The RDAF pilot applicant tests
In
order to start the training as pilot in the Royal Danish Air Force, one has to
go through this procedure. At first it might seem impossible… but nothing is!
Take a look, and see if you’ve got what it takes.
General
requirements:
Between 18 and 26 years of
age (less than 27 before starting the course).- High-school degree/ Junior college/ Studentereksamen/ A-Levels.
- Good grades in Danish, Mathematics and English.
- Between 163cm to 195cm tall. Click on picture for specific measurements
à
- At least 6/6 (20/20) in both eyes (not more than -1 and +2).
- Normal sight and not night- or colour-blind.
- Weight between 53kg and 92kg.
- Have a good health and physical shape and in good condition.
- Be Danish citizen.
- Can be given security clearance.
Anyone fulfilling these requirements can apply as
pilot in the Air Force. When the application has been accepted, you will be
called in for the initial tests. The initial tests take 2 days and are done at
a computer.
The initial
tests:
- English and Danish Comprehension.
- English and Danish Synonyms.
- Motoric and talent for flying (simulator).
- Multi capacity.
- Short-term memory.
- IQ tests.
- Mathematical problem solving.
- 3D orientation.
- Logical thinking.
- Physics.
- Graph reading and understanding.
- Mechanical understanding.
- Technical understanding.
- Advanced progressive tests.
All of these tests are time-limited, so you have to
work fast and accurate. Only about 20% of the applicants make it through the
initial tests. They will be called in for the advanced tests, which also last 2
days.
The advanced
tests:
- Physical tests: Cooper test (12 minute run, min. 2km) and muscle
test.
- Team work test observed by 4 psychologists.
- Interview with a psychologist.
- Tapping test.
- General society knowledge.
- Aviation
knowledge.
The interview with the psychologist lasts anything
from ½ to 1½ hours. He wants to find out who you are, what your interests are,
how you react to stress and pressure, and find out what kind of a personality
you have. The interview weighs heavily when the commision has to decide whether
you are ‘fit’ for the education
and job as a fighter-pilot.
When you’re done with the advanced test, you will be called in to a commision to get to know whether
you go on or whether you go home. For those that receive bad news and do go home may
have to overcome a personal struggle, but often do move on in pursuit of other
aviation jobs and/or military careers in other fields. A good way to do this is
to find military friendly colleges.
The
commision:
The team is as minimum made up of an instructor pilot
from the Air Force, a psychologist and the person in charge of the initial
tests. They will tell you whether you’ve been found eligible to enroll as a
student pilot. If not, you will be given a good reason for the rejection. About
50% of the remaining applicants make it through the advanced tests and the
commision.
If you make it through the commision, you will be sent
to the hospital for 2 days of medical checks (Class 1 medical for military
pilots). If you pass the medical, you fill in some papers
and hope that your security clearance goes through…
If you’ve made it this far, then you’ve done well
indeed!
General
Statistics:
In Denmark there are about 400 applicants every year
as pilot in the Air Force.
About 20% of them will make it through the initial
tests (about 80).
About 50% of the remaining will make it through the
advanced tests (about 40).
So all in all, about 10% of the applicants are found
eligible.
Those eligible will be put on a waiting list, where
the best ones will have first 
right
to start on the course.
When I applied, the course had been closed for 2-3
years due to budget cuts in the military. During that time, people still sent
their applications, so there were about 1200 applications to be sorted out. 100
of the applicants were found eligible through the tests, and 12 of them got the
chance to start in January 2005, myself being one of the 12. So in this case,
only about 1% came through.
Making it through all the above mentioned doesn’t mean
that you will become a pilot. Only about 40% are expected to make it through
the RDAF flying school! As you can see, you have to be the elite to make it all
the way. Really the best of the best. Good luck!
Remember, where there’s a will, there’s a way…
More info (in Danish) here: http://forsvaret.dk/FVR/Officer/FLV+Operativ+officer/PI+Adgangskrav/
Best regards
Stephen