Canadian Forces pilot requirements

[Snowroller]

A friends daughter will be graduating highschool next year and was looking towards a flying career in the CDN Forces,just wondering do they require a university degree from a candidate to be accepted into their flight training program and if the candidate is accepted does he or she select the type of A/C eg:fixed wing,rotary wing,transport,SAR,etc to be trained on or does the CDN Forces decide,thanks in advance.Snowroller

[Lommer]

I looked very seriously at joining the forces, and it's still an option I haven't completely ruled out.

First off, you have to have 20/20 vision uncorrected to be a pilot in the forces. If you don't, there's no way. That unfortunately makes this option impossible for many people. Yes you need a degree to be a pilot in the forces. You can go to RMC (Royal Military College) and earn a four-year degree on the government's bill. If you go that route, you complete your primary flight training while you're in school and have to serve for 6 years (I think) when you're out. If you get an engineering or science degree on your own you can then join the forces and for a 4 year tour.

Either route, you select your preferences after you complete your primary flight training (similar to PPL). Pilots are then given their preferences in the order of how they performed on their tests. If you are near the top of your class, chances are good you will get what you want, but you are in the military and nothing is guaranteed. After PFTS, you complete your vocational training in whatever you're streamed into (fast-jet, multiengine, or rotary wing), Then you serve two tours on active duty. You may or may not get an option to switch aircraft and/or units between these tours.

Be advised, military pilot training does NOT give you any civilian pilot licences. The conversion is fairly straightforward and doesn't consume that much time, but it does cost a few $$ like anything in aviation. Also, there's lots of companies that love military pilots for their hours and experience on complex aircraft. There are some that won't hire them though because military pilots do have a reputation for being slow and by-the-book. All are important things to think about. Spend a lot of time talking to pilots and forces members before making the decision, because it's not easy to get out once you're in. Also, go talk to a recruiter, but don't believe a single word that comes out of their mouths unless it's corroborated by other people.

Hope that helps.

[WJflyer]

I looked very seriously at joining the forces, and it's still an option I haven't completely ruled out.

First off, you have to have 20/20 vision uncorrected to be a pilot in the forces. If you don't, there's no way. That unfortunately makes this option impossible for many people. Yes you need a degree to be a pilot in the forces. You can go to RMC (Royal Military College) and earn a four-year degree on the government's bill. If you go that route, you complete your primary flight training while you're in school and have to serve for 6 years (I think) when you're out. If you get an engineering or science degree on your own you can then join the forces and for a 4 year tour.

Either route, you select your preferences after you complete your primary flight training (similar to PPL). Pilots are then given their preferences in the order of how they performed on their tests. If you are near the top of your class, chances are good you will get what you want, but you are in the military and nothing is guaranteed. After PFTS, you complete your vocational training in whatever you're streamed into (fast-jet, multiengine, or rotary wing), Then you serve two tours on active duty. You may or may not get an option to switch aircraft and/or units between these tours.

Be advised, military pilot training does NOT give you any civilian pilot licences. The conversion is fairly straightforward and doesn't consume that much time, but it does cost a few $$ like anything in aviation. Also, there's lots of companies that love military pilots for their hours and experience on complex aircraft. There are some that won't hire them though because military pilots do have a reputation for being slow and by-the-book. All are important things to think about. Spend a lot of time talking to pilots and forces members before making the decision, because it's not easy to get out once you're in. Also, go talk to a recruiter, but don't believe a single word that comes out of their mouths unless it's corroborated by other people.

Hope that helps.

Also, military pilots have a tendancy to be, well, hard on the equipment. Therefore, the high attrition rates suffered by most air forces around the world.

[springjob]

http://www.jointheforces.com/engraph/ai ... hcp=1#requ

[haligoner]

Bear in mind that a career as a military pilot involves many, many aspects - in fact I would say the majority of it - that have nothing to do with operating aircraft. This can be seen as a pro or a con depending on what your daughter is after, but it something that has to be considered. I do know that the vast majority of Forces pilots, while for the most part loving their job, seem to to do a whole lot of everything besides fly an airplane.

Research, research, research what it's all about.

[groundpilot]

I could write an entire book about my experiences as a civilian and military pilot and they are completely different worlds. True, I wouldn't listen too much a recruiter either because generally they don't see the big picture.

Just remember when joining the military out of high school you first need a degree. This means that if you go through the military for this your not going to touch an airplane for quite sometime. And if the young lady were to fail flight training she would still owe the military obligatory service in another trade. Conversely, if she did university on her own and joined afterwards and then failed, she could voluntary release.

Yes do lots of research because it is a huge decision with a lot more to think about than simply flying an airplane.

[27pilot]

WJFlyer,

Last time I talked to a recruiter, he told me that all pilots are required to do a minimum of 7 years service. Are you sure 4 years is correct?

[cyhu]

I myself have heard everything from 7 to 11 years without having gone thru the RMC... and possibilities of being a turn or two flying a desk, nothing less.

[Lommer]

I'm the one who originally posted 4 years, and no I'm not 100% sure that's correct. It's just the number I pulled out of my head from when I researched this route a little over 1 year ago.

[TheCheez]

Ask the recruiter, for me its 7 years after I get wings.

[fingersmac]

don't forget pilots are officers. if you're not billingual you have to go through language training

i believe a friend of mine who knew very little french spent 7 or 8 months doing a french language course.

so if you come to the military with a degree you'll have to do basic training, officer training and language training (if necessary). you might spend 2 years without even attempting their flight program.

[Say Altitude]

don't forget pilots are officers. if you're not billingual you have to go through language training

i believe a friend of mine who knew very little french spent 7 or 8 months doing a french language course.

so if you come to the military with a degree you'll have to do basic training, officer training and language training (if necessary). you might spend 2 years without even attempting their flight program.

That's exactly it. Second language trg before sniffing a plane - which considering the backlog is easily 2 years. Although 7-8 months learning French wasn't bad at all - having a Quebecois "girlfriend" to teach you - in exchange for favours of course - is NEVER a bad thing. As well, it's 7 years post wings for your committment. Once past the OTU, typically 2x operational tours then alternating desk job/flying job. When at the desk, no flying - which could be for 3 years.

Remember, you're an Officer first, pilot second. Good luck with your choices.

[Federally]

I have heard of so many combinations of delays from 'time of entry' to wings. Is this because there are too many applicants going for too few Pilot positions? One thing I would like to know is if there is a 'surplus' of pilots in the first few years are the applicants swiched over to Air Nav?

[Federally]

(from the DND webpage)
Canadian Forces pilots are among the best in the world. To join this select group of military professionals, you will need to meet a few requirements:

At least 20/20 vision uncorrected. Vision standards for re-enrolling CF Pilots will be different; contact your recruiter.

A recognized Degree or be working towards one

---That's great, "vision standards for re-enrolling CF Pilots will be different"
translation we already spent 7 million on your training, you want back in no problem if you need contacts. Strange the US and Australia don't have the same vision requirements. On the Air Nav requirement section it mentions nothing about 20/20 vision uncorrected even though Air Nav officers still get their wings. I'm ignorant when it comes to the military so apologies if I upset anyone but if you can explain some of this it would be much appriciated.

[Vanilla Iceman]

and don't forget that the min years of service for the pension has recently changed from 20 to 25 years.

ouch

[Expat]

I joined the CF to be a pilot. I had a small vision defect and was found unsuitable for either pilot or nav (their words). I changed classification, finished RMC, did a 20 year career, and never looked back. Later on I took my civilian PPL and CPL and flew for fun for ten years.
I regret nothing, got a free education, an early pension, and a great life in the CF. I never collected UI to this date. My CF experience landed me this greater expat job.
Life is not what you think it will be at 17. You have to evolve with the situations.
Cheers,
Bob

[just curious]

and don't forget that the min years of service for the pension has recently changed from 20 to 25 years.

ouch

What do you mean ouch?
The few companies that have a pension in this business are AC, Jazz and... okay that's all I can think of.

Had I been smart enough to have joined when I was 18, I would have been retired for the last 3 years instead of checking wx at 5am.

[rick_fire]

Hi

For straight-forward information visit the Canadian Forces jobs site pilot page: http://www.forces.ca/en/job/pilot-32

Click on tabs to see Entry Plans including the relatively new CEOTP, Training, etc for the actual information on these topics.

As a retired air force pilot I will admit that it may not be right for everybody but a career in the RCAF can be tremendously challenging and tremendously rewarding in many, many ways.