Studying A Levels & considering University?
RAF Aircrew need to be able to make tough decisions.
Your first will be, do I go to University,
or do I join the Royal Air Force?
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Aviation
Systems
Management
Foundation Degree
& BSc Programme
CONTENTS
Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
The UK Armed Forces’ Military
Aviation Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
RAF Aircrew Profession Training
Pipelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Teaching & Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . 10
A Quality Degree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
The Deal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
The Next Step? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Aviation Systems Management
Foundation Degree & BSc Programme
3
WELCOME
To the Royal Air Force’s
Prospectus for the UK Armed
Forces’ Military Aviation
Academy (UKAF MAA).
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the UK Armed Forces’
lead for Air Power with its Air Mobility, Combat Air,
ISTAR* and Rotary Wing aircraft fleets.
* = Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition & Reconnaissance
Aviation Systems Management
Foundation Degree & BSc Programme
5
It is tasked to provide the UK Armed Forces with
the 5 key attributes of Air Power at a moment’s
notice in all environments, day or night, over the
Land, Sea or to the edge of Space.
These are:
„
Speed
„
Agility
„
Height
„
Ubiquity
„
Reach
The UKAF MAA provides the opportunity to develop
the skills and knowledge in order to be masters of their
aircraft and the airborne environment, that they operate
in, through the only degree programme of its kind.
THE UK ARMED FORCES’
MILITARY AVIATION ACADEMY
RAF
RAF
Pilots, WSOs and WSOps will first meet on
Cranwell Military Aviation Ground School (MAGS).
They will then progress onto elementary or
foundation flying training before departing for other
Academy locations. RAF Cranwell operates the Prefect
and Phenom aircraft. WSO/WSOp Sensor Operators will
also base from here for their training with graduates going
to the Air Mobility and ISTAR fleets.
Those destined to fly Rotary Wing
Shawbury (helicopters) will learn their early skills at
RAF Shawbury. WSOps will also conduct
their MAGS here before going on to fly with their Pilot
peers on the Juno and Jupiter helicopters. Like all other
locations, RAF Shawbury has state of the art synthetic
training facilities to augment live flying. A short phase of
mountain and maritime flying is also conducted at RAF Valley.
Aviation Systems Management
Foundation Degree & BSc Programme
7
RNAS
RAF
RAF WSOs will join RN Observers
Culdrose on 750 Naval Air Squadron at RAF
Culdrose. They will learn the skills
they need to operate large multi crew ISTAR aircraft
on the Avenger. This includes RADAR, datalink,
communications and mission command training.
Those that learn to fly here will start their careers on
Poseidon, Rivet Joint or Wedgetail.
Those destined for careers in Combat Air,
on
the Lightning or Typhoon, will hone
Valley
their skills first on the Texan and thence
to the Hawk.
A stepping stone approach is taken to lead the
student through a series of exercises to generate them
into multi skilled single seat Combat Air Pilots.
You are not fully trained as a Pilot, WSO
Front Line OCU or WSOp until you pass an Operational
Conversion Unit (OCU) on your aircraft
type. Even then the training doesn’t stop and on
your front line squadrons you will need to become
Combat Ready or Fully Mission Qualified. After that,
further progression in airborne leadership and instructor
work ups are the norm. You never stop learning…
RAF AIRCREW PROFESSION
Pilot
Officer Training
Military Aviation
Ground School
Elementary Flying
Training
= Pilot flying badge
= WSO/WSOp flying badge
Graduate as Flying Officer
Pilot (ISR)
Remotely Piloted
Air Systems
Officer Training
Military Aviation
Ground School
Elementary Flying
Training
Weapon Systems
Officer (ISR)
Officer Training
Military Aviation
Ground School
Foundation ISTAR
Training
Weapon Systems
Operator
Basic Recruit
Training & DE SNCO
Military Aviation
Ground School
Foundation ISTAR
Training
Air Loadmaster
Training
Direct-Entry Senior Non Commissioned Officer Training (DE SNCO)
graduate as Aircrew Sergeants
Weapon Systems
Operator (ISR)
Language
BRT & DE SNCO
Aviation Systems Management
Military Aviation
Ground School
Foundation Degree & BSc Programme
Basic Helicopter
Training
Language Training
TRAINING PIPELINES
Basic Flying
Training
Advanced
Jet Training
Combat Air OCU
Air Mobility OCU
Multi Engine
Training
Basic Helicopter
Training
9
ISTAR OCU
Advanced
Helicopter
Training
Helicopter OCU
RPAS OCU
WSO (ISR)
E7, P8 or RJ OCU
WSO (ISR)
Sensor Operator
WSOp (ISR) SO
Protector
or Shadow OCU
Acoustic
P8 OCU
Electronic Warfare
E7, P8 or RJ OCU
Current Pipeline
Accreditation
BSc (Hons
Lightning
Typhoon
A400M Pilot
Foundation
Degree (FD)
A400M WSOp
C17 Pilot & WSOp
Chinook Pilot &
WSOp
(Further pipelines are
being accredited)
Air Mobility OCU
Advanced Helicopter Training
Flying
Phase
Helicopter OCU
Tactical Airborne
Linguist Training
RJ OCU
Training included
in ALL Pipelines
Human Factors in
Aviation
Aviation Medicine
Survival Training
TEACHING & ASSESSMENT
Learning and Demonstrating Your New Skills.
Teaching Aircrew students to fly
and operate front line aircraft is a
practical skill that is underpinned
by significant mental agility,
intellect and confident, decisive,
leadership. As such, former front
line Aircrew instructors will teach
you much on a one to one basis.
Your learning will be both active
and reflective assisted by high tech
simulation, computer generated
replay and free discussion periods
(particularly post flight or simulator
sorties). You will need to learn plus
demonstrate back what you have
learned so far.
Aviation Systems Management
Foundation Degree & BSc Programme
11
The following areas will be developed and assessed
during your military flying training:
„
Mission System Analysis RADAR, SONAR, Electro
Optics, Radio, Aircraft & Weapon Systems
„
Communications with crew or multiple external
agencies on sea , land, in air or space.
„
Leadership decision making and direction to your
crew, wingmen or external agencies
„
Mental Capacity & Agility to cope with high tempo
multi dimensional workload involving physical and
mental resilience and prioritisation of tasks.
Non directed study will be essential and is aided
by a reading list and retained course material.
Other aspects of semi directed study are driven,
for example, by exercise preparation that has to
be completed within a defined timescale. Formal
assessments of your ability will be given by your
instructors and Chain of Command.
Award of the FD comprises no assessment other
than what you will face as part of your training; it is
a degree for 'what you do'. The top up to BSc (Hons)
requires you to complete 10 short essays (1000-1500
words) plus a 2 hour exam.
A QUALITY DEGREE
Gaining your ‘Wings’ is your first achievement but gaining
your Degree will be the finale.
You will gain your flying badge, or ‘wings’ after the basic and intermediate elements of flying training.
They are provisionally awarded at this stage but only become permanent on achieving Combat Ready
or a B1 Instructor Rating. It will be around this latter stage of achievement that your assessment for a
FD or BSc will draw to a close.
The degrees are academically underwritten by the Open University, a world
leader in part time and distance learning academic achievement. You
will be entitled to attend a graduation at one of the Open University
ceremonies a proud day for you and your family.
For those considering University placement now, a career as
Aircrew can complement that academic ambition. Without
the need for a student loan, this degree can set you on a
pathway without significant debt and also ensure you
have the maximum reach in the Service to achieve career
ambitions all the way to Chief of the Air Staff.
Academic learning never ceases in the RAF, and various
opportunities to study for Masters level Degrees sit at
higher ranks in the Service.
Aviation Systems Management
Foundation Degree & BSc Programme
13
FACILITIES
From the very
start you will feel
a new belonging
and ethos that
is over a century
old. However,
whilst these
traditions are
maintained, they
have also moved
with the times.
Aviation Systems Management
Many of the facilities
feature en suite
bathrooms and
Wi Fi connectivity.
They provide a great
environment to socialise
and study with your
course. An essential part
of the learning is drawing
together as a course and
the RAF provides that
environment for you.
Foundation Degree & BSc Programme
Welfare and
physical &
mental health
support and
assistance is
never far away
if needed, and
free to all.
15
££ £
£
£ Forces’ Military Aviation
The UK Armed
£ you a unique opportunity
£Academy offers
to
£ learn
££ to££ fly while studying for a Degree.
£
£
£££££
£
£
FREE
££
£ ££ £
£
After your initial training you will earn ~£35,000pa which will
rise over 6 years or so to roughly £40,000 plus ‘flying pay’.
FREE
£
£
Foundation Degree & BSc Programme
£ £
£ £
££
You will make friends for life and will get an
opportunity to do things that others will never have.
Aviation Systems Management
£
£
£££££
£ £ £
£
££
What’s In It For You?
£
£
THE DEAL
17
£
£ ££ £
£
Your training is FREE and access to this Degree scheme
is also FREE. There are NO LOANS to pay off.
£
£
£££££
£ £ £
£
£
££
£
FREE
FREE
You have access to subsidised accommodation,
£ free
£ medical/dental and welfare cover. You will
£ accrue a non contributory pension under the
£ also
Armed Forces’ Pension Scheme.
££
£
£ ££ £
£
£££££
£ £ £
£
£
£
By joining as RAF Aircrew before
University
entry,
£
£ £
you maximise your career potential.
£ £
££
Refer to the RAF Careers website for the latest
information on entry eligibility.
£
£
THE NEXT STEP?
Contact RAF Recruitment:
https://www.raf.mod.uk/recruitment/
Aviation Systems Management
Foundation Degree & BSc Programme
19
Aviation
Systems
Management
Foundation Degree
& BSc Programme
Aircrew
EPUB1004 07/21