RAF Pilot/Officer queries

You will be tested on Part B of OASC for your height/weight/body length/limb lengths to make sure you are suitable for pilot/WSO. The measurements are on this site somwhere, but it's not really worth worying about. Weight is the only thing you an really do anything about. I think the minimum weight is 58kg (correct me if I'm wrong) and the maximum is 94kg I think?

ANYWAY....don't worry aboutit basically.

Reply 2

As Q_M suggests, there is no actual 'height' limit. Various aircraft types have various limb length limits. The most common failure points are functional reach (short arms) and hip to knee. If your arms are short you can't reach the switches when tightly strapped in. If your legs are too long they have an unfortunate tendency to stay behind in the cockpit if you eject :frown:

These measurements have to be taken in very specific positions and between very specific points, so it is not something you can check beforehand. You just have to go to OASC and hope, as with so many things!

Reply 3

OP

cheers guys (Y)

another thing, my main worry is colour blindness. what do the eye tests involve exactly? its probably going to make or break it for me because unfortunately i think i'm colour blind, if only to a certain extent.

i'm familiar with the ishihara test, which i've struggled with..but my understanding is that people have failed it before and still went on to become pilots after all?

thanks again (Y)

Reply 4

Lady Venom

14

Yes if you can pass the lantern test.

Reply 5

http://www.assoc-optometrists.org/uploaded_files/raf_july_07.pdf

Reply 6

Sandy391

4

All potential pilots are measured up for the Hawk, and in the past they have had 6 foot 3 inch guys fit in!

(Sqn Ldr at AFCO told me, because I am quite a gangly lad!)

Reply 7

http://www.assoc-optometrists.org/uploaded_files/raf_july_07.pdf

threeportdrift

Most of your posts involve quoting that website at the moment? (or it could beanother one in which case nvm!) haha :biggrin:

Reply 8

I know, but it seems that the search facility must be broken! It gives an up to date and very detailed description of the eyesight requirements for all three Armed Forces - but somehow Google only seems to be able to find it from my laptop - I feel honoured :smile:

Reply 9

threeportdrift

I know, but it seems that the search facility must be broken! It gives an up to date and very detailed description of the eyesight requirements for all three Armed Forces - but somehow Google only seems to be able to find it from my laptop - I feel honoured :smile:

haha.

I think you should put it as your TSR signature. :rolleyes:

Reply 10

For unnecessarily gangly persons. Up to 6'2" and you are probably OK, so long as all that height isn't contained in your thighs. By the time you get to about 6'4", that's when the trouble seems to kick in for those with standard proportions.

I'm not sure that our aircraft fleet is quite as limiting as it used to be however, I think Buccaneers used to chop off long legs. I don't think Tornadoes and Harriers are so bad - not heard anything about Typhoon.

Reply 11

Isn't the 6'2'' mainly for Rotary or Hercs? Thats what I heard, no idea if its true.

Reply 12

I think the only critical measurement for Hercs is functional reach. I seem to recall that a co-pilot with stumpy arms can't reach the No1 engine fire extinguisher handle when strapped in. But there wouldn't be any height restriction. I'm not sure what restrictions there might be on the rotary fleet, I would have thought functional reach would be the only stopper.

The problem is that all pilot candidates have to be fit for the FJ route (with very rare exceptions), so you have to be within the limiting measurements, which I think, as mentioned above are currently based on the Hawk.

The gist is that, if you are built to standard proportions, you should be OK up to the height 6'2"ish. But when you get taller than this, there is a good chance that your hip to thigh length could be an issue.

Reply 13

Lady Venom

14

However if you join the RN... you only have to do a functional reach and you do all your aircraft specific measurements later on (they do it again in the RAF as well when you are on your course at Henlow).

Reply 14

OP

well, i'm actually 5'9'', so if anything i'll b too short? haha i'm not insecure about my height btw LOL, it just seems like an important factor

Reply 15

OP

Q_M

Most of your posts involve quoting that website at the moment? (or it could beanother one in which case nvm!) haha :biggrin:

so basically, i would have to achieve 'CP3' at the very least in order to pass?

Reply 16

OP

also, what does the holmes-wright lantern entail??

Reply 17

Seems to me it says CP2 against pilot, in fact all regular aircrew except WSOp(L).

Reply 18

djmm

threeportdrift

Seems to me it says CP2 against pilot, in fact all regular aircrew except WSOp(L).

CP1; tri-service. Can't honestly say I know for Linguisty-types, but the ones who use their eyes instead fo ears, it's definitely CP1. Different methods for testing (atleast it used to be), as I sat a different one for the AOAMB (Sultan).

Reply 19

djmm