RAAF Pilot

PILOT
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Pilots are Officers who fly a range of RAAF aircraft. Pilots fly a range of aircraft from fighter jets and strike bombers to transport aircraft.
RAAF Pilots are required to perform duties both domestically and internationally. Some of these tasks include:
1) Tactical or strategic transport:
- troop transport
- Special Forces insertion
- parachuting (both static-line and free-fall)
- airdrop of stores and equipment, including four-wheel drives, inflatable boats and artillery pieces
2) Search and Survivor assistance, including airdrop of Air-Sea rescue kits (life rafts, radios, water, emergency rations)
3) Disaster relief that includes delivering necessities domestically (e.g., Katherine floods, 1998) and internationally (e.g., Pakistan earthquakes, 2005)
4) Medical evacuations, whether as a result of military action (e.g., Timor, 1999), terrorist bombings (e.g., Bali, 2002 and 2005) or natural disasters (e.g., Boxing Day 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami).
RAAF pilots fly a range of aircraft including:
- F/A-18 Hornet
- C-17A
- Hawk 127
- PC9/A
- AP-3C Orion
- B737-BBJ
- C-130J Hercules
- F/A-18 Super Hornet
Aircraft of the future RAAF Air Force:
- Joint Strike Fighter
- Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C)
- KC-30A
- P8 Poisidon MPA
RAAF Pilots interact frequently with other RAAF aircrew such as:
- Flight Engineers
- Airborne Electronics Analysts
- Air Traffic Controllers
- Air Combat Officers
- Loadmasters
The Training
Upon joining the Royal Australian Air Force as a Pilot, Direct Entry Officers will normally undertake the Initial Officer Course of 16 weeks duration.
Those training to become a RAAF Pilot will also undertake Combat Survival Training (COMSURV) at RAAF Base Townsville.
COMSURV training is carried out over a two to three-week period for all ADF aircrew and includes survival techniques in marine, desert and jungle environments as well as escape and evasion techniques, requirements and responsibilities. The course has a number of prerequisites including fitness, first aid and swimming proficiencies.
Aviation Medicine Training
Air Force trainee pilots are required to complete an Aviation Medicine (AVMED) course covering the physiological aspects of military aviation. Initial AVMED training is at Tamworth before commencing flying. Upon completion of the initial AVMED course, trainee pilots then commence flight training at the ADF Basic Flying Training School.
ADF BFTS is responsible for all pilot basic training for the ADF. The unit, in unison with its contractor BAE Systems, provides basic flying training (BFT), a Flight Screening Program (FSP) and Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) development. The unit is also responsible for complying with Defence and relevant civilian corporate governance requirements.
The ADF Basic Pilot Course is conducted by BFTS using a mix of civilian and military instructors running eight half-courses of about 25 weeks (plus Army Intermediate Pilot Course of eight weeks). Approximately 152 students will commence training at BFTS per annum with approximately 79 flying at any one time (and up to 105 on site). Theory instruction includes aerodynamics, aircraft systems, airmanship, cockpit systems, Morse code, navigation and meteorology. Flight instruction is conducted on the CT4B. General flying techniques include aerobatics, circuits, forced landings, stalling and incipient spinning. The course also covers instrument flying, formation, navigation and night flying techniques and seeks to establish the attitudes required of a military aviator.

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