Becoming A Cf Pilot

[R22Captain]

A little birdy once told me a few years ago that it was once possible to go into the air force (already having a civiy cpl) as a Air Navigator and eventually becoming a pilot as experience and time was put in, even though he she did not have 20/20 vision uncorrected? Is this still possible today or totally unheard of? :hide:

 

[donnybrook]

Not sure about the medical standard, but you can change trades once in the CF. However it is a real grind. The selection is a competition based on education, course performance, job performance, officer development, etc. Therefore you have to love being a Nav (or at least be good) even though you wanna be a pilot. Plus you would have to serve a number of years as a Nav with no guarantee of being selected to pilot! That means if you don't make it you still have to do the Nav job. Have you thought about the Reserves? You might qualify for the HELICOP program as I assume you have a rotary commercial....

 

[donnybrook]

By the way, HELICOP has a reduced vision standard (less than 20/20).

 

[R22Captain]

excellent to know!! I am going to look into the reserve's. Anybody on here involved in the reserve's? I am located in edmonton. So maybe being close to a reserve unit will help?

 

[donnybrook]

check your PMs

 

[cap]

20/50 "uncorrected" was the last limit I observed.

 

[Rosco]

R2,

Get a hold of Vortex Ring via PM or email. He is an instructor with the CF in Portage and when he was flying the Sea Cow he was a major player in the helicop program.

He's a great guy and will help to no end.

Cheers

R

 

[R22Captain]

Thanks Rosco. I have contacted him and he has sent me a contact in Edmonton.

 

[R22Captain]

20/50 "uncorrected" was the last limit I observed.

was that for resereves?