Medical/Aptitude Tests at RAF Cranwell?

Hi all,

I started at Salford Uni this month, studying Aircraft Engineering with Pilot Studies. Basically at the end of the 3 years I get a degree in Aircraft Engineering and a PPL (if I pass :smile:

)

Ive been interested in entering the RAF as a pilot for a while now, when I went down to my local AFCO a while ago they told me to apply for the University Air Squadron, so I did and passed my preliminary interview last week.

I then went on to the formal full RAF interview today with 2 interviewers, and passed that, and have been told I am going to RAF Cranwell for a medical and aptitude test on 16-17 October.

Basically Im just wondering what sort of tests are carried out at Cranwell? All I know is I have a medical/eyesight test on the Saturday, and the Aptitude test on the Sunday but I dont know what either consist of.

I know its not the full OASC procedure for the Air Squadron like it would be if I was entering straight into the RAF, but does anyone know what sort of tests they carry out to give me some sort of idea what to expect?

Thanks in advance

[email protected]

Reply 1

Arch-Angel

pcoltas

I then went on to the formal full RAF interview today with 2 interviewers, and passed that, and have been told I am going to RAF Cranwell for a medical and aptitude test on 16-17 October.

Basically Im just wondering what sort of tests are carried out at Cranwell? All I know is I have a medical/eyesight test on the Saturday, and the Aptitude test on the Sunday but I dont know what either consist of.

Not 100% sure, but you might have to take an interview as well, but don't quote me....

Medical is very involved - covers all kinds of things that would take too long for the non-expert like me(!) to explain. They will measure your arm length (to make sure you can actually reach the controls), length from hips to knees (too long and you'll leave your knees behind if you ever had to eject!), ECG - all kinds.

For aptitute tests there's no real way to prepare. There are five tests that all wannabe pilots (and WSO's, Int, ATC etc.) undertaken. There's a rather good leaflet you can pick up from the AFCO (which I can't find at present!!) which describes them rather well (I remember that one tests short term memory, another covers your ability to look at a computerized mockup of a aircraft cockpit and answer question explaining your altitute, speed, heading, etc.)

It's all timed - you only get so much time per question I believe - and all on computer. Not sure if there's other aptitude tests (IQ format) to do as well; best way to prepare for those is to Google for IQ tests and take the numerous online versions that can be found.

Hope this helps

Reply 2

Daveo123

Hi all,

As a little introduction: I am 20 years old and have been home educated since 13. I have attended college and gained 5 GCSE's and 2 A-Levels (all C and above). I also have a BTEC in Aviation Studies awarded by my local Air Cadets. I have 13hrs training on C150/152's towards my PPL. I have been working towards a career as a pilot in the RAF since I was 13. At the moment, I am working on lowering my weight by another stone. I also exercise (gym, run, cycle and swim) every day. So I will be in excellent shape for when I decide to submit my application to progress on to the first interview.

I am booked-in for a presentation on the 7th October. I keep hearing that I should have plenty of questions for the staff/officers that will be giving me the presentation but each time I try to think of questions to ask, I end up thinking about...

1. What will the training involve?
2. How long will the course be?

... and basic stuff like that, that will probably be answered in the presentation. Would anyone else be able to suggest some good questions so that I don't fall flat on my a$$ with a tonne of questions that have been answered during the presentation.

I have also been informed by the AFCO staff that I should work on my Leadership skills. I am going to join Air Cadets as a Civilian Instructor up until I go into the RAF. I am also trying to get a job and generaly brighten up my application.

All suggests will be much appreciated (for anything to do with the selection/application process)

P.S. I am 6ft 3", physically fit, good eye sight.

Regards

David (Dave)

Reply 3

pcoltas

cheers m8,

I know theres defo no interview (already had 2), its just medical and aptitude ive got a sheet about it but it doesnt really detail the tests, will have to get to AFCO and get that leaflet.

Anyone else have any experience of AFCO?

Thanks

Reply 4

Wzz

Arch-Angel

Not 100% sure, but you might have to take an interview as well, but don't quote me....

Not at Cranwell. UASs centralised medicals a while ago. From personal experience, you'd have a pretty little blonde, a bit too small and light to be aircrew, maybe with poor eyesight, going to an overstreched local RAF medical centre for a UAS medical check. The doc would decide that while she's a *little* out of limits, she's nice, really wants to fly, so he'll sign her as fit UAS only.

Then she decides in a couple of years she likes it, fails the OASC medical, and is crushed she can't get into the RAF. Plus, looking cynically, she's been costing us a fair bit of cash to train for eventually no reason.

Some UASs decided to do aptitude tests as well, but I can't comment on this as I don't know what they do. I presume it'd be the pilot battery.

Arch-Angel

Medical is very involved - covers all kinds of things that would take too long for the non-expert like me(!) to explain. They will measure your arm length (to make sure you can actually reach the controls), length from hips to knees (too long and you'll leave your knees behind if you ever had to eject!), ECG - all kinds.

There's no ECG. Too expensive to do for everyone!

Reply 5

Blue_Wolf75

Your medical consists of a general physical examination just to check you don't have any sort of freakish growths and the cough test. They then take your measurements to check you can fit in a cockpit and use all the controls. The eyesight test is a simple read letters off a board, a hearing test where they play you a variety of beeps at certain frequencies into your ears, they take a urine sample. Um... that's all I can remember at the mo.

Reply 6

pcoltas

Cheers for the reply blue-wolf, what measurements do they take? I heard there is 6 but I only know 4 of them - height, weight, reach and upper leg.

Also what do the aptitude tests consist of, and is there anyway to prepare for the whole thing?

Thanks

Reply 7

Blue_Wolf75

height, weight, functional reach, sitting height, buttock-knee, buttock-heel

Reply 8

Arch-Angel

Wzz

There's no ECG. Too expensive to do for everyone!

I stand corrected Sir!! :smile:

Reply 9

Wzz

You can sit corrected if you like, we're all friends here :smile:

Reply 10

Blue_Wolf75

Well thank god for that, my legs were killing me.

Reply 11

Wzz

I can't believe I've spent over 500 posts on this sort of stuff sometimes :rolleyes:

Reply 12

Arch-Angel

Wzz

I can't believe I've spent over 500 posts on this sort of stuff sometimes :rolleyes:

The thought did cross my mind...not flying a desk at the moment are you?? :smile:

Reply 13

Wzz

God no. Spent just over 2 hours airborne today, probably a little more than that tomorrow. Still happily flying!

Reply 14

Arch-Angel

Wzz

God no. Spent just over 2 hours airborne today, probably a little more than that tomorrow. Still happily flying!

Out of interest, what are the chances of ending up at a desk as a pilot. I know that the Flight Ops branch was set up to avoid pilots spending time in desk jobs at Stn Ops - but heard a rumour that the Flight Ops branch was going. Do you know if there is any truth in that (trying to verify my own branch selections and Flight Ops is on the "shortlist" so to speak)?

Reply 15

Wzz

I should imagine flight ops is fairly safe; there are still enough flying-related ground jobs for pilots to occupy.

In the current climate, we're all fighting over airborne second tours, unfortunately.

Reply 16

gareth_zuton

PCOLTAS

u said u hav just started salford uni, i am currently lookin at uni's and salford is one, it has a good graphics rep. but i have been told consistently about how rough the place is. but some people have told me that it isnt any more, because government has thrown millions at it. whats the truth? cheers :confused: