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defencejobs.gov.au/airforce/jobs/Pilot
Document generated on Monday, 19 June 2017 at 8:26:41 AM
Pilot
Many young people dream of flying for a living, and for very good reason. That dream job may be more attainable than you
think, and far more rewarding when you choose the Air Force over commercial options.
Additional Information
WHAT YOU COULD EARN
In the Air Force you'll receive a competitive salary, generous Super and an excellent range of benefits. You get paid from
the day you start training and your salary will increase with rank and experience.
PILOTS
can earn over
$71,900 p.a.
on completion of initial employment training if degree qualified. This figure includes Uniform and Service allowances and
applies to full time Officer entry.
Job Details
Upgrade your flying ambition right now and within just a few years, you could be taking control of one of the fastest and
most manoeuvrable aircraft in the skies. Or transporting troops and supplies to a disaster zone in a high-capacity heavy
transport aircraft. Or carrying out a covert surveillance mission in an aircraft armed with state-of-the-art radar and sensor
systems.
In the Air Force you'll enjoy an exceptionally exciting and highly responsible job, a very competitive salary package, and a
lifestyle like nothing else. Plus, you'll benefit from continual investment in your personal and professional development.
Better still, in contrast to taking up an airline cadetship, you'll be paid as you train, you'll achieve captaincy far faster, and
you'll experience a wide variety of deployments flying advanced military aircraft.
Your route to becoming a Pilot in the Air Force will be:
Officer Training - 17 weeks (or 6 hours per week plus 6 weeks for ADFA students).
Pilot Basic Training - 25 weeks including over 60 hours in the CT4B Airtrainer.
PHASE 1:
• General flying including basic aerobatics, spinning and emergency handling
• Instrument interpretation skills
• Night flying, and
• Navigation.
PHASE 2:
• Consolidation of basic general flying skills
• Advanced aerobatics, and
• Further development of emergency handling skills.
Plus ground training which covers aerodynamics, aircraft systems, airmanship, air power, air traffic control, aviation
medicine, cockpit systems, meteorology and Morse code.
Advanced Training - 37 weeks including 119 hours in the PC9/A single-engine turboprop.
The emphasis for this stage is taking all the skills learned during Pilot Basic to a higher level in a higher-performing aircraft.
You'll also learn more advanced military flying skills including low-level navigation to a time-on-target, and formation flying.
For more detail, visit the Employment Training page.
On successful completion of these training programs, you'll receive your wings and be streamed onto a specific aircraft
type, based on your ability, training scores and Air Force needs.
• Click below to find out how to start your Air Force career with a degree from the Australian Defence Force Academy.
• Alternatively, if you're considering starting Air Force Pilot training straight from Year 12, click ‘Officer' in the Method
of Entry above.
• Or, if you're a young woman who's already studying a Bachelor of Aviation Degree at Griffith University, click
Graduate Pilot Scheme.
Entry
You might be surprised to discover that you can train to become an Air Force Pilot without having first secured a degree.
Though if you do have one, you'll start on a higher salary.
With appropriate grades you can enter the Air Force after completing Year 12, undertaking the Initial Officer Course at
RAAF East Sale in Victoria. This is called ‘Direct Entry'.
Once graduated from there you'll move on to the Pilot stages of your training, as you pursue a flying career with the Royal
Australian Air Force.
Pay & Allowances
During initial military and employment training, as an Officer Cadet you will receive the following salary package:
$55,691 per year if degree qualified + generous superannuation $50,343 per year if non-degree qualified + generous superannuation
These figures include a Training Allowance and a uniform maintenance allowance. Upon completion of your military and employment training your salary will increase to $67,084 per year plus generous superannuation. This includes Service and Uniform Allowances.
In comparison, if you learnt to fly through an airline cadetship you could expect to be paid around $60,000 per year once
qualified; and that's after paying for all your own training fees and living expenses for four years. Salaries increase with rank, years of service and additional skills and qualifications gained. See Salary Scales for more
details.
Please note, the above salaries do not include compulsory deductions for taxation; meals, accommodation and utilities (as
applicable).
General Requirements
Age Requirement
On the day you enter the Air Force you must be at least 17 years old and (preferably) below the age of 27.5.
Those older than 27.5 will be considered for selection if they can demonstrate significant potential for Air Force Pilot
training. Citizenship Requirement
To serve in the Australian Defence Force you must be an Australian Citizen or in exceptional circumstances, a permanent
resident.
Find out more in our Recruitment Centre or ask your local Defence Force Recruiting Centre.
Security Requirement
The Department of Defence requires ADF entrants to attain a security clearance appropriate to their avenue of entry.
Details on the security requirements for all Air Force jobs can be found here.
Aptitude Requirement
The application process to join the Australian Defence Force requires you to complete a series of aptitude tests which may
include verbal, spatial and numerical ability and a general maths test. Some jobs may also require you to complete
additional testing at a later date.
Psychology support staff will explain what is involved with each test.
The aptitude tests provide information about your suitability for the Defence Force and for particular jobs. Defence Force
Recruiting can then help you identify jobs that best match your abilities.
Further information on the aptitude testing requirements can be found here.
Education & Experience
The requirements for acceptance into Initial Officer Training for a Pilot Career are:
• Completion of Year 12.
• Passes in English, Mathematics (Tertiary Entrance Level, not modified) and two other academic subjects.
If studied, minimum grades are set for chemistry, geography and physics. Applicants must have also achieved a minimum
of a C grade or equivalent in Year 10 science, if sciences were not completed and passed at year 11 or 12. Medical & Fitness Requirements
Naturally you’ll have to be both mentally and physically fit to train as a Pilot.
At various stages during the application process you’ll be assessed through (1) completion of a questionnaire relating to
your medical history, (2) a physical examination, and (3) a Pre-entry Fitness Assessment (PFA).
During the PFA you’ll need to be able to perform 20 sit-ups (feet held) and 10 push-ups (men) or 4 push-ups (women).
You’ll also have to achieve a 6.5 shuttle run score in a multistage fitness test. You can find out more about our medical and physical fitness standards and access training tips here:
Fitness in the ADF
Here you can read about the medical examinations and screenings, what we’re looking for and assessing, when in the
application process it happens, and what you’ll have to wear:
Medical Process for Entry into the ADF.
Period of Service
As a Direct Entry Officer (DEO) - Pilot, you will be required to serve in the Air Force for an Initial Period of Service (IMPS) of
11.5 years (men) and 6 years (women). IMPS commences from your date of appointment which is the day you officially
join the Air Force. There is no obligation associated with an IMPS until you are eligible to graduate from No 2 Flying
Training School. This time is known as a grace period.
You may apply to end your period of service at any time by providing a minimum of three months' notice, however
approval would not normally be granted unless you have completed your IMPS or you are within your IMPS grace period.
Please note the differentiated IMPS for men and women exists only for DEO pilots and has been established as a special
temporary measure to reduce potential recruiting barriers thereby increasing the number of female pilots in the Air Force.
Additional Requirements
The role of Air Force Pilot is about as far from an ‘ordinary’ job as you can get. So there are a number of additional
requirements for acceptance into our training courses.
The most obvious is that you must have a real interest in the Air Force, and a driving ambition for a life behind the visor.
Other requirements are as follows:
Abilities and Aptitudes
You’ll be assessed to check that you are:
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Suitable for commissioning as a Pilot
Suitable for Pilot training
Able to demonstrate common sense and good judgement
Able to process new information quickly and accurately and apply learned procedures under pressure
Able to allocate priorities amongst competing sources of incoming information
Able to think and act quickly and appropriately in stressful situations (e.g. in unusual or emergency situations)
• Able to perform cognitive tasks and manual activities simultaneously and
• Spatially aware.
Personal Qualities
You’ll be expected to have:
• The personal attributes to accept the status and fulfil the responsibilities of an Officer, and
• Appropriate personal attributes for training and subsequent employment as a Pilot.
Physical Requirements
Weight and height requirements are important due to cockpit and ejection seat ergonomics.
WEIGHT and BMI
For Air Force Pilots, the acceptable BMI range is 18.5 to 29.9.
Applicants must have a body weight of between 55kg and 100kg (measured in underwear) to comply with the design of
ejection seats and parachutes.
DIMENSIONS
Height - 163cm to 193cm
Sitting Height - 100cm max.
Buttock to knee length - 67cm max.
Buttock to heel length - 122cm max.
SPEECH
Good communication is critical in the Air Force. Your speech must be clear and free from impediment.
Experience
Military flying is in many ways, very different from civilian flying. Therefore the Military Pilots course has a different training
philosophy to that of many civilian flying schools.
You’ll be expected to progress on course at a rate that confirms your suitability for subsequent operational conversions to
front-line military aircraft. Therefore previous flying experience in a civilian environment does not necessarily provide an
advantage.
There is no Recognition of Prior Learning with ADF Pilot courses. All successful applicants will fly exactly the same syllabus
sorties regardless of previous experience.
The Air Force neither encourages nor discourages potential applicants to consider flying lessons.
Detailed evaluation
A detailed evaluation of your suitability to become an Air Force Pilot will take place at the Australian Defence Force Pilot
Selection Flight (ADF PSF).
The ADF PSF is part of the Australian Defence Force Basic Flying Training School (ADF BFTS) located in Tamworth, NSW.
The BFTS runs the Pilot selection process for the Air Force, as well as the Navy and Army.
The process begins after recruitment, when the suitability of applicants is assessed. Those deemed competitive will be
invited to undertake the Flight Screening Program (FSP) and Officer Selection Board (OSB). The FSP is designed to evaluate Pilot applicants in an airborne environment, in order to determine their suitability to
undergo ADF Officer and Pilot training. The program syllabus involves a range of mass briefs and up to 12 flying hours. The OSB stage follows completion of the FSP. It involves a series of group activities, problem-solving exercises and verbal
presentation exercises plus a formal interview. This gives applicants an excellent opportunity to display their true potential
to be an Officer and Pilot.
The OSB is made up of members of all three Services plus a Psychologist.
Choosing the Air Force
During this whole process you’ll be considered to be a general ‘ADF Pilot applicant’, though your preference to join the Air
Force will be recorded.
This preference will be honoured if you are considered to be suitable. But you should be aware that, in the highly
competitive ADF Pilot selection process, a willingness to nominate, and possibly accept, a second or third preference will
greatly expand the opportunities available. After OSB you’ll be informed of the Pilot Selection Flight’s recommendation on your suitability for each Service, and their
relative competitiveness. However a recommendation at this stage does not guarantee an offer of employment from the
Service.
The ADF PSF distributes their recommendations to the individual Services several times a year. The single Service Personnel
Agency then reviews all recommended applications and makes an offer of employment to those that are competitive to
meet the Service’s requirements.
That means it may take up to three months for you to receive an offer.
After each distribution, those remaining in the pool of successful applicants compete on an equal basis with those newly
entering the pool. Applicants may remain in the distribution pool for up to 12 months. For detailed information on the Flight Screening Program visit the ADF PSF website:
Australian Defence Force Pilot Selection Flight
Military Training
Initial Officer Training: 18 Weeks
As soon as you join the Air Force you’ll undertake a 18-week Initial Officer Course at RAAF Base East Sale, Victoria.
There, you’ll be introduced to military life and learn about Air Force values and attitudes. The other major elements of the
course include:
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Ground defence and weapons training
Leadership and personal development
Communication skills, and
Air Force operations.
You can find out more about the structure and requirements of the Initial Officer Course on the Officers Training
School website, where you can also access guidance on how to arrange your personal affairs before appointment. You’ll
also find useful information in our Joining Instructions. Employment Training
Aviation Medicine Course: 1 Week
Combat Survival Course: 2 to 3 Weeks
Pilot Basic: 25 Weeks
Advanced Training: 37 Weeks Aviation Medicine
Before learning to be a Pilot, you’ll go on an Aviation Medicine (AVMED) course at RAAF Base Tamworth, NSW to learn
about the physiological aspects of military aviation.
In between Basic and Advanced Pilot training you’ll undergo additional AVMED training - including hypoxia training in a
hyperbaric chamber - at the Institute of Aviation Medicine at RAAF Base Edinburgh in Adelaide.
Combat Survival
At an appropriate window before completing initial flying training, you’ll spend 2-3 weeks at the Combat Survival
(COMSURV) Training School in Townsville, QLD. There, you’ll learn survival skills in marine, desert and jungle environments
as well as escape and evasion techniques, requirements and responsibilities.
Practical exercises will help reinforce the theories you’ve been taught, while testing your initiative and determination. So it’s
important to be physically fit, a swimmer, and knowledgeable in First Aid.
Pilot Basic training
This is where your flying career really starts to take off.
You’ll learn to fly at the ADF-Basic Flying Training School (ADF BFTS) in Tamworth, where in 25 weeks you’ll log over 60
hours flying time in the CT4B Airtrainer.
This initial training is split into two phases plus ground training:
Phase 1: General flying (including manoeuvres such as basic aerobatics, spinning and emergency handling); instrument
interpretation skills (with an emphasis on non directional beacon orientation and approaches); night flying; and navigation
(medium level cross-country navigation and progression to a safe solo standard).
Phase 2: Consolidation of basic general flying skills, instruction in advanced aerobatics and further development of
emergency handling skills.
Ground training: Covering aerodynamics, aircraft systems, airmanship, air power, air traffic control, aviation medicine,
cockpit systems, meteorology, Morse code and navigation. The Air Force provides the best and most comprehensive training available; and your instructors will be highly experienced
Pilots and mentors, keen to see you succeed.
BFTS is the final step in the Pilot selection process and determines your suitability for progression to Number 2 Flying
Training School (2FTS) at RAAF Base Pearce near Perth.
The Aviation Progression Board meets to review each candidate’s cumulative performance and those who meet the
performance standard required will automatically proceed to 2FTS. Supplementary offers may then be made based on
performance indicator scores captured throughout the selection and training process, such as flight screening, psychometric
assessment, learning rate and relevant personal attributes (for example, very high levels of motivation). The board will finalise recommendations within one week of BFTS course completion. At this stage, if you haven’t been
selected for advanced Pilot training, you may still be offered opportunities within other aviation-related specialisations. Advanced Training During 37 weeks at 2FTS you’ll log 119 hours in the PC9/A two-seat single-engine turboprop.
The emphasis for this stage is taking all the skills learned at BFTS to a higher level in a higher-performing aircraft. You’ll
also learn more advanced military flying skills including low-level navigation to a time-on-target, and formation flying.
Ultimately, the lessons learned at BFTS and 2FTS will be combined into mission-oriented profiles that demand a high
degree of flexibility and adaptability in both flying skills and mental processes. On successful completion of Advanced Training you’ll receive your ‘wings’. At this point you’ll be streamed onto specific
aircraft and will commence specialist courses such as Fighter Pilot training.
The following competencies will be awarded on completion of the Advanced Training course:
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AVI4E108B - Maintain aircraft radio communications
AVI4Y108B - Control aeroplane on the ground
AVI4Y308B - Control aeroplane in normal flight
AVI4Y408B - Land aeroplane
AVI4Y808B - Control aircraft solely by reference to full instrument panel
AVI5W1808A - Operate and manage aircraft systems
AVI5Y2008A - Conduct full instrument panel manoeuvres
AVI5Y2108A - Conduct limited instrument panel manoeuvres
AVI5Y2808A - Perform instrument departure published procedures (SID/SRD)
AVI5Y2508A - Perform an instrument arrival
AVI5Y3308A - Perform visual circling approach
AVI5Y3408A - Perform non directional beacon (NDB) instrument approach
AVI5Y3508A - Perform VHF omni directional radio range (VOR) instrument approach
DDDRPL588A - Perform Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) instrument approach
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AVI5Y3608A
AVI4Y6609A
AVI4Y6109A
AVI4Y6209A
AVI4Y6309A
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Perform instrument landing system (ILS) instrument approach
Control aircraft in advanced flight manoeuvres
Perform Aerobatic Manoeuvres
Perform an Aerobatic Sequence
Perform close formation flight
• AVI4Y6409A - Leads an aircraft formation flight
Further Training
You’ve now graduated from Number 2 Flying Training School and are ready to be streamed onto specific aircraft. This
process is called ‘conversion’.
By this point you’ll probably have a pretty good idea what type of aircraft you’re passionate about flying. However, whilst
acknowledging your preference, recommendations about the best choice of aircraft based on your temperament, strong
points and aptitude will be provided by your instructors.
Air Force instructors are highly experienced and will have been observing you for almost 12 months, so they are well
qualified to advise the selection panels on your suitability.
Ultimately, the needs of the Air Force take precedence. However every aircraft option will still provide you with a rich and
rewarding career, plus levels of job satisfaction those in other jobs can only dream of.
So whether you’re selected to fly a C-17A Globemaster III heavy transport, a KC-30A tanker, an E-7A Wedgetail
surveillance and control aircraft, or a state of the art F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter, this is the stage when you learn the
specifics of the aircraft chosen. You can read more about all the aircraft we operate on the Air Force website.
You’ll also become fully assimilated into the working environment of your new squadron, learning the theory behind the
tactics it employs. Here you will 'crew up' and practise until your team is operationally effective.
Employment Location
Once you have completed flying training, you’ll be posted to an Air Force flying squadron based at one of the many Air
Force Bases across Australia:
New South Wales
RAAF Base Williamtown: F/A-18 Hornet, Hawk 127, E-7A Wedgetail and Pilatus PC-9/A
RAAF Base Richmond: C-130 Hercules
Northern Territory
RAAF Base Tindal: F/A-18 Hornet
Queensland
RAAF Base Amberley: F/A-18F Super Hornet, C17-A Globemaster III and KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport
South Australia
RAAF Base Edinburgh: AP-3C Orion
Victoria
RAAF Base East Sale: King Air 350 and Pilatus PC-9/A training aircraft
Western Australia
RAAF Base Pearce: Pilatus PC-9/A and Hawk 127 training aircraft
The exact location of your posting will depend on the type of aircraft chosen for your advanced training.
Subsequent postings could take you to other Defence establishments and possibly overseas on humanitarian and
peacekeeping missions.
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