Just a few questions with the RAAF.
How long is the minimum time you have to spend as a pilot once trained?
And once that time is up is a pilot qualified to join QANTAS or Jetstar or Virgin? Its just i have heard rumours that pilots in the Airforce have to then go and get an ATPL before they can join an airline.
Whats the chances of a pilot having to go to Iraq? As in do they send the experienced pilots to war or do they send the less experienced to war?
Does it matter if you have a private pilots licence/Comercial pilots licence before you get trained in the airforce?
Whats the go with signing up when your in year 11. Do the RAAF see that your keen and give you better chances of getting in?
With the signing up in year 11. Can you pull out if you decide to do something else with your future?
Tim
Service period is between 11-14 years, depening.
Couldn't tell you about civi qual's, but if you're a fighter pilot, goodluck QANTAS etc wanting you as a 747 pilot, those sports go to the 70 boys, and will be ex MRTT and AWAC once they have finished their time. Flying a civi aircraft for military is easier to become civi pilot then flying a fighter.
Again, depends on aircraft type. If you end up as a Hornet/Super Hornet/JSF you won't be flying much. Our Hornets did a brief stint a few years ago, but nothing major. Hercs from 37SQN are currently on a rotating shift in Iraq, fly in fly out non-stop and the Globemasters from 36SQN are also doing alot of trips. As far as I'm aware the Orion is still meant to be operational for another 7 years. As for experience, you have ATLEAST 4 years of training before you're even qualified to fly exercise, so don't worry. You get deployed, its your job, if you're worried about that, don't sign up.
No, my mate got rejected for among other things, having TOO many hours up already, having learnt alot of bad habits that are hard to break as the style of flight between military pilots and civi pilots differs GREATLY.
And finally, no. Signing up in year 11 doesn't earn you brownie points. They have thousands of applications for pilots a year amongst other jobs, having one person sign up in year 11 doesn't make them choose you more. If anything, dont. I had a few 17 year olds on my courses, too immature without life experience to be doing it IMO. Make sure it's what you want, it's not a job you can muck around in such as others. Once you get involved in SQN life and start to assimilate into the base, you find out your limits and what you can and can't do and life becomes a whole lot more relaxed. Just don't fuck around during basic and employment training or you'll be out on your arse. And as for pulling out, only if you have a legitimate reason, aka your a skitz. And in that case, they'll kick you out. Like I said, make sure it is what you want to do with your life before you go signing up.
Also, you know that IF you get accepted as a pilot, you don't get to choose your aircraft type as simply as passing and going "I want to fly Hornets" It's all based on a ranking system, Dux in class gets priority, same as everything. You can work your way to being a fighter pilot, but ONE mistake and you're back to your old SQN.
