Here you go…
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They’re the same as for a qualified service pilot, except for colour perception which is one grade lower. History of asthma is a bar.
Thanks. Very frustrating as I’m now at the point where I have more free time at the weekends and was thinking of putting my previous civilian gliding instructor experience to use at the VGS (Obviously I’d have needed to requalify - but that’s not even an option now)
Thanks @tingger I was about to post that having spoken to a colleague.
Maybe worth a conversation with them, though, in case you can get CFMO signoff.
Thanks both. I understand why they have that requirement across the board for flying, even if I don’t necessarily agree personally. Now just to find my medical records and destroy them.
The VR wings came about in the early 90’s when they didn’t have anyone to command the AEF at RAF Turnhouse but there was a very well qualified civvi instructor - apparently there were 300 or so made for him.
Non service trained pilots (or in my case service trained but victim of the Strategic Defence Review!) can apply to the AEF but the minimum standard is commercial licence and 500 hours SEP. The selection and training is quite tough and some do get chopped!
As someone who can wear both the VR and Glider wings I am going to be spoilt for choice, but why they have kept them blue I don’t know - it says light blue but in fact they are a very bright blue!
There’s some truth in that. I deal regularly with cadets applying to the Army, and any mention of asthma in their notes causes problems even when it was a misdiagnosis or a brief period when they were 8-9 years old but nothing came of it. I wish less was written down and it was more done on the basis of how they are aged 17… As soon as the magic word ‘asthma’ appears, alarm bells ring, and the Army have lost several excellent potential officers as a result.
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The whole military medical screening thing is a farce. Having been through it twice now it takes absolutely forever.
Maybe we could outsource to a company that’ll take ten years to write a review of outsourced recruitment?
Woah fella, that sort of thinking makes you a 1 star air officer.
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I’m confused, does this mean someone qualified to instruct cadets in an AGS would be allowed to wear the blue wings with vr ?
No, VR wings for fully qualified AEF pilots only.
Yeah that’s right it was based way back in the 80s they tired this badge before for non service pilots and only one person actually completed the training to qualify for that badge, he was only the person in the whole RAF that got wear that wings until re introduction as part of this re badging and that was Sqn Ldr Butler at the time OC 12 AEF during the chipmunk days at RAF Turnhouse
Another IBN, this one allowing Flight Test Engineers and Cabin Crew to wear the Airborne Specialist Badge
Nothing new for RAFAC CFAV in this review.
does it not mean those who were entitled to wear the badge as a regular are now permitted as a CFAV?
Probably not. When they moved to the new rear crew badge you needed to be serving aircrew on the change date to get the new badge.
There is no provision, as yet, in AP1358C for the Airborne Specialist Badge to be worn by those qualified in Reserve or Regular service by CFAV.
The authority to wear the Flying Badge lies within QR(RAF)J727 and not AP1358 or AP 1358C.
I think you’ll find that a QR rather trumps an AP!
A few years ago AP1358C did not refer to any of the RAF Flying Badges (until some of us contacted WO Mannion at ATF to get the AP changed) - that level of stupidity had people within the ACO (as was) telling me that I was not entitled to wear my wings.
They got rather short shrift.
Is that the QR(RAF)J727 that’s says
“ (6) Flying badges are to be worn as laid down in the dress regulations for each Service (RAF regulations are published in AP 1358 Dress Regulations for the RAF). Any questions on the wearing of flying badges are to be forwarded through normal channels to HQ PTC (P1(Cer)(RAF))”
Ergo if the AP does not show a badge, how can it be worn.
I am sure HQAC will amend AP1358C so those entitled will be able to wear their badge in the future.
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