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Pilot Selection

Good replies. I'm glad to hear that there are great pilots that made it in the CF with no prior experience, gives me a chance.
Rob.
 
Former291er,

WRT your initial questions, the only thing I can think of is that your recruiter possibly meant to say that it is not guaranteed that you will fly the aircraft that you want to.  There are usually fewer positions available out of MJ for multi or jet, when compared to helo.

Inch, glad you got to bbbb.  This is what I get for checking in once a day.  Hope Halifax is treating you well.
 
Strike said:
Former291er,

WRT your initial questions, the only thing I can think of is that your recruiter possibly meant to say that it is not guaranteed that you will fly the aircraft that you want to.  There are usually fewer positions available out of MJ for multi or jet, when compared to helo.

Inch, glad you got to bbbb.  This is what I get for checking in once a day.  Hope Halifax is treating you well.

Hi,

I couldn't help but notice your little comment there. Perhaps you should explain the "...you got to bbbb" bit?
 
Hi everybody, I have a question that is related to the OP in this thread.

Yesterday I received a letter in the mail from the Medical office in Ottawa, stating that before I can be considered I need to have a specialist look at my back, since I have been diagnosed with "chronic mild back pain".  This seems a little absurd, seeing as I have never had a single problem with my back, and in my medical interview I just mentioned my back has been slightly sore when standing for 8-9 hours.  This has never limited me in any way before, and it's not even correct to label it as 'pain'.  It's more of just temporary discomfort that I can experience if standing stationary for an entire day (happened once and a while when I worked at a retail store many years ago).  It goes away after a short while but it doesnt stop me from doing a single thing.  Also wouldn't everyone's back experience the same thing (especially if not wearing decent footwear) in the same situation??

Anyway the main point I'm getting to, is that I'm going Pilot, and I know selections are coming up soon.  I will have to go see a specialist right away, but does anyone know if I'm screwed in terms of getting in this year?? I can't believe something that isn't even an issue may prevent me from getting in.......
 
I got a similar letter, except mine said "Your application for pilot has been rejected due to..... If you wish to continue the application, you need to see a Neurologist for .....". So, I paid my hundred bucks and saw the neurologist who told me exactly what I knew all along, I was fine. He sent the report off to Borden or DCIEM and I got accepted a month or so later.

It shouldn't be a big deal, just don't waste time getting in to the specialist.
 
Good advice.  The first thing I did this morning was make a doctor's appt so I can get a referral.  I was just worried that the entire process could take a couple weeks, then I'll miss the selection.  But there's no use worrying, I'll just do what needs to be done and hope for the best.
 
Inch,

I got the same thing.  Mine said that I had temporal lobe epilepsy.  So I spent a few bucks of my own to get another EEG done and have it read both by a computer and a person.  Turns out that I had started falling asleep during the original EEG and the spot they were concerned about was when the administrator banged his clipboard to wake me up.

double,

All I can suggest is that you see a specialist on your own and have them evaluate you.  Then bring this work in to the recruiting centre and have them send it off to whoever it is that they want you to go see.

Good luck.
 
Thanks Strike, hopefully wait times aren't too long to go see a specialist on this, but I will certainly do so asap.  Kind of angering that something that I probably shouldn't have even bothered reporting at all in my medical interview in the first place is causing me grief.  >:(  I was thinking to myself: 'Is what I had at that time considered back pain?? Well I guess so, I'll check it off'.  Ah well I'll do what I can and let you all know how it turns out.
 
Hope everything goes good with your back man. I just finished the PT test AGAIN,lol, so now i'm just waiting for the acs, haven't recieved the dates for it yet. I'm not too worried though. I have 0 flying hours on planes sims or even games. I'm just going to go in see if I can crash as little as possible,lol. And hope for the best. If I pass, sweet, if not I am hoping that Signals, CELE AIR, EME, or aerospace control have some CEOTP numbers for the new F/Y. If I fail I can live with it as long as I do my best so I'm gonna try not to get nervous and take it as it comes.
Good luck to anyone else going for ACS soon.
Rob.
 
bbbb said:
Perhaps getting a Private Pilot License or commercial license would be the best way to go? With one of those you can actually FLY PLANES instead of waiting and doing non-pilot related 'training'. It takes a long time for pilot hopefuls to get their wings and start actually flying for the CF. The possibility of failing that 'training' kills your chances of becoming a CF pilot even before getting into a cockpit. A lot of people have experienced this situation, they enter the CF as pilot 32U and NEVER fly any CF plane because of 'training' that HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FLYING!! Many people have gone this way...

The way I see it, if you want to be a pilot, get your pilot license that way when you apply for CF pilot you actually have that skill already under your belt. This talk of bad habits during flight training is absolute nonsense. Anybody who passes the flight test and flies properly isn't displaying bad habits. For the people reading these posts up above, perhaps a description of the 'bad habits' PPL people have is in order? I for one did well on my flight test and can fly a plane without any of the sloppy habits some people attach to PPL and CPL pilots. It has been my experience that CPL pilots are awesome pilots. For those people who say that the flight test is not strict, flying a Cessna 150/172 is WAY different from flying a CF-18 or Herc.

I'm thinking I should change my signature to "Get your Pilot License if you want to be a pilot!".

Okay, I've monitored this thread and tried to keep my mouth shut so as to stay in my lane. However, reading stuff like this blows my mind.

First, my backround. I've spend over 4 years in the PRes in the Infantry... very heavily involved. I hold a Commerical Pilot Licenses with all the bells and whistles. I have a bit of time under my belt, however, I am BY NO MEANS an expert. I went to an Aviation College to get my diploma and my commerical ticket. I was flying before I went to school... since about age 16.

I've found in my travels that pilots, generally speaking, take themselves WAY TOO SERIOUSLY. (Like the guy quoted above for example). Buddy... its just a Private/Commerical license. Its not the giant deal you make it out to be. I bet your the type with the fur jacket, the aviators and the pens hanging out of your white dress shirt pocket. How may bars on your shoulders? 3 or 4?? If more people had the bank roll, flying would not be the exclusive fraternity it is now, because getting a private license is not that hard.

Like has been said above. Some people just aren't cut out to fly. There were guys in my class who could fly just fine but failed academically. Others had the book smarts but lacked the hands/feet/judgement/decision making to manage the airplane. The military is not the only organization to fail people out of a training program. People get on with companies and fail their PPC ride. People get on with AC and don't always make it either. Thats why they test you in the sim, to see if you've got it.

If you really think about it, getting selected at your CFRC for pilot is not that big a deal. If your healthy, you can do a bit of math, and you can follow some direction and make some dials read the right numbers, they'll give you a shot. Beyond that, its up to you. If you are a total screw up (and its possible that some one who is medically fit to be pilot is a screw up)... you're not going to make it.

There are sh*t pumps at every level in the military. You see them in the infantry all the time... in alot of trades. Thats because we can tolerate that and council people once they are in a rifle section. Pilot training doesn't have that luxury. In the military, similar to a flight program at a college or any other structured flying syallabus, if you can't do it in the alloted time, you're doing the kit bag drag, simple as that.

I got selected for Pilot. I got enrolled today and they are sending me to St. Jean 8 Apr. As far as I am concerned, they are just giving me a shot at it. The fact I have qualifications that are related to the occupation doesn't matter. Will my previous training help me in Moose Jaw?? Absolutley it will... as long as I have the right attitude about it. Guys who fail out of the Jaw with 1000+ hours probably didn't fail the program because they couldn't fly the airplane safely or effectively(they've been flying for 1000+, and they aren't dead. They are probably doing something right), they probably didn't make the cut cause they had a shitty attitude about changing what they've been doing civiy side for so long.

The attitude that having a PPL/CPL is your magic way to CF wings is absurd.

Just the ramblings from a former NCO... but what do I know anyway??  ::)
 
Maniac,

With a post like what I just read, I sincerely hope that you make it through the training.  It's people like you that make this job so much fun!!  :salute:
 
Hi everyone.. just have an update for you all.  Today I went to the doctor to get a referral for a sports medicine specialist.  They told me it would take 3-4 months to get to see anyone. OUCH.  Well this was unacceptable, so I decided to start calling around.  Turns out the local physiotherapy office that is close by just happened to have an opening for early next week.  So I should be able to get my report that the medical office requires from there, and again hopefully send it off once more to the medical staff with the recruiting center.  Hopefully next week is not too late to still make it in for the year! *crossing my fingers*
 
Update again.

The medical analysis they performed has been dropped off to the Recruiting department.  God's speed, to Ottawa!
 
  Hopefully they act quick for you, Its been over 3 weeks and my aircrew medical hasn't been updated from CFRC. I am starting to get worried I won't get the call in time for basic this summer..


    Zach
 
Geez I haven't even been to Aircrew selection yet, so I think I just might be screwed......

But as for you, what do they say when you call the recruiting center???
 
Thats good that they got your medical done so quick doubleO. I haven't gone to acs yet either. I'm heading out for the april 24-28 acs. Time to start studying the guide.
Rob.
 
  Well, I don't call in. I just stop by the recruiting centre - I pass it every day on my way to class, so its real easy. They don't mind it, I actually like going up because I can chat a little bit with the recruiters, which is nice. I love talking to people already in the forces, because its where I hope to be also some day.

                        Zach
 
Ah I see, so when you stop in, they don't have an information on whats going on??

And as for the late April ASC, that brings a glimmer of hope.  Last time they sent my medical to Ottawa, it took roughly 2.5-3 weeks to get back.... that means there is a *possibility* it will get back before then, and maybe they can squeeze me in :p
 
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