hello all..i'm currently a pilot trainee with the RSAF and
perhaps i'll do one for the pilot-wannabes.
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The Requirements (from RSAF
website):
Your eyesight should be:
Academically, you should have a Degree, Diploma or a full GCE 'A'
Level Certificate with passes in English, Maths and Physical
Science at 'O' level.
And if you are planning to study in NUS, NTU or abroad, we will
provide a full scholarship under the Local Study Award - Pilot.
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The selection process comes in 3 stages. The COMPASS test, which is
a 5-hour computerized test which tests your aptitude as a potential
pilot, eg. psychomotor skills, multitasking under stress, spatial
awareness, decision making and so on.
Following that is the Pilot Selection Board, which is an
interview with a panel of 3-4 RSAF officers, of which one of them
would be a pilot, and the main things they're looking for in you is
your interest in being an RSAF pilot and also leadership
qualities.
And lastly comes the aeromedical checkup at RSAF Aeromedical
Centre, where aviation doctors determine your medical fitness and
suitability to operate in an unnatural environment which pilots
do.
After passing all the stages of the selection process, you would
have to perform well enough during BMT to QUALIFY for OCS. By
qualify meaning that your BMT ranking and performance meets OCS
requirements, hence if you don't get into OCS through BMT as an
NSF, it does not mean that you do not qualify for OCS. However this
being said, all aspiring pilots should perform their best during
BMT to qualify for OCS.
After BMT, you would go to Air Force School to prepare for your
Air Grading Cource (AGC), which is a 6-week flying course of 15
sorties at Tamworth in Australia. This assesses your ability,
aptitude and airmanship in handling an aircraft. The aircraft used
in this course is the Pacific Aerospace CT/4B, a two-seat aerobatic
aircraft pictured below. SYFC PPL holders are exempt from this
phase, the only requirement being having to fly 4 aerobatics
sorties on SYFC CT/4E before leaving for Basic Wing Course.
After passing AGC, you would go to SAFTI MI for the OCS common
leadership module (2 weeks) followed by the Air Force Service Term
(7 weeks). This would consist of lectures about RSAF organizational
structure and other Air Force related topics, and quite a bit of
physical training.
All RSAF aircrew are required to go through a 10 day Jungle
Survival Training (JST) course, hence you would proceed to Brunei
after AFST. The JST involves lessons about jungle survival,
followed by a 3 day survival test in the jungle, and navigating 4km
after that.
After completing your JST, you would return to Air Force School
for a 3 month long groundschool course, which consists of theory
lessons and examinations regarding flying. Here you would also go
through G force endurance training, or G-FET, where you would be
taught how to resist G forces with the use of the centrifuge at
RSAF Aeromedical Centre.
Following that, you would proceed to Pearce, Australia for a 10
month Basic Wing Course(BWC), which is a full-fledged course which
teaches all the basic skills required to be proficient as a
military pilot. This is currently conducted on the Pilatus PC-21
aircraft, a tandem 2-seat turboprop military trainer pictured
below.
At the end of BWC, pilot trainees would be streamed to either
the Fighter Wing Course (FWC), Rotary Wing Course (RWC), or the
Transport Wing Course (TWC), to continue your advanced training.
The FWC is held in France, and outstanding FWC pilot trainees would
go to Canada under the NFTC (NATO Flying Training in Canada)
programme. RWC and TWC are held locally in Singapore. These
advanced wing courses would last approximately 11 months.
Given all that, pilot wannabes must note that at every stage of
this process, countless people are chopped/phased out/washed out,
and it is indeed a tough climb to get the coveted pair of RSAF
pilot wings. If this happens, you would return to the army to serve
the remainder of your NS liability, and if you have none, then ORD
loh!
And getting your wings is just the beginning. As evidenced through
many pilots i've spoken to, and also certain forumers, life as a
pilot in an operational squadron is no bed of roses. Contrary to
the 'glamourous' image an air force pilot's life has among the
public, it also comes with many responsibilities and duties, which
result in many weekends/public holidays burnt and also odd working
hours at certain times. Also, it does not mean that as a RSAF pilot
you'd be flying all your life with the RSAF. After a few years of
high-key flying and getting your operational status up, most pilots
end up with staff jobs in the RSAF, flying only enough to maintain
currency. And not to mention the compulsory early retirement age of
44.
Bottom line is, make sure this is a career choice you would enjoy
and not regret before you sign on the dotted line. Do not apply
just because people think being a pilot is 'cool' and all.
Hope this guide answers some questions from all you pilot
wannabes out there. I would be glad to entertain any more questions
if you all have any.
Thanks and out.
Er... Got a question regarding the OCS part... If let's say I
failed to qualify OCS with my BMT, that doesn't mean I confirm
cannot get into OCS right?
Then are there other requirements to get into OCS other than
BMT?
