RSAF Pilots' 12-Year Contractual Bond

last SG · 2007-09-21T00:13:34+00:00

i'm suggesting AGAIN you go to CMPB to find out the information before making a decision. Then perhaps you can then share with us what you found out and what...

mrblitzer21 SG

I have some questions about being a pilot in the RSAF...

1) According to this RSAF career website, http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/mindef_websites/atozlistings/air_force/careers/opportunities/pilot/training.html , the pilot training takes about 27.5 months ( 2 years and 4 months) from BMT to the Advanced Flying Phase. So the question is whether as a result of this, pilots have to serve a longer period of time for NS, instead of the usual 2 years?

2) After the Advanced flying phase, pilots still have to undergo training in their respective planes right.. does anyone know how long this conversion training lasts for, say, the F-16. Also do they go through this training after University or before?

Thanks...

^tamago^ SG

All pilots are not NSFs, they become regulars. Laughing

mrblitzer21 SG

but they go through that 27.5 months of training during their 2 years NSF period? or after?

^tamago^ SG

Already told you regular, you sign on is 6 years including your NS liability.

If you are selected, you go to Tamsworth in Australia after BMT for 2 months. Back to OCS for 3 months then Pearce AU for 10 months. Then your AFS for 11 months. Thereafter you can defer for studies but not before you sign a 10-year bond with the RSAF.

tetsumi SG

qn 2... they go thru all these training b4 they go for their university studies. u will only be allowed to go for university studies if u achieve a certain category status as a pilot, normally around 25 - 27 for farmer pilots.

cydus21 SG

if i’m not wrong f16 training takes at least 3 years.

mrblitzer21 SG

so after come back from Uni still have to serve 4 more years right?
one more question.. at around what rank does a pilot stop flying? do they still fly alot when they reach majors or Lieutenant Colonel?

Arapahoe SG

why don’t you ring up mindef? these are specify question and obvisouly u have interested and serious. Ask from the right source don’t come here what if you get smoke?

tetsumi SG

like wat i've said... it depends whether r u a farmer pilot anot.
pilots r officers n they retire at 45 yrs old.
however, most, if not all, will transit to a 2nd career.

depending on which squadron n wat u were previously doing (staff role), it will determine how much flying u do when u reach MAJ or LTC.

if u r a farmer pilot, dun dream abt LTC ok? sometimes, the truth juz hurts. Wink
end of the day... it's still the farmer vs scholar thing all over again.

cydus21 SG

hmmm.. u dun stop flying tat i'm very sure.. my uncle is a pilot in RSAF. u have to meet a certain min quota of flight hours to stay current.

and by the way how u all classify a farmer pilot? like just a dip or just a degree??

^tamago^ SG

ur 34B. when u come in tat time ur career is alrd planned out based on ur potential acad qualifications or that at time of entering service. Laughing

tetsumi SG

yeah exactly. Wink
basically, if u arent on any of the prestigious scholarships, u r more or less a farmer.
if u r juz a dip/a-lvl/normal degree holder, welcome to the farm. Surprised

zenden9 SG

I don't think u can classify a pilot as farmer or scholar..

Cos the skill of piloting a plane is damm practical. If u not happy with RSAF,u can easily be pick by commercial airline which pay more and less demanding...

If u retire at 45 with a 2LT,so what?

U can easily join a commercial airline and earn big bucks!

That is hard to say for Army and Navy....

Pilot is the most practical skill learn! Unless u don't wnat to continue in flying!

^tamago^ SG

pls dun slaughter my spiderpig. Embarassed

spycampers SG

but if u like to fly a plane..
u can considered to job hop after ur first contract end..

go out of force.
join air line.

"better pay.."
dun need to go for parade..
saf day.
rsaf day..
national day.
ppl camp open house also ur problem..

air line still got
FREE visit to more countries then in the force.
and u work with MORE girls..
air stewardess...
or u prefer manly environment..
pls stay on.

Applecombi SG

TS,

if you wanna know about flying in the airforce, go down to CMPB and have a chat with Cpt "Ouyang" or her colleauges.......

if you wanna fly commercial, visit the various websites SQ/SQC/MI, Tiger to find out more or read FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL magazine.

Dont for one moment think that switching from airforce to airline is like changing underwear to boxer shorts.

you start from scratch..............

Embarassed

cydus21 SG

yes u start from scratch.. meanin MAJ u can go back to LTA or rather first officer so they called in commercial term. and a pilot in rsaf commission as a LTA not 2LT.

and wats 34B??

DjMatrix SG

bra size?

mrblitzer21 SG

thanks.. so are you saying that if i have plans to join the airlines i should join them straight after university? I heard that the selection for SIA pilot is very competitive, so maybe the extra years of military flying experience will help one get selected over others?

Also, SAF has a policy of promoting LTAs to CPTs one year after they graduate from Uni right, so does that mean that there are many many more captains than LTAin the squadrons?

mrblitzer21 SG

thanks for the advice, i just thought that since these are simple questions concerning training, most regulars and NSman should have knowledge about it so i posted here...