[diamondgeezer]

AKA DG vs. MoD AKA DG's Dilema

K, so yesterday morning I was at RAF CRanwell taking my flying aptitude test. This assessed my ability to complete the training for three trades: pilot, observer and ATC.

To my complete and utter suprise I failed the pilot test but passed observer and ATC. This is the exact opposite of what I'd expected.

With these results, I'm expecting to be called up for a final interview at the Admirality with the observer role in mind. For those not familiar with naval aviation, an observer is the guy who runs the aircraft's systems and tells the pilot where to fly. He's essentially in command of the flight, looking after comms, radar, weapons, navigation and all the other complicated stuff.

The trouble is, I wanted to be a pilot. Obviously I'm chuffed to have passed any of the tests at all, and of course the observer is an equal partner with the pilot so it's not a status issue or anything. But I'm completely confused with where to go from here. As I see it, my options are:

a) Join up as an observer

b) Join up and try my damndest to retake the test in a year

c) Don't join up, and take the test again in a year.

d) Forget the whole thing

Obviously I'm favouring the first two routes. There are legends of observers who have transferred to fast jet, which is what I was really chasing...

So there you have my dilema. I've got a meeting with a careers officer at some point soon, but I'm just totally bewildered as to what to do next. Discuss.

[Fineus]

DG - congratulations on the pass' at least! How close were you to passing the pilot role? Did you find out?

My point being - kinda obviously - if you failed totally and haven't a hope in hell, option B is rather out of the window. If you were only a gnats wing from passing then giving up a year to make it and chase your dream would seem more worthwhile.

Of course - by the sounds of it - Observer isn't a role to turn your nose at either

[karajorma]

The important question is could you live with being an observer if you can't be a pilot?

If so Option 2 is probably best. If not Option 3 or 4.

[diamondgeezer]

Spank you, Thunder. To answer your question, I cas 'below the line' for pilot. I bombed two tests in particular - in one, I was using a stick and rudder pedals to manouver a dot in the vertical and horizontal planes respectivly. Because the pedals were on a one-piece swivel mechanism rather than a car-pedal type set-up, I found them to be counter-intuitive and struggled to adjust. Secondly, I was presented with a nine by nine grid of squares. Asterisks appeared, and had to be cancelled by hitting the appropriate co-ordinates - but every minute or so another symbol appeared, and had to be cancelled by another procedure before any other asterisks were cancelled. The problem was that the machine wasn't keeping up with the speed with which I was hammering the keyboard. All the other candidtes identified with this, and several brought the issue up during the debrief. I know for certain I'd do better on both these tests the second time around

To answer Kara's question... I don't know. Currently, I believe I'd be looking over my sohulder thinking "I'd rather be doing what he's doing". What I'm in the market for is sufficient observer propganda to convince me...

[magatsu1]

I take it you can't retake antime soon ?

I'd go for option2. The experience won't exactly hurt.

[Rictor]

yeah, I say you go with what you can get, and then retake the test as soon as they will allow you. You know, get your foot in the door.

Something almost exactly the same happened (is happening actually) to me at college. I applied for this rather kickass program, Bachelor of Design, and just barely didn't make it (portfolio was excelent they said, highschool marks not so much). So, they have this other program, Art Fundamentals, which is a one year "sampler" for everyone who either can't make up their mind or tried for another course and got turned down. Thats what they offered me, so I took it, and next year I will apply and almost cetainly get into Design (apparently, I was among the next 2 or 3 people down the waiting list, but they were filled up.)

Now that you know what the tests will be, not only will you be bettre prepared but you can practice (I'm assuming, right?) for them. Anyway, congrats on whatever you get, its good to know that all those long hours hunting down Shivans pays off in the real world.

[Corsair]

Number 2. It sounds like a great position and it'll give you a chance to be around jets and watch what they do so that you can pass the test next time!

[Grug]

Yeah, option b.

That way if / when you do make pilot, you will know both sides of the job anyway, and be better off for it.

Good luck anyways.

-Gurglles

[aldo_14]

Wasn't 'Goose' the observer in Top Gun?  And he, er, died.

anyways.......

I'd say you should go for b) or c), because you want to be doing something that you actually want to be doing, rather than a compromise that you might regret.  

Careers officer will probably be able to give you better advice than we can, though.

[Grug]

lol

What are you suggesting aldo_14?
That if he takes the observer, he will die like Goose?
Boost of confidence there...

-Grug

[aldo_14]

Well, Goose also had a stupid tash as well.

Which implies a supernatural bias against observers.

[Grug]

Something to think about no doubt...

[kasperl]

Observer is RIO, right?

'nyway, what Kara said. Or you could give up the whole idea 'bout flying fast and killing people and go fly a desk or a 747. The former sounds more exciting, if you ask me.

[diamondgeezer]

Great baaaalls of fire...

[magatsu1]

Damn! This kid's good!!

[Killfrenzy]

DG, I once applied for the RAF for a pilot position back when I was 16 - I was after a 6th form scholarship, but I'm now too big.

I must say that I actually passed the aptitude for all positions - I could be a pilot, ATC or observer if I wanted as I had the aptitude for them. But I will agree that some of those tests are slightly on the annoying side!