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AETs who fly..? Give me good news people!!!

schoolboy

schoolboy

Midshipman
Right, probably gonna be my last question on here but iguess i should lay down my hopes for a navy career...

From as young as 14 i have always wanted to fly, and despite know that i am currently fit and healthy enough to pass any medical they could throw my way, im 99.9% sure i will be barred from aircrew entry because of being prescribed inhalers as a kid for certain allegies.

Some navy personell have told me just not to declare this and try for it anyway as my medical history will not be checked but im sure thats illegal somehow and i bet i would only be dissapointed. more to the point, trying to apply as a pilot now would screw up my rating entry date of 11march and thats no good if i'm probably gonna fail the medical history check for pilot.

So i guess all there is left to ask is - is there any chance i might learn to fly helicopters for whatever reason if i joined as an AET - I know an Army chef that had 13 hours of flying time - could this happen in the navy.

It sucks to think ill be barred from doing what i really wanna do in the navy, but i guess ill just have to get whatever i can out of AET entry and hope this forfills my expectations
 
Sorry Schoolboy but unless things have changed since my day only officers are allowed to play with the helicopters. During my time in the service I served on a tri-service unit at Boscombe Down and was informed by my army colleagues that at one time it was army policy to train as many soldiers as possible to fly the scout helicopter. This decision was partly made when the army realised that a scout was cheaper than an army land rover with a trailer full of equipment. Routine was soldier transferred to army air corp (teeny weeny airways) for two years, was taught to fly and after two years returned to his unit. This gave the army a lot of pilots to call on if and when needed.
 
Schoolboy, the only way you will fly as an AET is either subsequently transferring to Aircrewman (a very rigorous medical examination by the Central Air Medical Board [CAMB] before approval will bowl out your respiratory problem) or as a flying maintainer (again a medical will almost certainly discover your ailment!). It's a fact that the last thing any responsible organisation is going to do is to let someone fly who is not 100% fit - too many lives depend upon it!
 
As an AET on a small ships flight you may get the opportunity to fly as the flight air-crewman. On Manchester flight the NAM(AE) was our winch weight as they were jokingly known. Training was normally carried out by the flight aircrew (pilot & observer) and a small payment was awarded.
However at no time would the winch weight be allowed anywhere near the aircraft controls. Join as a rating but at an early stage let it be known to your divisional officer that you would like to be considered for officer selection and that you are interested in qualifying as a pilot. You will of course have to prove to the staff that you the qualities needed.
 
slim said:
As an AET on a small ships flight you may get the opportunity to fly as the flight air-crewman. On Manchester flight the NAM(AE) was our winch weight as they were jokingly known. Training was normally carried out by the flight aircrew (pilot & observer) and a small payment was awarded.
However at no time would the winch weight be allowed anywhere near the aircraft controls. Join as a rating but at an early stage let it be known to your divisional officer that you would like to be considered for officer selection and that you are interested in qualifying as a pilot. You will of course have to prove to the staff that you the qualities needed.
Click to expand...

Wow! I haven't heard of 'NAM(AE)' for years and years. However, it's true that some maintainers in Lynx squadrons (AEMs) fly as part time (and, essentially, unqualified) aircrewmen but such employment is subordinate to their specialisation and, never, ever, as badged aircrew.
 
fido said:
slim said:
As an AET on a small ships flight you may get the opportunity to fly as the flight air-crewman. On Manchester flight the NAM(AE) was our winch weight as they were jokingly known. Training was normally carried out by the flight aircrew (pilot & observer) and a small payment was awarded.
However at no time would the winch weight be allowed anywhere near the aircraft controls. Join as a rating but at an early stage let it be known to your divisional officer that you would like to be considered for officer selection and that you are interested in qualifying as a pilot. You will of course have to prove to the staff that you the qualities needed.
Click to expand...

Wow! I haven't heard of 'NAM(AE)' for years and years. However, it's true that some maintainers in Lynx squadrons (AEMs) fly as part time (and, essentially, unqualified) aircrewmen but such employment is subordinate to their specialisation and, never, ever, as badged aircrew.
Click to expand...

Correct Fido our winch weight was certainly not qualified as aircrew but in the 80s it was common to have two of the maintainers (out of the seven) on a flight classed as local aircrew. Often the SMR would be one of them and the other one of the three junior rates (flights were always top heavy). I don't think the extra pay ammounted to much but for a young NAM (sorry AEM I think I'm showing my age here) it was a few beers. Certainly no badges to sew on their uniforms.
I think that our flight commander (Boris Johnson) was one of the first to insist that all of his flight carried out the emrgency drills at the dunker (then situated at the top of the submarine escape tank at dolphin). His reasoning that all the flight at some time woulf fly in the Lynx so should go through the escape experience. I believe that this became fairly common practise after that for many ships flights.
 
I got a lot of time flying in the back of Seakings up in Jockland, Lynx at Yeovil & a wessie at Culdrose, just asked the pilots any chance of a jolly & more often than not they said yes. As well as flying on & off RFAs & dutch tankers whilst going on detachments.

There were plenty of chances to go flying all you had was ask but no doubt H&S will have knocked it on the head.
 
fido said:
Schoolboy, the only way you will fly as an AET is either subsequently transferring to Aircrewman (a very rigorous medical examination by the Central Air Medical Board [CAMB] before approval will bowl out your respiratory problem) or as a flying maintainer (again a medical will almost certainly discover your ailment!). It's a fact that the last thing any responsible organisation is going to do is to let someone fly who is not 100% fit - too many lives depend upon it!
Click to expand...
totally get the lives depending upon a pilot being fit and healthy, but surely if u can pass their medicals then u are fit and healthy enough regardless of conditions as a child. i cant believe they let aircrew smoke!???! im sure im fitter than the average smoker respiratory wise
 
letthecatoutofthebag said:
How long ago did you last use inhalers? If it is less than four years you might be okay - especially if it was for an allergy rather than full blown asthma.
Click to expand...

havent used an inhaler since i was 12 ish - a good 8-10 years ago!!!
 
slim said:
fido said:
slim said:
As an AET on a small ships flight you may get the opportunity to fly as the flight air-crewman. On Manchester flight the NAM(AE) was our winch weight as they were jokingly known. Training was normally carried out by the flight aircrew (pilot & observer) and a small payment was awarded.
However at no time would the winch weight be allowed anywhere near the aircraft controls. Join as a rating but at an early stage let it be known to your divisional officer that you would like to be considered for officer selection and that you are interested in qualifying as a pilot. You will of course have to prove to the staff that you the qualities needed.
Click to expand...

Wow! I haven't heard of 'NAM(AE)' for years and years. However, it's true that some maintainers in Lynx squadrons (AEMs) fly as part time (and, essentially, unqualified) aircrewmen but such employment is subordinate to their specialisation and, never, ever, as badged aircrew.
Click to expand...

Correct Fido our winch weight was certainly not qualified as aircrew but in the 80s it was common to have two of the maintainers (out of the seven) on a flight classed as local aircrew. Often the SMR would be one of them and the other one of the three junior rates (flights were always top heavy). I don't think the extra pay ammounted to much but for a young NAM (sorry AEM I think I'm showing my age here) it was a few beers. Certainly no badges to sew on their uniforms.
I think that our flight commander (Boris Johnson) was one of the first to insist that all of his flight carried out the emrgency drills at the dunker (then situated at the top of the submarine escape tank at dolphin). His reasoning that all the flight at some time woulf fly in the Lynx so should go through the escape experience. I believe that this became fairly common practise after that for many ships flights.
Click to expand...

Blimey - Boris Johnson! I haven't heard of him for years.
 
Hi, There is always a chance that you can fly. If you aspire to being a pilot trhen be warned that even if you do get selected and complete basic fixed and initial roraty training you might still not end up carrying through the pilot pipeline. I would be worth asking you careers office if they can enquire with the central air medical board about your specific circumstances, you may wish to ask your doctor to write a letter to them outlining the circumstances. At least this would give you factual information to base your choices on. There are many other RN jobs involved with aviation on offer. Are you currently due to join as an AET? if you want any mre help or information then please PM me and I will try and help.
 
Hello Fido
Last time I saw Boris was when I worked for British Aerospace. I was helping install GSA8 on Cornwall and found that Boris was Ist Lt on the ship moored aft. As a civie I was able to go onboard and hit his mess bill for a couple of beers, well he hit mine often enough in Manchester's POs mess.
Would like to see him again if only to get him to come to The Manchester reunions.
 
Schoolboy,
I would say go forward for the aircrew medical, that'll be your first hurdle. Then you will have to pass the flying aptitude tests. A nephew of mine was a qualified glider pilot but still got turned away. Go for it. If all else fails then join as an AET. There are still occasions that will get you airborne. Asking for jollies, joining a Lynx flight and becoming the local aircrewman. Flying maintainer possibly after some years experience may also be available which is primarily check test flights/vibration analysis flights. Alternatively you could join then transfer to aircrewman.
 

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