Pilot Selection Process

Throughout my training for my PPL I made a variety of mistakes (most of them stupid) that caused me to receive a nice chewing out from my instructor. Most of them were just me not really thinking and doing something like trying to pull flaps out 20 knots over max flap speed. My most memorable one was during a simulated engine failure 2000 ft above a field, and I tried to fly a rectangular pattern all the way out and back rather than just circling to a lower altitude. How often did you guys make mistakes like these during your flight training? Did it cause you to hook the ride? Maybe I have put AF pilots on too high a pedestal, but I have scared myself into thinking t…

Hey guys, is it true there are two more boards this year? A guy in my squadron told me that and I can't find it anywhere. I called the boards number on the PCSM website, but it just went to a major's voicemail in assignments.

I'm trying to locate a current UPT and IFF syllabus guide. I know in Naval flight training, there is a particular guide book that is issued to students that lists all the flight events with briefing points, skills to be performed in block and what is required to meet MIF in block. So my question: Does this exist for Air Force UPT and IFF? Another question: Where can I get a current electronic copy? Bonus question: Is there anyone here that has ever served on an Aeronautical Review Board (ARB) or been through one that I can PM for additional questions? I've already read the few threads here on ARB's, but need some insight beyond what's been said already. Many …

I was told by my recruiter that civilian applicants are no longer being pushed through meps starting with the 14OT02 board. is this true or did my recruiter just screw me on this board selection?

Thanks for the overwhelming responses for a pilot position with the Maine Air National Guard. If you're still interested in a pilot position with us, please continue to apply through normal channels with the link provided: https://www.101arw.ang.af.mil/factsheet/factsheet_print.asp?fsID=18608&page=1

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I'm ready to get my package signed, my physical is done, no waivers, and want to go RPA. I'm trying to get leadership approval to get released from my AFSC just prior to my Code 55 expiring in Dec' '14 if I get selected. However, the PSDM says that the applicant needs to be ready for release on a short notice assignment "as early as April 2014". I am CONUS & operational right now, the only way I'm going to get leadership push is if the release can be delayed until at least Sep '14 and beyond. It's just too costly for them to relase me in April 2014 as far as manning goes and my code 55. Yet worse, if I do not apply on this board, and wait until next yea…

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From what I understand, rated packages are submitted in January of 300 year for AFROTC cadets. From there, results come back in March and ENJJPT comes out in September. My question is, what is the last time you can update your flight hours before the regular pilot boards? Since ENJJPT boards are later, can you continue to update your hours after the regular board has already met? Any answers on this would be appreciated.

E-mail from cadet personnel at the zoo: Subject: Reduced Rated Quota for 2014 There's more to this e-mail but not too much as far as info that matters to anyone on this forum. I'm not complaining whatsoever about getting less pilot slots, just wondering if anyone has a clue if more are just being allocated to ROTC now. I would agree with that being case because everyone and their mom got a slot last year, even dudes who didn't want it at first and figured "Hey, they have more pilot slots? I'm gonna switch from contracting to pilot because it sounds like more fun." And i'll tell you from my perspective....the quality of people getting slots was kinda low. …

Okay, I've answered many posts on this topic. Let there be no doubt that IFS is not a "given." It really is not some "requirement" to get to the real game. It is a step in the process that is meant to eliminate those from the flow that don't have what it takes. I don't care what your prior experience is, if you can't do it our way (which is meant to mirror the UFT environment) then it is the highway. And, it is full throttle throughout the course of your specific syllabus. It is screening in the context that the syllabus is very demanding. IP's provide the training in the time alloted. You have to use that in conjuction with your effort to attain the r…

Hello all. I am relatively new to this forum as a poster, so I will try to keep this brief and to the point. In order to increase my overall PCSM score I will need to log at least 5-10 flight hours since at present I am unable to afford the full cost of a PPL. My question is this: What exactly counts as flying hours? I currently live in Japan and plan on going back to the states to take some flight training after I have completed their ground school course. I've been reading up on the forums and a few folks mentioned that dual time recieved with a flight instructor can count toward my log book. Does this dual time include pre/post briefing, or only time spent in…

So I've heard a lot on foxnews and wantscheck.com that there will be a shortage of fighter pilots in the years to come because of higher paying commercial jobs and so on. Can anybody going the active duty route shed some light on this? I'm in my last year of trying to go guard for fighters and if there is a way to get track selected for 38s and fly eagles or vipers before going to OTS/UPT, tell me where to sign. Sounds too good to be true but any info on this would be useful. Thanks guys!

So I am heavily considering getting a dog from a local rescue. It is something I have wanted to do for sometime, and the exact dog I've been looking for was brought into a local shelter recently. I commission in August from AFROTC, and EAD sometime this fall to Vance AFB. However, I've been told I likely won't start UPT until next spring (some of my classmates who commissioned in April have a set date of UPT starting in Feb. Considering I don't commission until August, my NCO's are betting my training dates won't start until after theirs). My big question is: how feasible is it to have a pet while at UPT? I know they aren't allowed in the dorms. The dog is already alm…

I'll be going for my PPL this summer and am thinking a LOR from my flight instructor would be valuable and will add some diversity to my package that is otherwise largely academic. I am hoping to finish in no more than 45 hours (21 hours currently), so I'd probably have 20-25 hours with this guy. My question is: Is it appropriate to let him know on day one my intentions and, more specifically, that I may request a recommendation from him if all goes well? My line of reasoning is that such a preamble would allow for specific anecdotal information to be more readily committed to memory for use in a possible recommendation. Then again, maybe this is completely inappr…

Due to a paperwork issue, my commissioning has been pushed back to 1 OCT, even though I graduate this May. Does anyone know if there is a waiver that can be put in to move my commissioning up?

I'm commissioning in October, but I have yet to update my form 53 after getting selected this February. I'm looking for any advice on which UPT base to put in for, any info is helpful. What are the pros and cons of each base, what are some things to do around the area, and are the UOQs any good? Anything else is appreciated.

I'm sure this has been posted before, but I can't seem to find it. Where can I find the active duty pilot board dates?

What is the major that most UPT selecties pick in ROTC? I want pilot above all and I just want to know what the "pilot major" is.

Howdy, all. I'm planning to get a PPL this coming summer. From what I understand, the minimum flight hours needed to earn it is 40 hours, but the flight school has told me that can be rare depending on how quickly I learn. They say the average time that people have spent in the cockpit is 50 hours or more. Do any of you pilots have any advice on how to better prepare for the flights so that I could maybe learn faster and perform better? In addition, the reason I am going for a PPL is to gain the pilot knowledge and flight time so that when I retake the AFOQT next year, I can get higher scores on the pilot and navigator sections before reapplying the second time for OT…

Anyone have any comments on why pilots washout at UPT? What factors play into it and what percentage washout of T-37s and T-38s? What happens to a pilot if he can't hack pilot training etc.

So I sit here now in Pensacola at UCT (do they even have an official name for this training yet?) and I feel its time to really start figuring out which road to take that would best get me to UPT. I have roughly 150 hours of flight time, instrument rating, 98 PCSM, etc, but a crappy semester from my freshman year is what killed it for me (that, and a brand new PAS at my det for the semester of boards, but I can hardly shift even a majority of the blame). As of right now I'm 26 and will be finishing up UCT later this year and thats (hopefully) where the process starts. I, like many on this forum, am dedicated to making it to UPT. I spoke with my Flt/CC about this beca…

does anyone know how common it is to go from being a navigator to being selected for pilot? once on AD do you have to serve out your nav ADSC if not can you apply earlier? Once you are nav qualified does the air force genrally like to keep you there or is it no big deal to switch? Thanks for any tips.

I (along with everyone else) hope to join the AF and become a fighter pilot within the next couple years and was wondering if it is worth getting a glider pilot's license or a PPL. A few family members keep encouraging me to go for the glider because it has the "fighter feel" (granted, I don't think any of them know what the "fighter feel" is). The other side of the coin is that a PPL would give me a much more traditional flying experience. I have 0 flight hours but I did take an aerobatic glider flight which I really enjoyed. Thank you for the help.

I have heard conflicting information as to whether or not applicants for a pilot slot before attending OTS require or do not require a technical degree. Also, I have heard that there are moratoriums on applicants with non-technical degrees that eventually sunset. If such a caveat is in effect now, will it eventually lapse?