By Derek Royal
What does it take to be a pilot in the Australian military? Derek Royal finds out.
The peace and tranquility of an early morning in southwest Queensland is broken by the sound of the ground crew preparing an aggressive looking aircraft for its first flight of the day. They are readying a multi-million dollar combat aircraft, an F/A-18F Super Hornet, the leading edge of Australian defence force technology.
On a bright morning in sunny Queensland, waging war might seem to be a strange pursuit, but the Royal Australian Air Force, ever ready to defend the island continent, takes its job seriously and to be effective, the RAAF has to be constantly prepared for the unthinkable.
Inside one of the nearby buildings, isolated from the day’s swelling heat, the two-man crew of the Super Hornet dress for their day’s work, equipping themselves for a flight which will be planned in minute detail. Along with another F/A-18 crew, they have been briefed on their two-aircraft mission.
An hour later, the respective crews walk to their aircraft. The air combat officer climbs the access ladder that reaches the cockpit and as he settles himself into his seat, his partner, the pilot, makes a thorough inspection of the aircraft, checking for any obvious faults which might make his job even more dangerous than it already is.
Once inside the cockpit, the crew must attach themselves to their ejection seats, which are capable of firing them out of the aircraft and away from danger, to a parachute recovery. Only a life-or-death emergency would cause the crew to fire their escape system, as a rocket-powered departure is certainly no fun. They must then strap themselves tightly to their seats, even a spare centimetre of slack in the harness could cause broken bones in an ejection.
Slowly the Super Hornet comes to life and and the crew make contact through a radio channel. The conversation is complicated to the ears of an outsider, and muffled by the oxygen masks worn by the crew.
The ground crew are signalled by hand and the two General Electric engines are started, spitting a concoction of fumes and noise. With the perspex canopy closed and and their bonedome safety helmets tightly fitted, only the radio chatter can be heard by the pilot and air combat officer. Ahead of them, the other F/A-18F appears and together the aircraft weave their way towards the runway.
Arriving at the runway threshold, the pilot pushes the power levers forward and the aircraft strains on the brakes as the engines surge towards their fuel-guzzling max.
“Right, release the brakes and select full power simultaneously,” whispers the pilot. As the combined power of the two engines makes the aircraft rumble and groan, the instruments start to shake visibly. With a decisive nod, the first pilot releases the wheel brakes, the second pilot follows and the two aircraft jump into action.
The two F/A-18s thunder down the runway and in a matter of seconds the airspeed indicator reaches rotation speed. The pilot drawa back the stick and the Super Hornet lifts into the air, with the second aircraft still beside him, bobbing up and down in the turbulence. It has taken less than 20 seconds from releasing the brakes to becoming airborne. At a maximum rate of climb of 45,000 feet per minute that’s not surprising but with afterburners off, the climb rate settles down by half.
Maybe, as a starry-eyed kid, this is what you wanted – to be a combat pilot and to fly some of the most sophisticated hardware on the planet. All your life you’ve watched the videos - Top Gun, the Iron Eagle series, Memphis Belle, Mosquito Squdron, etc - and you’ve read the magazines and watched the television documentaries. Basically, you’ve immersed yourself in flight and worked towards the dream of becoming a military pilot.
So what does it take to become a combat pilot in today’s Australian Defence Force (especially the Royal Australian Air Force for budding Top Guns) and how do you get the opportunity to feel the adrenaline rush of blazing about in an F/A-18F Super Hornet or any other piece of multi-million dollar hardware?
There are two means of completing pilot training in the Air Force. Applicants can complete degree studies through the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) before undertaking pilot training. Alternatively, an applicant can commence pilot training immediately after completing Year 12 at high School. This is referred to as Non-Graduate or Direct Entry.
ADF PILOT SELECTION PROCESS
According to the RAAF’s official website, ADF pilot applicants must have completed Year 12 with passes in English, Mathematics (Tertiary Entrance Level) and two other academic subjects.
Maths in Society or similarly modified maths subjects are not acceptable. Minimum grades are set for chemistry, geography and physics, if studied. Applicants must also have achieved a minimum of a C grade or equivalent in Year 10 Science if a physical science subject is not passed at year 11 or 12.
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) pilot selection process comprises:
• Recruitment testing and interviews;
• Flight Screening Program;
• Officer Selection Board;
• Distribution process.
The ADF pilot selection process is designed to achieve the highest level of predicted success for both the underdraduate pilot's course (pre-wings) and subsequent operational conversion courses (post-wings). Emphasis is placed on piloting ability and aptitude as measured by the ADF aircrew test battery, Flight Screening Program and the Officer Selection Board. Equally important are qualitative assessments of personal qualities such as maturity, confidence, motivation, interest in flying, and interest in the role and lifestyle of an ADF pilot. These factors will be examined throughout the process.
The whole process is competitive in nature and applicants are ranked against each other. The ADF always draws from the top down. Applicants are pooled and must compete for selection to the Flight Screening Program. If successful at that stage, applicants are pooled again and must compete for appointment to a particular Service.
Initial selection looks at citizenship, education and medical considerations, however, the ADF Pilot's Course requires both intellectual and physical vigour. Consequently, Defence Force Recruiting will pay particular attention to an applicant's educational background, record of academic achievement and their ability to study and produce results.
One former RAAF pilot with 21 years’ experience flying fighters, transports and bombers told Aviator that the selection process for RAAF pilots is ruthless.
“The young man accepted for military pilot training is one of many applicants and before he is accepted, he must undergo strict screening of his intellect, psyche, physical fitness and health,” he says. “As a result, the military is then able to focus a training program suitable for an intelligent, enthusiastic, healthy young man.”
PREVIOUS FLYING EXPERIENCE
Military flying is distinct in many ways from civilian flying. Consequently ADF pilot courses have a different training philosophy to many civilian flying schools. Pilot candidates will be expected to progress at a rate which will confirm their suitability for subsequent operational conversions to front-line aircraft. All successful applicants will fly exactly the same sorties on course regardless of previous experience.
Previous flying experience (e.g. light aircraft, glider, ultra-light or helicopter) is considered an indication of aviation motivation but does not necessarily confer any advantage on an ADF pilots course. Indeed, some applicants have found it difficult to adapt to military techniques as a result of their previous experience. Others have found their previous experience helpful.
As the selection process for flight screening is highly competitive, some exposure to the airborne environment is advantageous. The ADF, however, neither encourages nor discourages potential applicants to consider flying lessons. When assessing relative flight screening performance, the quantity, quality and recency of previous flying experience is taken into account.
RECRUITMENT BY DEFENCE FORCE RECRUITING
The first step in the ADF pilot selection process is initial testing and interviews by Defence Force Recruiting.
Testing includes basic officer and pilot aptitude tests, various written and physical skill assessments, and an initial medical assessment. All applicants undertake exactly the same tests. More detailed specialist medicals are conducted in later phases.
Interviews assess an applicant's level of interest and motivation for becoming an ADF pilot. Applicants are also assessed on their knowledge and understanding of the training, conditions of service and future career paths of an ADF pilot. They will also be asked if they have a Service preference (Navy, Army or Air Force) or if they would prefer to decide later. Interviews are conducted by a psychologist and a recruiting officer.
SELECTION FOR FLIGHT SCREENING PROGRAM
The ADF Pilot Selection Agency coordinates the participation of successful applicants in the Flight Screening Program, which compares applicants from all over Australia. ADF Pilot Selection Agency staff select applicants to undertake the program based on:
• pilot aptitude;
• commissioning test scores;
• recommendations by the psychologist and recruiting officer.
This process is based entirely on material received from Defence Force Recruiting and does not require another interview. The ADF Pilot Selection Agency receives more applications than there are flight screening positions, therefore gaining a position on a flight screening course is competitive.To make themselves as competitive as possible, candidates should ensure that the most up-to-date information is passed to Defence Force Recruiting for inclusion in their dossiers prior to them being sent to the ADF Pilot Selection Agency. Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) applicants are considered separately to Direct Entry Officer applicants, so they can compete for courses during school and university holidays.
Selected applicants will be allocated to the next available Flight Screening Program course (preferably that nominated at the recruiting stage). Applicants who are selected are informed in writing. Travel will be organised by Defence Force Recruiting or, for in-Service applicants, their Career Management Agency.
Some applicants will have to start or even complete specialist medicals prior to attending Flight Screening Program due to the short period between the end of their course and possible appointment to the ADF. These particularly tight time-lines will be advised to Defence Force Recruiting well in advance.
THE FLIGHT SCREENING PROGRAM
The Flight Screening Program is a flying-based assessment of potential candidates conducted at the BAE Systems Training Academy at Tamworth. The program is divided into two courses, Basic and Advanced.
Courses are based on CT-4B and CAP 10 aircraft, with two simulator sorties in an IF Synthetic Trainer. Both courses encompass 15 hours of flight time and are two weeks in duration. Scores are awarded on a per sequence basis for a number of sortie profiles.
The profiles are designed to investigate an applicant's suitability for the airborne environment with particular emphasis on suitability for subsequent training as a military pilot. A raw mean score is derived at the end of an applicant's course. For the Basic Course, this is an average of scored sequences over 98 profiles; while for the Advanced Course the average is over 115 profiles. Although these scores are indicative of aptitude and suitability for training as an ADF pilot, the ADF Pilot Selection Agency also relies heavily on the qualitative assessments of applicants made by Flight Screening Program instructors, in particular:
• demonstrated rate of learning;
• ability to respond to instruction;
• personal application;
• motivation;
• maturity.
On the last day of this two-week flying program, applicants are interviewed by the Officer Selection Board to assess overall suitability for entry into the ADF as a pilot. Candidates who make the grade are then required to complete an intensive 34-week advanced pilot training program; with Air Force and Navy pilots sent to No. 2 Flying Training School (2FTS) Pearce (Western Australia). Many demands are placed on students during the course and the standards of flying and airmanship that a trainee must develop while at 2FTS are very high. Students at 2FTS fly the Pilatus PC-9/A turbo-prop aircraft.
OFFICER SELECTION BOARD
At the conclusion of the Flight Screening Program, applicants are presented to the Officer Selection Board. The board panel is comprised of ADF Pilot Selection Agency military staff and a civilian psychologist.
Applicants undergo a process which includes group activities, problem-solving exercises, verbal presentation exercises and a formal interview. The process is designed to give the applicants maximum opportunity to display their true potential to be an officer and pilot.
The Officer Selection Board panel determines each applicant's motivation for wanting to join, their general knowledge of the ADF, training and career progression as an ADF pilot. The Officer Selection Board aims to ensure applicants understand the commitment required of officers. They also examine the personal qualities and leadership potential of applicants, as these are essential qualities. Applicants are expected to have a knowledge and understanding of significant current affairs in relation to the ADF.
The Flight Screening Program results are of importance to the Officer Selection Board as another discriminator in selecting applicants suitable for ADF pilot training. The Officer Selection Board process is extensive and will last the entire day.
Each applicant is debriefed at the conclusion of their interview as to their suitability as an ADF pilot, and their competitiveness against other applicants in the distribution pool. Other ADF entry options may be discussed with applicants deemed unsuitable as ADF pilots. However, the only other options that can be discussed are those noted as a preference in earlier interviews and for which the applicant has already conducted the necessary Defence Force Recruiting tests and interviews.
DISTRIBUTION PROCESS
The ADF Pilot Selection Agency distributes applicants to each Service from the pool of selected applicants as required, normally quarterly. A successful applicant's first preference of Service will be of primary consideration for the initial offer, but offers may be made by other Services. An applicant may choose to accept an offer or remain in the pool in the hope of receiving a first-preference offer. Precedence for those not offered their first preference (or without preferences) will be based on achieving an equitable distribution of quantity and quality of applicants to each Service.
Applicants remain in the distribution pool for a period of 12 months. After that, they are deemed uncompetitive and have their files returned to Defence Force Recruiting.
Air Force and Navy pilots are trained at No. 2 Flying Training School (2FTS) in an intensive 34-week advanced pilot training program. Many demands are placed on students during their course and the standards of flying and airmanship that a trainee must develop while at 2FTS are very high.
“Military cadets must have the ability to keep pace with a rapid rate of learning both academically and technically in high performance aircraft,” our former RAAF pilot says. “In civilian training a student begins training in a Cessna 152 or Piper Warrior, whereas the military cadets’ introduction to flight training comes in a high performance PC-9 Pilatus, a turboprop that cruises at 300 knots at an altitude of 10,000 feet.
“Flying an F/A-18 in a tactical fighter role or flying a sophisticated multi-engine aircraft such as a C130 Hercules in a transport role after basic training is incredibly demanding. The civilian student with the same amount of hours wouldn’t be flying much more than a Duchess or a Baron at the max, so you can appreciate the difference.
“The Air Force are very selective in who they choose for their flight training, their job is training pilots to the highest level possible. The student must be extremely motivated because if his performance is not up to the military’s expectations, he will be cut from the course. And this could occur at any time so he is of the mentality that if he doesn’t excel then the next day could very well be his last. If he has trouble understanding something, he may be given a second chance but after that, he’ll be sent packing and his career will be over. Just like that.”
A DREAM COME TRUE
But for those who do make the cut and are posted to a RAAF flying squadron, their arrival at their new unit will mark the beginning of their operational conversion course where they will apply what they have already learned in training to the unit’s specific operations, equipment and aircraft. They’ll learn the theory of tactics employed by their new squadron and they’ll crew up and practice until their team is an efficient fighting unit.
All your life you’ve been waiting for this moment – to graduate and to enter the mystical world of the combat pilot. It has been a hard slog and it has been incredibly competitive but it has all been worthwhile.
You feel exhilirated as you walk out to the multi-million dollar aircraft sitting on the ramp. And once you’re strapped into the F/A-18F Super Hornet and airborne, your world becomes a series of rolls and turns, with everything rattling and shaking, the hillsides rolling by at what seems to be a distance of only a few metres.
With every turn G forces come into effect, pushing you through what appears to be a hopelessly narrow valley, then with another agonising pull of 5G, the Super Hornet shoots upwards and out of the valley, rolling over onto its back. And even though you’re finding it difficult to remain conscious, you’re used to the conditions and know what to expect. That’s what you’ve been trained to do and that’s why you do it so well. This is what you’ve wanted all your life – to become a combat pilot.
