RAF pilot, any chance?

I know many people will have been wanting and geraing towards this for many years but would someone with a few months interest have a hope in hell of being selected to become a RAF pilot?

I have finished my A levels and am expecting ABB/AAB in maths, computing and design technology. I have applied to university to do Accounting and Finance and will probably get in.

Over the last few months I have become really interested in a career with the RAF, I feel the lifestyle would suit me.

I am into rugby, weightlifting and am physically and medically fit.

The way see it I have 3 paths I could follow now:

1) Go to uni, do unrelated course join UAS for 3 years.
2) Gap year, join ATC and do a bit of travelling, apply for sponsorship for uni join UAS in uni then RAF
3) Gap year, join ATC and apply straight for RAF at end of the year

Sorry for the long post! :cool:

Really appreciate any info!

Reply 1

Lady Venom

14

1 or 2 sounds best depending on your age. I'd go self-funded travelling for your gap year - do some voluntary work. I'd then join UAS, give it a year and go for a bursary.

Reply 2

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

20

Number 1. You are probably too old to join the ATC and won't get much out of it for just a year. Number 1 gives you a back up in case things don't work out RAF wise, gives you a chance to join the UAS and (hopefully) gets you the maturity tick that OASC are after.

Reply 3

Hannibal Smith

3

Number 1, deffo.

Reply 4

Drewski

19

Number 1.

Joining the ATC at this stage won't give you anything. Go to uni, get on the UAS and milk it for all it's worth while actually doing some flying to see if you're any good at it.

Reply 5

Reg*

OP

Thanks for quick replies.

I was thinking of 1 too because then after all if it doesn't work out I always have my original plan to fall back on.

Guess I will spend a fair bit of time improving my RAF knowledge to make sure I get into UAS

Do they favour applicants with degrees in specific subjects though?

Reply 6

Drewski

19

Quite a few of my friends have got in to be pilots in the last 3 years, the three most varied degree choices are Aero Eng, Geography and Portuguese.

And some have gone in with 3rds, others with 1sts. They're not that picky.

Reply 7

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

20

Whilst there are elements of ground school and the ongoing academic side that would be easier with a degree in engineering, physics, aero-eng etc it doesn't add up to that much. What the RAF are looking for is someone who can absorb and cope with information at approximately degree level. Therefore it doesn't matter what your degree is in, I did geography, I know people with marine biology, English, classics, accounting - it really doesn't matter, best preparing for your alternative non-military option or simply something you will enjoy doing and pass after three years.

Reply 8

Pilotboy

I am now serving in the RAF as a pilot and i joined when i just coming up to 18years of age.
And they said and still say now to the careers officers that they want pilots young, esspically if you are considering fast jets.
So they prefer to take you just after completing A-levels otherwise you may not be able to soak up as much information as you have already soaked up that regarding your degree.
Finally becoming a pilot is extreamly hard now days with competition tough and the competitors have dream't of being a pilot since they were very young (like myself) so if this is something you have come up with in the last couple of months i highly doubt you will have the passion and drive to become the pilot in the RAF
but good luck in the future

Reply 9

ProStacker

11

Original post by Pilotboy

I am now serving in the RAF as a pilot and i joined when i just coming up to 18years of age.
And they said and still say now to the careers officers that they want pilots young, esspically if you are considering fast jets.
So they prefer to take you just after completing A-levels otherwise you may not be able to soak up as much information as you have already soaked up that regarding your degree.
Finally becoming a pilot is extreamly hard now days with competition tough and the competitors have dream't of being a pilot since they were very young (like myself) so if this is something you have come up with in the last couple of months i highly doubt you will have the passion and drive to become the pilot in the RAF
but good luck in the future

Really?

They prefer graduates for all commissioned posts. Otherwise the vast majority of those joining wouldn't have degrees.

Reply 10

Drewski

19

Original post by Pilotboy

Finally becoming a pilot is extreamly hard now days with competition tough and the competitors have dream't of being a pilot since they were very young (like myself) so if this is something you have come up with in the last couple of months i highly doubt you will have the passion and drive to become the pilot in the RAF

It was....

...in August 2008.

And no drive because they only just came up with the idea? I sincerely hope you're not a new officer and are, in fact, a troll, because that's beyond moronic.

Reply 11

teasin_tina

8

Original post by Pilotboy

I am now serving in the RAF as a pilot and i joined when i just coming up to 18years of age.
And they said and still say now to the careers officers that they want pilots young, esspically if you are considering fast jets.
So they prefer to take you just after completing A-levels otherwise you may not be able to soak up as much information as you have already soaked up that regarding your degree.
Finally becoming a pilot is extreamly hard now days with competition tough and the competitors have dream't of being a pilot since they were very young (like myself) so if this is something you have come up with in the last couple of months i highly doubt you will have the passion and drive to become the pilot in the RAF
but good luck in the future

(This post is almost 5 years old...)
However, what you say about younger candidates being able to 'soak' up more isn't necessarily true. Aptitude allegedly decreases with age so the 18 year olds are scientifically more likely to score higher on the aptitude tests than candidates 22-24 leaving university. You could argue they prefer older candidates as they have the much sought after 'life experience' which you gain from uni/travelling/working etc.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 12

Wzz

11

Original post by Pilotboy

I am now serving in the RAF as a pilot and i joined when i just coming up to 18years of age.
And they said and still say now to the careers officers that they want pilots young, esspically if you are considering fast jets.
So they prefer to take you just after completing A-levels otherwise you may not be able to soak up as much information as you have already soaked up that regarding your degree.
Finally becoming a pilot is extreamly hard now days with competition tough and the competitors have dream't of being a pilot since they were very young (like myself) so if this is something you have come up with in the last couple of months i highly doubt you will have the passion and drive to become the pilot in the RAF
but good luck in the future

You are not a military officer and I claim my £5.

Passion and drive are frankly 2 of the least useful credentials. I remember seeing large numbers of ex-cadets squealing about how much they wanted it and that if they knew the internal fuel capacity of a Tornado to within a kg, then that should prove how dedicated they were. People with passion and drive in this sense are often rather one dimensional.

Graduates are also best, and more likely to succeed.

Hey look at that, I pulled some useful points out of arguably the worst post made here in 5 years!

RAF pilot, any chance?

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