RSAF Pilots' 12-Year Contractual Bond
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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... -
All pilots are not NSFs, they become regulars.Originally posted by mrblitzer21: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?
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but they go through that 27.5 months of training during their 2 years NSF period? or after?
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Already told you regular, you sign on is 6 years including your NS liability.Originally posted by mrblitzer21:but they go through that 27.5 months of training during their 2 years NSF period? or after?
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. -
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.Originally posted by mrblitzer21: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... -
if i'm not wrong f16 training takes at least 3 years.
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so after come back from Uni still have to serve 4 more years right?Originally posted by tetsumi: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.
one more question.. at around what rank does a pilot stop flying? do they still fly alot when they reach majors or Lieutenant Colonel? -
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?
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like wat i've said... it depends whether r u a farmer pilot anot.Originally posted by mrblitzer21: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?
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.
end of the day... it's still the farmer vs scholar thing all over again. -
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.Originally posted by mrblitzer21: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?
and by the way how u all classify a farmer pilot? like just a dip or just a degree?? -
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.Originally posted by cydus21: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?? -
yeah exactly.Originally posted by ^tamago^: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.
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.
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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! -
pls dun slaughter my spiderpig.Originally posted by tetsumi:yeah exactly.
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. 
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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. -
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.............. -
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.Originally posted by Applecombi: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..............
and wats 34B?? -
bra size?Originally posted by cydus21:and wats 34B?? -
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?Originally posted by Applecombi: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..............
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? -
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...Originally posted by Arapahoe: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? -
thanks alot.. i ask the question abt the MAJ and LTC because i was thinking when would be the best time to leave ( after first contract or maybe after 2 contracts?) , i guess the best time to leave and transition to commercial aircraft would be when the pilot , due to his rank, gets to fly less and less and starts to do more admin work or other stuffs...Originally posted by tetsumi: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.
end of the day... it's still the farmer vs scholar thing all over again. -
whats the definition of farmer? issit those who study in Uni locally? or does it just refer to those who do not receive a scholarship...Originally posted by tetsumi: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.
end of the day... it's still the farmer vs scholar thing all over again. -
Blitzer, you have got some serious questions going on there and it doesn't seem like "only a few".
If you are really interested in the idea of wearing a green jumpsuit to a co.ckpit everyday, then you should really call on the consultants at CMPB at Depot Road. There are staff there who can readily answer your questions.
Since you have not served your NS, then I figure you are still ineligible for SIA as they only take adults aged 25 half and above.
First and foremost, have you sat in a small plane before? Like those 4 seater types.
The chop rate for RSAF trainee pilots is very high...something like up to 60-70% per batch per phase. No prizes for guessing reasons as the profession is extremely demanding mentally and physcially, especially if one is a fighter pilot. -
mrblitzer21
when i say start from scratch, u really start from scratch, as in a CADET pilot again(OCT). So dont think if you are some big shot LTC, transitioning over to commercial aviation can throw his "previous" experience around.
FYI, single engine hours (F-16s included) are NOT fully recognised in commercial terms.
You also dont get to choose when to leave...... like father's airforce....... just before your 12th yr, RSAF offer you promotion to MAJ........ if you indicate u r leaving, rank may not be given to you. And you mention leave after 2nd contract. At 45yrs old, commercial airline may or may not take you in. if accepted, you join your 25yr old coursemates and start all over again....... believe me, its a humbling experience..
As Rockstar had said, you want more info on RSAF, go CMPB ask from horses' mouth. You want info on commercial aviation, go to the official websites.
Both military and commercial flying have its difficulties...... both have dropout rates..... both have its pluses n minuses................. its what you want and how you want to live your life.
importantly, do it cos you WANT to, not becos you HAVE to.......... -
y not?Originally posted by zenden9: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!
TS is tokking abt ranks mah... MAJ n LTC.
anyway, scholars wont fly that much cos they will be holding staff appointments.
i noe this guy who is a president scholar.
he got his CPT at 23 yrs old n juz completed airgrading nia.
haven even go for bwc n he's already a CPT.
compared to the rest who r still a 1 bar OCT.