Higher Options 2005

[Aerodave]

Hi..
Does anyone know if the A.C. will be present at the Higher Options expo in the RDS??(21-23rd Sept)
Cheers,
Dave '>

[futurepilot]

Yes!!!
Every section of the Defence Forces is represented at it every year. They will also be more than willing to answer any questions you have. If you can make it there, its well worth it. You`ll get first hand knowledge from pilots and the top brass!

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hi Aerodave
If you go out there and press the flesh, bear in mind that they will be looking at thousands of faces and hearing the same questions over and over again.You will need to make a follow-up visit to make your face stick out in their memory.Don't take everything they say at face value, quite simply because they are there to sell the PDF to you, in the face of strong competition all around them. Make it your business to get out to Baldonnel and talk to people at the coalface, so to speak.
regards
GttC

[Fouga]

if you join as an AC Recruit whats the chances of you being a backseater in a PC9 or anything in the future?

[Frank]

There's no such thing as a backseater in an Air Corps PC-9, well, not in the same way as a Tornado backseater for example.

The main occupant of the backseat of an Air Corps PC-9 while in their student training role is an instructor pilot.

[nibog]

Chances of a flip in a PC9 are less than very very slim.
You'd have to complete Ejector Seat Training before even being eligible for a spin...AND, there'd be a long queue.

Better chance of a flip in just about anything else.

Decent chance of trips in Helis & Cessnas.

[Fouga]

What exactly can you do Flying wise as a Recruit.?

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hi all
There are only two routes to a flying job in Baldonnel: get a cadetship to become a pilot, pass the Wings course and get posted to a squadron or join as an ordinary airman or technician via the apprenticeship scheme and apply to be come a helicopter crewman or a Casa systems operator.The helicopter crewman assists in the loading/unloading of the aircraft and calls out heights and clearances during landings.In future, he will be trained to operate mounted machine-guns.In the Casa, the aircrewmen are either photgraphers or systems operators. The photographers are sourced thru Photo Section, which is a highly-sought-after unit.The SOs tend to be sourced in Signals or ATC and have prior experience at operating comms/radar.They are also tasked with dispensing flares/dinghies. Sometimes, maintenance personnel fly as troubleshooters or to record flight test results.Other than that, the only way to fly is as a cabin crew member in the MATS aircraft, virtually always as an NCO.Some of the SOs in the Casa are Officers from ATC (maintaining the illusion that only Officers can operate real complicated stuff like keyboards and use big words like "aeroplane" and "ship"). After that, the only way to fly is to blag a "flip" in something.
regards
GttC  :'>

[Fouga]

And are you in serious trouble if found out to be blagging a trip/flight?

[pilatus]

will there be an aircraft on static display at the rds?i remember dauphin247 was there 2years ago i think it was!there was none last year though!?

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hi Fouga
When I mean "blagging" a flip, it doesn't mean that you sneak on board. All you have to do is approach the Flight Sergeant in charge of the aircraft/flight/hangar and ask if there's a free seat going. He'll ask the relevant pilots.Often, on the larger aircraft, there's no problem.Other aircraft are absolutely off-limits for casual flights, such as the MATS aircraft.Some aircraft are an absolute no-no, such as the PC-9, because of the bang seat, where even casual access on the ground is tightly controlled (and because there's a huge queue to get a "go" in one).Sometimes, one would have to pester them in charge for a flip, other times it's a case of right time, right place.Sometimes, a hangar will not allow "outsiders" to have a go.It all depends, ultimately, on the pilot and what his unit policy is. Either way, I got plenty in my time because I made a great effort to get "flips".
regards
GttC

[Turkey]

A Dauphine is being moved to the RDS, by road, either to-night or tomorrow morning, I am guessing that it will one of the ship-capable ones.

[sealion]

I got a "flip" in the GASU squirrell back in 1997. I was told at the time that even the garda commish or the Taoiseach hadn't blagged their way aboard...

Happy days.

[Turkey]

A bit of an update, apparently they could not move dauphine 245 to the RDS by road, so the Gazelle went instead....by air. '>

I donno.....

[John K]

GTTC I used to 'blag' flips too! 'till I became heli aircrew, then I used to 'blag' my way out of a flip!
You didn't answer Fougas question of what can you do flying wise as a recruit! You could 'fly' the Stand too landrover! or 'fly' a pancake out of the pan! (Fouga, a 'recruit' in Air Corps parlance is anyone else in uniform who is non technical)