Want to become a RNZAF pilot?

[benwynn]

What KAG said is very important.

With other positions in the force, you just enter as a worker. With specialist positions, such as a pilot, you enter as an Officer. Then you are trained to be a Pilot.

They only take the cream of the crop, so do the best you can. My cousin got in 2nd go, after getting a Uni degree - so perhaps thats another option.

You dont get to choose what aircraft you will fly, but they will ask for your preference. Seems like there is a tonne of helicopter guys. Guess they have heaps of them for pilots to fly.

[2fst4u]

QUOTE (ZK-KAG @ Apr 6 2009, 10:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Also remember that to be a pilot in any Airforce you have to first become an Officer in the RNZAF which requires leadership, initiative and a reasonable level on intellegence. Just my 2c worth.

good point. while i was on Air Force Experience, the guys on officer selection were there at the same time. there must have been 30-40 of them, of which 90% wanted to be pilots. remember they only have, what, 14 places? so you really need to show you have determination

[deaneb]

QUOTE (ZK-KAG @ Apr 6 2009, 10:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Also remember that to be a pilot in any Airforce you have to first become an Officer in the RNZAF which requires leadership, initiative and a reasonable level on intellegence. Just my 2c worth.

Yes that statement hits the nail on the head. You can't measure intelligence and aptitude by exam results alone. As well as the officer potential, they are also looking at people who have the aptitude required to keep up with high tempo flying training. New RNZAF pilots train at a rate about three times faster than an aeroclub would and theres no time to muck around - if you are not making the grade, you only get a few chances to improve before you are chopped. The investment in a graduating pilot used to be about $2 million all up when we had the Macchis. Now it maybe a bit less, but the upshot is, when you are investing big dollars, then you need to select top notch candidates.

Deane

[towerguy]

things have changed a lot since the time I went through - some things for the worse a lot of things for the better.

but "back then" on 582 Pilots Course things were pretty much as follows -

approx 800 people walked through the recruiters doors, of the 800 approx 200 got interviewed, of the 200 about 80 went to Hobsonville on the persel course.
of the 80 - 3 courses of approx 12 cadets actually started! Of our course only 5 graduated. The figures were about the same for the other courses. ie 15-20 out of 800! Get EVERYTHING you possibly can on your side. If they stipulate a minimum then that IS the minimum!

Once under training we did the first section purely on Officer training as FIRST and FOREMOST you will be becoming an Officer in Her Majesties Armed Forces. You will be expected to be a leader of others, to be someone that they will look up to and respect. You will be a person that may have to give them orders under adverse and even deadly conditions and make decisions that might affect their very lives. This section also introduced some of the basic flying study as well. I hear that now days once you have done the Officers course you graduate as an Officer and become a Human being - quite a change from staying a cadet and ranked lower than the Base cat!

This was followed by two flying training phases both on the CT4's. It involved everything from effects of controls etc all the way up to the final instrument checkflight. Previous flying may help but doesn't count , you still do the course. All the ground subjects were also covered in these stages - and to a MUCH higher and more detailed extent than in civilian training - no multi guess bullshit - Principles of flight included things like " from memory reproduce the airtrainer lift/drag curve and discuss and show how the curves are effected by the application of flap." I have since gone on to civvy commercial and instructor level and the courses at the time here in NZ were cr@p - it was much more professional and better organised in OZ which is were I went. Things have certainly improved out of sight here now which is good to see.

After those phases it was up to Ohakea to do the final jet phase on the Blunty. Unfortunately for me I was cut the week before - got a minimum pass but they said they thought I would have trouble on the faster jets. I think it was a case of I just hadn't matured enough at that stage as was a right dork! I was offered a recourse as a Navigator (twice) but turned it down and left as I wanted to be a pilot - dumbass. The guys who took it ended up getting recoursed later on pilots courses when they got short of pilots! Oh well such is life.

It wasn't until getting right through all of the phases and graduating that you got sent out to the squadrons. There wasn't the 'streaming' that appears to go on now. The other major difference - and one that I think could have made a difference for me - there were no computers back in 1982 and no FLIGHT SIMULATOR! God what we wouldn't have given to be able to go back to the room at the end of the day and practice - to be able to sit there and work out how a VOR or NDB approach really works and what happens in wind etc. To be able to actually experiment and drive in the lessons!

As you can see - it isn't an easy road to travel - and nor should it be - only the better few get through.

So - stay in school and get what ever they say you need. and don't JUST get it - excel at it as much as possible, because you can bet that the others applying will be!
Good Luck.

[NZ255]

Very inspiring TG....thank you

You've made me think about a few things.

[redkiwi]

When I did PERSEL in 2004 there were 80 applicants for all Officer trades. On my course there were 8 people, 6 were going for pilot. I don't know how representative that is but I'd assume that the majority of people going to PERSEL are wanting to be pilots. Of the 6 that wanted to be pilots, only 3 of us made it through testing at PERSEL. I know that the last PERSEL board was extended to take approx 120 people. In the best of times they take 12 pilots every 6 months, sometimes they take much less. These days there are a number of people going for the university schemes which may account for the boost in numbers.

The good thing about PERSEL is that you can't fake it, unless you are really good at faking. Even then, you have 6 months of Officer training to get through and I doubt you can fake it through all of that.

IMHO I think you should callup your local recruiting office (go to www.stepup.mil.nz and look for their number), don't bother with 0800 AIRFORCE as they are only there to send out info packs. Tell them where you are at, and that you want to be a pilot. They'll give you the best idea of what you should do to get up to scratch for entry. But as has been explained, getting past aptitude testing and an interview is just the first step.

What towerguy said is pretty much the best description of what they expect, and if you want to make it through, you need to demonstrate that you don't just meet, but exceed those requirements. Trust it me it really sucks when you get cutdown from 'hell yeah I got past PERSEL' by a letter saying "you were unsuccessful in competition". Get on your A game and don't let off.

I spoke to some pilots on wings course at the Whenuapai open day. One guy said that he studied more in the first three weeks of ground course than he did in all of 7th Form. They also said that you can more or less kiss goodbye to your social life for the two years you are on flight training, with the exception of the expected 'business' functions and what not. As much as it may seem daunting I don't think you will find a single RNZAF pilot that regrets their decision to follow through with the expectations placed upon them, they have the best classroom you could ever ask for, and their working environment is a stepup from that again - "it's the best job in the world".

[spongebob206]

Well put guys,

Plenty of advice for the ambitious aviator.

Good luck All

[cambridgedan]

well if you do join the airforce make sure you dont become a stuck up arse, like some airforce people NOT ALL OF THEM (need to point that bit out)
but yea be sure of that.

[Ian Warren]

1986 TOPGUN ... Well mister cambridgedan .. yip Back then some one had crediable flex , the man who went p****y , sucx more now .. i dont wanta no , but 23 years ago was COOL !

the best of the best

GAY TOP GUN .... Utube

but the best ......... Kiwi fighter pilot ... now thats real !

this is were i need a Goose ....... to dig up the great ... or real VID!s

[Alex]

Ok, so I'm through PERSEL (OASB), so waiting for the decision of the Review Board which convenes 29th April - 1st May in Wellington.

Alex

[redkiwi]

QUOTE (Alex @ Apr 19 2009, 03:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ok, so I'm through PERSEL (OASB), so waiting for the decision of the Review Board which convenes 29th April - 1st May in Wellington.

Alex

Lol, you must be Alex McLean. It's Gareth here bro, just heard that there were no other successful candidates so things are looking fairly promising for us at the moment, just need to hope that there are four or more spots and we'll be in for sure!

[2fst4u]

i'd rather be in the air force as an NCO than trying to get in as an officer.i reckon if i get in as a CIS tech i can try for officer-ness later on. that way, if i dont make it, im still in the air force

[Alex]

QUOTE (redkiwi @ Apr 20 2009, 02:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Lol, you must be Alex McLean. It's Gareth here bro, just heard that there were no other successful candidates so things are looking fairly promising for us at the moment, just need to hope that there are four or more spots and we'll be in for sure!

Oh for serious? Wow. Small world. Or big NZFF world. Either or.

Alex

[redkiwi]

QUOTE (2fst4u @ Apr 20 2009, 05:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i'd rather be in the air force as an NCO than trying to get in as an officer.i reckon if i get in as a CIS tech i can try for officer-ness later on. that way, if i dont make it, im still in the air force

You get two shots at PERSEL. I'd suggest you use your first one as a gauge before you join as a ground trade. If you are unsuccessful the first time they will give you feedback so that you know what you areas you were weak in. You can then work on those weaknesses over the next few years before you reapply or re-muster. It has often been said that it is harder to progress from within the ranks to a position as a pilot than it is to enter directly.

[Alex]

QUOTE (2fst4u @ Apr 20 2009, 05:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i'd rather be in the air force as an NCO than trying to get in as an officer.i reckon if i get in as a CIS tech i can try for officer-ness later on. that way, if i dont make it, im still in the air force biggrin.gif

If you can, you should definitely try PERSEL. It was fun. Also if you do want to go in as a ground trade recruit then it will help you in that regard.

@ Gareth, do you know if some of the later groups had pilot applicants as well?

[redkiwi]

QUOTE (Alex @ Apr 20 2009, 06:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

@ Gareth, do you know if some of the later groups had pilot applicants as well?

It wouldn't appear so as the groups were becoming increasingly slanted toward ground officers such as engineering/intelligence/HR/psychs etc. Also both the doctor and the optometrist said they hadnt been booked for any more eye tests/medicals. The last group was starting tomorrow, and from what i've heard were mostly Air Force personel looking to step up within their trade to a commissioned role.

[waka172rg]

QUOTE (cambridgedan @ Apr 9 2009, 10:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

well if you do join the airforce make sure you dont become a stuck up arse, like some airforce people NOT ALL OF THEM (need to point that bit out)
but yea be sure of that.

[Alex]

Well looks like I got through. Got a phone call from my recruiter this afternoon congratulating me; at the moment it's unclear whether I will be going in the July or January intakes, but one of those.

Phew. Feels like it should be the end of the process but really it's only the start...

Alex

[ZK-Brock]

Congratulations Alex! So now you may have to wait til next Jan to do the IOTC?

[ardypilot]

Big congrats man!