Pilots and Observers - Age Limit on entry Increased to 34

[WannabeWAFU]

The maximum entry age for Pilot and Observer has been lifted to 34 years old, which seems odd.

Considering the mess that MFTS is in with regards to holds and the drying up of recruitment for Aircrew down to absolute minimums has left me wondering, am I missing something?

How many pilots and observers are the RN looking to recruit next year? Are the numbers large enough to justify an age increase that wouldn’t see somebody hitting the front line until their forties?

WW

 

[alfred_the_great]

Interesting...

 

[WannabeWAFU]

Interesting...

Particularly interesting for somebody who’s 26...

 

[Magic_Mushroom]

When age and other eligibility criteria are changed, it normally suggests that there are insufficient applicants of the relevant standard.

In terms of aircrew, there's a difficult line to be trodden as there is a very clear link between age and success in training; the older, the higher the risk.

For the RAF, age upper age limits are 26 for pilot, 32 for RPAS(Pilot) and 33 for WSO/WSOp. However, our AFCOs particularly target school leavers as they have a statistically higher success rate in flying training and we get a greater return of service from them.

In related news, the Red Arrows have announced their 2 new pilots for next season...

Regards,
MM

 

[alfred_the_great]

When age and other eligibility criteria are changed, it normally suggests that there are insufficient applicants of the relevant standard.

In terms of aircrew, there's a difficult line to be trodden as there is a very clear link between age and success in training; the older, the higher the risk.

For the RAF, age upper age limits are 26 for pilot, 32 for RPAS(Pilot) and 33 for WSO/WSOp. However, our AFCOs particularly target school leavers as they have a statistically higher success rate in flying training and we get a greater return of service from them.

In related news, the Red Arrows have announced their 2 new pilots for next season...

Regards,
MM

Of course, if your flying training system is designed to cater for 18 year olds, then it is unsurprising that they do better in it than 32 year olds.

It's probably a good thing that we are exempt from age related employment discrimination, as im not sure we could prove there was a reason why the flying training system had to be designed that way. Especially given the cluster that is MFTS...

 

[Magic_Mushroom]

Of course, if your flying training system is designed to cater for 18 year olds, then it is unsurprising that they do better in it than 32 year olds.

It's probably a good thing that we are exempt from age related employment discrimination, as im not sure we could prove there was a reason why the flying training system had to be designed that way. Especially given the cluster that is MFTS...

The training system isn't designed for 18 year olds or even the younger end of the recruit demographic. It's just that there is clear statistical evidence which shows that students under the age of 21 have a higher success rate in trg.

But MFTS is undoubtedly a cluster!

Regards,
MM