on what i mean because i did not really understand the questions very much!! I knew i could easily do SDT equations using the triangle but these would not fit in. Perhaps they also added in complications like how many miles an aircraft would do to the gallon or something, sorry i really cannot remember i just remember thinking they were hard and did not fit into the triangle. Perhaps someone who did it more recently could help? You do get given a piece of paper thoughs so you don't have to work out the complex ones in your head.
Sorry i can not be of any more help
Brilliant glad i could help ( sort of!)
Just one suggestion...if your son has not already he should try enquiring about going on a Potential Officers Course to Culdrose or Yeovilton (both have Sea Kings) they're great fun and a brilliant chance to chat with pilots in the bar in the evenings
NO seriously, very good experience and we even got to fly a sea king!
Just one suggestion...if your son has not already he should try enquiring about going on a Potential Officers Course to Culdrose or Yeovilton (both have Sea Kings) they're great fun and a brilliant chance to chat with pilots in the bar in the evenings
NO seriously, very good experience and we even got to fly a sea king!Hey Jude,
Sorry, couldn't resist that! (In case you're wondering it was a hit for the Beatles in the 60's or 70's. At my age they all blur into one!)
He did his POAC at Culdrose a few months ago. He lives 5 miles from there anyhow!. He loved every minute of it! Unfortunately, he didn't get a ride in a Sea King but did get a 2 hour trip in a Jetstream they use for training observers out past the Scillies and into the wide Atlantic!
I think all the Sea Kings, apart from 771, the SAR squadron are abroad in Afgan or Iraq.
What are you up to now? Have you done your AIB or are you now a pilot?
Regards
Dad
Sorry, couldn't resist that! (In case you're wondering it was a hit for the Beatles in the 60's or 70's. At my age they all blur into one!)
He did his POAC at Culdrose a few months ago. He lives 5 miles from there anyhow!. He loved every minute of it! Unfortunately, he didn't get a ride in a Sea King but did get a 2 hour trip in a Jetstream they use for training observers out past the Scillies and into the wide Atlantic!
I think all the Sea Kings, apart from 771, the SAR squadron are abroad in Afgan or Iraq.
What are you up to now? Have you done your AIB or are you now a pilot?
Regards
Dad
Hi Lysardman,
Ahh am glad hes already been on a POC i found it was a great experience too.
I failed the aptitude test for pilot sadly but i'm now starting the application procedure for the RAF as i felt it had more opportunities for non-aircrew than the Navy.
I'm glad your sons doing well, seems like he has a very supportive Dad behind him all the way.
Best Wishes,
Jude
Ps. Of course i have heard the Hey Jude song!!!, i get that one far too much!!!
Ahh am glad hes already been on a POC i found it was a great experience too.
I failed the aptitude test for pilot sadly but i'm now starting the application procedure for the RAF as i felt it had more opportunities for non-aircrew than the Navy.
I'm glad your sons doing well, seems like he has a very supportive Dad behind him all the way.
Best Wishes,
Jude
Ps. Of course i have heard the Hey Jude song!!!, i get that one far too much!!!
Sorry about the "hey jude" quip. At my age it's difficult to be creative!
I'm trying to be as supportive as possible, mainly for my own benefit. When he joins up it'll stop him pestering me for money to fix his motorbike or suchlike. He'll be getting enough money to sort the b-- thing out himself.
He went out for a celebratory ride on the bike the day after his FAT and promptly dropped it! Bent forks, broke the fairing, bent foot brake lever, both of which had just been replaced after someone knocked his bike over. Another £150 from me to cover his insurance surcharge!
Have you applied to the RAF yet or are you still in limbo? You would get to see more of the world in the Navy, and they still need lots of people.
Anyhow, all the best for whatever you do.
The Bearded Wrinkly.
I'm trying to be as supportive as possible, mainly for my own benefit. When he joins up it'll stop him pestering me for money to fix his motorbike or suchlike. He'll be getting enough money to sort the b-- thing out himself.
He went out for a celebratory ride on the bike the day after his FAT and promptly dropped it! Bent forks, broke the fairing, bent foot brake lever, both of which had just been replaced after someone knocked his bike over. Another £150 from me to cover his insurance surcharge!
Have you applied to the RAF yet or are you still in limbo? You would get to see more of the world in the Navy, and they still need lots of people.
Anyhow, all the best for whatever you do.
The Bearded Wrinkly.
Hi Again,
No i haven't applied yet, am literally at the start, having my initial chat this week which i am looking forward to immensely! I did actually go on a Warfare Officer POC to HMS Collingwood but it really did not have the same buzz at all like Yeovilton- wasn't over keen on the ships to be honest! And although you may be able to get more travelling,i'm not sure?the RAF just seemed more me despite the Navy being a natural progression ( i went to a Naval school).
Anyway i have heard being a pilot in the Navy is the life, lots of sunbathing so i'm told!
Jude
No i haven't applied yet, am literally at the start, having my initial chat this week which i am looking forward to immensely! I did actually go on a Warfare Officer POC to HMS Collingwood but it really did not have the same buzz at all like Yeovilton- wasn't over keen on the ships to be honest! And although you may be able to get more travelling,i'm not sure?the RAF just seemed more me despite the Navy being a natural progression ( i went to a Naval school).
Anyway i have heard being a pilot in the Navy is the life, lots of sunbathing so i'm told!
Jude
Hi Jude,
Lots of sunbathing if you're on a ship, but my son was told at interview he'd be in Afgan when he becomes a pilot! How about that, a Navy pilot in a landlocked country!!
He doesn't care, all he want to do is fly! He's been in the ATC for the past 5 years but doesn't stand a chance for pilot in the RAF as he's not got a degree. He's had a couple of flights at the local RAF station in a Grob Tutor in the last few weeks. He's allowed to control the aircraft once take off is complete then for the next half hour and line it up for the final before the pilot takes over for landing.
The funny thing is that his younger sister is a more natural pilot than he is, and he's good!
Remember, whatever you do be committed when they interview you!
The bearded wrinkly!
Lots of sunbathing if you're on a ship, but my son was told at interview he'd be in Afgan when he becomes a pilot! How about that, a Navy pilot in a landlocked country!!
He doesn't care, all he want to do is fly! He's been in the ATC for the past 5 years but doesn't stand a chance for pilot in the RAF as he's not got a degree. He's had a couple of flights at the local RAF station in a Grob Tutor in the last few weeks. He's allowed to control the aircraft once take off is complete then for the next half hour and line it up for the final before the pilot takes over for landing.
The funny thing is that his younger sister is a more natural pilot than he is, and he's good!
Remember, whatever you do be committed when they interview you!
The bearded wrinkly!
I wasn't aware that you had to have a degree for being a pilot in the RAF, i'm pretty sure its just 5 GCSE's (Grade A-C) and 2 A-levels. Unless there is some unwritten rule about it?
Yeah i was in the CCF at school so got to go solo in a Vigilant powered glider when i was 16 or 17, still can't even drive lol!!! It's amazing the opportunities you get from being in the air cadets.
Jude
Yeah i was in the CCF at school so got to go solo in a Vigilant powered glider when i was 16 or 17, still can't even drive lol!!! It's amazing the opportunities you get from being in the air cadets.
Jude
You don't require a degree to be a pilot in the RAF. You can start IOT aged 17.5 for pilot, as long as you have the GCSEs and A Levels.
My son went into this in great detail when he originally decided he wanted to be a pilot. He was told that about one person per year got direct entry to pilot without a degree, if that. The route he'd have to take was to join as a serviceman then when he got to Sergeant or Flight Sergeant he could try for pilot.
That is the main reason he's joining the Navy. There is more chance of him getting to fly in the Navy than in the RAF!
Having seen the benefits that all my children have got from being in the ATC I cannot recommend it too highly! I think if every young person was made to join one of the Forces cadet groups, or even the Scouts, at 13 we'd have a lot less trouble in this country than we do now!
The Bearded Wrinkly
That is the main reason he's joining the Navy. There is more chance of him getting to fly in the Navy than in the RAF!
Having seen the benefits that all my children have got from being in the ATC I cannot recommend it too highly! I think if every young person was made to join one of the Forces cadet groups, or even the Scouts, at 13 we'd have a lot less trouble in this country than we do now!
The Bearded Wrinkly
Thats really odd, at 16 when i was interested in being a pilot i spoke to careers people and was never told anything like that. Anyway i'm sure the navy will be great too.
I think you're spot on with the whole activities for kids at 13, i don't think they're advertised enough either. Im not sure about forcing people into doing anything...i'm not sure that would bring about very good results but if the opportunities seemed closer then perhaps people would grasp them. I'm certinaly very greatful for my time in the CCF, especially looking back at it now.
Jude
I think you're spot on with the whole activities for kids at 13, i don't think they're advertised enough either. Im not sure about forcing people into doing anything...i'm not sure that would bring about very good results but if the opportunities seemed closer then perhaps people would grasp them. I'm certinaly very greatful for my time in the CCF, especially looking back at it now.
Jude
That's not true as I know more than 2 peoeple who got direct entry for pilot in the same year. The EFT courses up until now have mostly been 18 yo DEs (friend of mine is EFT instructor), but now with UAS's ceasing formal EFT the DE courses will be large and more mixed. Ok, the IOT courses at the moment are mainly graduates but that is because it's the uni intake but there are definately more than one 18yo DE on them.
Hi Inaspin,
I bow to your personal superior knowledge, but, as you point out, it still does not negate the fact that you stand a far better chance of getting trained as a pilot in the Navy as an 18 year old DE then you do in the RAF. You are not in so much competition from other 18 year olds for just a very few places.
Having said that, my son, at 19, was the youngest at his FAT and the majority did seem to be graduates. However, he was mixed in with potential Army pilots as well and they may have a similar attitude to the RAF.
The Bearded Wrinkly
I bow to your personal superior knowledge, but, as you point out, it still does not negate the fact that you stand a far better chance of getting trained as a pilot in the Navy as an 18 year old DE then you do in the RAF. You are not in so much competition from other 18 year olds for just a very few places.
Having said that, my son, at 19, was the youngest at his FAT and the majority did seem to be graduates. However, he was mixed in with potential Army pilots as well and they may have a similar attitude to the RAF.
The Bearded Wrinkly
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