RAF Pilot Qualification Equivalencies

Do you have a degree or any further educational qualifications?

Thanks for your response- forgot to mention that, unfortunately nothing I have has any equivalencies- I have technical training in very niche areas but none of it's accredited as it's specific to whatever I was working on at the time. I do have a large technical portfolio including products I've worked on (including a lot of math, novel algorithms, etc.) but I doubt it's of much use here.

Based on a short conversation I had with an AFCO corporal, it seems like they won't even look at anything else I can show for the aptitude test, and that sort of thing would only be relevant at the interview stage? Really just hoping there's any way to talk to somebody who can make a decision to let me give the CBAT a go.

Hi Sel-4

Few quick things:

1) You don't have the minimum academic requirements of any equivalency. So you aren't eligible to apply. It must be frustrating having gone out into the real world and got some life experience but it's still a requirement.
2) The AST is the 'Airman Selection Test' which is different to the CBATs for pilot aptitude.
3) I'm not exactly sure what you're after. You want to skip the academic requirements for pilot and go to Officer & Aircrew Selection on the proviso that you'll get your A levels later? Even if you come back with a strong aptitude score, you still have to tick all the other boxes for Officer potential and all the other requirements before you'd be accepted for training. Or did you want to go for Aptitude testing and pass that, but then go on with your life without joining the RAF?

I knew it would be a long shot, primarily I wondered if there's a review board or anything of the like which could process applications on a case-by-case basis (I'd heard something along those lines in the past, but it seems like it's no longer the case) so that I can apply weighted on the other factors. I get that it's obviously a completely different case when it comes to the military, but incidentally with my current employment, it's a senior postgrad position where the degree requirement was waived based on my work, which is where I'm coming from.

At the end of the day, if it's completely rigid that you need the set qualifications on paper, then fair enough, I'll shift focus totally to doing my fATPL, it just seems a shame that there's no review/point of contact when the qualifications I'm missing are for frankly basic math, etc. compared to what I'm currently paid to work with which I can demonstrate through other means.

It's going to sound a bit harsh, but the number of people who come through who could ask

"Could you make an exception for me because other than my asthma / A Levels / eyesight/ not very good at sit ups / or anything else, I'd potentially be a good candidate?"

when the RAF gets many thousand applicants per year who have all the entry requirements and will subsequently go to pass OASC and end up on the front line means it's not worth their time.

If you want to be an RAF pilot and you're as smart as you say you are then go and do an A Level in maths plus another you could pass easily and then come back and apply. The other factor of course being the age limit, which might not work in your favour depending on how old you are now.

I wouldn't say its harsh however, it is a completely inaccurate comparison.

What @Sel-4 was asking, is if there's any consideration taken for those with life experience as opposed to, in my opinion, fairly low level qualifications.

I'd suggest speaking with your AFCO again and explaining your position. There are processes in place and from what I understand our armed forces often assess people on a case by case basis. Let's be honest, would you rather someone who hasn't worked for 3 years but left school with 3 A levels and zero leadership potential go through OASC or put someone through with x amount of years leadership experience with zero a levels but demonstrable experience?

Worst case, it's a hard no and you go away to gain the quals required or they raise it, provide a workaround and you end up further along the process.

Whatever happens, good luck!

I wouldn't say its harsh however, it is a completely inaccurate comparison [...] in my opinion.

I wasn't referring to any process in particular but interesting to hear there is a waiver process in place.

As i said, in this instance he should speak to the AFCO and they'll either come back with a firm no, as you've expressed, or inform him of anything else they could do.