question for military personnel =)

[sgt.akshay]

Hey all!,
I am am sophomore in Mechanical Engineering, and pretty good at aeronautics,electronics integration (which i don't have as subjects) and really creative minded(although my academic records state the contrary ).
Anyways, I wanted to serve in the IAF as a pilot or RIO. However what is the minimum time required to serve once I join IAF? Is there any difference in commission period for Jet pilots and for Helicopter pilots?
Does the Navy have any Air Based Operations I can join after graduating?
Let me know as I want to plan lots of stuff based on this ..


-sgt.akshay

P.S: I have seen it in movies, but a question: does the Indian Army have the concept of a "Grease Monkey"?

[Ace_doc]

try the airforce website and you shall get a few doubts cleared.

[goodboy_mentor]

Indian Army has Aviation Corps. The army aviation pilots are usually drawn from other combat arms like from artillery etc.

[Mark]

I would suggest you talk to a recruiting station, but beware that oftentimes they are more interested in meeting quota and so the information they give you may not be perfectly, errr, accurate.

Here in the USA, there are a lot more heli slots that fixed wing and it is easier to get assigned to one, however IIRC the commitment here is 6 years if you get a pilot slot in one of the branches.

My best advice to you is to talk to any veterans you happen to meet. Just ask a question or two and (here is the hard part...) just shut up and listen to what they have to tell you.

Here is an unrelated story to tell you to explain what I mean- I was recently at my dentist office and there was an old guy there wearing a "B-29" hat, so we started talking about old airplanes. It turns out he worked as an armament technician putting the guns into B29's before they were deployed to the Pacific theater. After a while of me just being quiet and listening he told me how when he was in high school he was a friend of the janitor there, who had been a navy veteran in WW1. At any rate, the military sent some recruiters to the school and he signed up for the Navy without telling the janitor. (this was a while before we were in the war) when the Janitor learned about this he helped the guy transfer over to the Army as he knew that if we got involved in a war it was going to be with Japan and it would be a naval war and I guess he knew the kids family so he wanted to keep him safe, so he ended up installing turret guns stateside.

And he was still around 60 years later, which is something to be considered too. (unfortunately you tend to discount that when you are young and immortal, believe me I understand!)

Anyway, if you are at university I would suggest asking around to find a few veterans and talk to them first before you see a recruiter, and though it may be difficult at times remember that you have 2 ears and only one mouth so you should listen twice as much as you speak!

Good Luck!

Mark

[boris]

As an engineering student you can enter the IAF through the UES scheme else give CDS exam.

Now just because you enter the Air Force Academy doesnt mean they'll make you a fighter pilot your physical,mental aptitude your eyesight and some other things are crucial factors also to be a fighter pilot requires good knowledge of physics.All these combinations decide your fate as a fighter pilot now within them are two categories either you will eb flying bombers like MIG-27 or Air-Air combat known as dogfighting on MIG-21,Mirage 2000,MIG 29,SU 30 MKI platforms.

Even on entering the squadrons training is an ongoing process first you become familiar with the machine and different manoeuvre's.

The Navy has its own Air wing consisting of Sea King Heli's also Fighter jets like Harrier and MIG-29K on Aircraft Carrier as part of CBG - Carrier Battle Group.

So in the end a lot goes into deciding your service in the IAF since you are a mechanical engineer there are high chances you'll be an engineer overlooking flight maintainence in the IAF as the Air Force requires Aeronautical,Mechanical and electonics engineers due to its inventory.

Also let me tell you during the SSB the IAF conducts the PABT or Pilot Battery Aptitude Test,you fail that bye bye to a flying career in the IAF.

I also advise you to talk to IAF personnel they are the best people to ask for advice,but think about clearing the first hurdle that is the CDS exam if you give it and the main SSB interview.

[xl_target]

The Navy has its own Air wing consisting of Sea King Heli's also Fighter jets like Harrier and MIG-29K on Aircraft Carrier as part of CBG - Carrier Battle Group.

They also have patrol aircraft like the Britten-Norman Islander.

Keep in mind that the competition for these jobs is fierce. In 1980, when I took the NDA exam, there were something like 30,000 applicants for 300 positions. I'm sure the numbers are higher now for any of the service entrance exams. If you don't pass the exams, you won't make it to the Interview or the Psychological tests or the Aptitude tests. Because of the large number of applicants, the Indian Armed Forces can afford to pick the best of the best.

Don't let this discourage you though. You will never know unless you try.

[jonahpach]

I missed the Indian airforce by 2"

[Sakobav]

I know some one who graduated as mech Engineer and then joined air force academy in India and is a transport pilot -- rule of thumb typically NDA alumni were the fighter jocks -- heard that now trend is opting for transport planes choppers easy way to private airlines. Again its your choice frankly IAF needs more competent engineers than other way around.
Rest heed to advise call IAF directly they can advise better remember their health protocols are very rigid heart murmur hearing tests etc once you get through other exams

[sgt.akshay]

I would suggest you talk to a recruiting station, but beware that oftentimes they are more interested in meeting quota and so the information they give you may not be perfectly, errr, accurate.

Here in the USA, there are a lot more heli slots that fixed wing and it is easier to get assigned to one, however IIRC the commitment here is 6 years if you get a pilot slot in one of the branches.

My best advice to you is to talk to any veterans you happen to meet. Just ask a question or two and (here is the hard part...) just shut up and listen to what they have to tell you.

Here is an unrelated story to tell you to explain what I mean- I was recently at my dentist office and there was an old guy there wearing a "B-29" hat, so we started talking about old airplanes. It turns out he worked as an armament technician putting the guns into B29's before they were deployed to the Pacific theater. After a while of me just being quiet and listening he told me how when he was in high school he was a friend of the janitor there, who had been a navy veteran in WW1. At any rate, the military sent some recruiters to the school and he signed up for the Navy without telling the janitor. (this was a while before we were in the war) when the Janitor learned about this he helped the guy transfer over to the Army as he knew that if we got involved in a war it was going to be with Japan and it would be a naval war and I guess he knew the kids family so he wanted to keep him safe, so he ended up installing turret guns stateside.

And he was still around 60 years later, which is something to be considered too. (unfortunately you tend to discount that when you are young and immortal, believe me I understand!)

Anyway, if you are at university I would suggest asking around to find a few veterans and talk to them first before you see a recruiter, and though it may be difficult at times remember that you have 2 ears and only one mouth so you should listen twice as much as you speak!

Good Luck!

Mark

Hey Mark!
Thanks for a great advice , I do start talking more than i should when i get excited .. but now I will sure keep my mouth shut . =)

[sgt.akshay]

@ boris

That's interesting, but then is it such that the navy selects from the the airforce or do they have their own selection?

[ckkalyan]

@ mark, boris, xl_target,
Wow! Very well thought out, informative replies gentlemen - kudos!

@sgt.akshay Firstly, You seem to have a commendable interest.... congratulations!

Secondly, I am not military personnel =), but I would like to address some your queries, if I may.

Today, Flyers exist across the Indian Armed Forces - Army, Navy and of course, the Air Force.

* What is your area of passion - exactly...?
* first - fixed wing, rotary or jet?
* then - maintenance, support? OR
* research, development? OR
* next - training? OR
* finally - active flying?

[captrakshitsharma]

The Airforce(and all arms of the forces) has a very well defined hiring program, the two routes are NDA(after 10+2) CDS(post graduation).Even after being selected there are no guarantees that you may fly and what category you may fly .It will depend on you aptitude and how well you progress through training. The Navy and Coast Guard hire candidates with a CPL from time to time. There is really no short service commission's for flying duties with the only exception being lady officers. You can resign after a minimum of ten and sometimes 20 yrs depending on the policy in force at that time how ever there are no guarantees.

[fantumfan2003]

The Indian Airforce takes in Science Graduates (B.Sc. with Physics and Maths) for its flying branch. So you will have to complete your mechanical engineering to qualify for direct entry which you need to check with them whether you are overqualified or what.

After some initial flying training, cadets are trifurcated into fastjets (fighters), rotary wing (helos) and transport streams depending on how they fare and what are the vacancies available. Those who do not pass even the minimum criteria to become a pilot (this is before trifurcation) can opt for becoming navigators, take a ground job or say bye bye. The better ones among nvigators can go onto Su-30MKI as back seaters. Nowadays there are many more options for the navigators like UAV pilot, AWACS tactical operator etc. etc...

The Navy has a Naval Aviation stream which has all three sub streams like the airforce. Becoming a navy fastjet pilot in IN is extremely tough as learning to master the Sea Harrier is not for every rookie pilot in the Navy. Opinions may differ but I regard Navy fastjet pilots the best there are in our country. It takes 7 to 10 years to become a fully operational fastjet pilot in the Navy.

Be advised, nothing is guaranteed. And whether you make it or will only be known after trying. I think a short tenure called Short Service Commission is now allowed in the flying branch but given the resources and money they spend on you, they may not let you go just because you want to. Its not as easy as putting in your papers, doing your notice period and saying bye bye to them.

May I invite you to introspect on really what it is that is motivating you to get in the AF. Is it the lure of the uniform and disciplined life ? Or is it the love of flying (which can be fulfilled by doiing an SPL/PPL/CPL in the civilian world if you have the money) ? Or are you intending to learn flying and log hours without spending a fortune (no offense intended but that is one way people use to become experienced pilots)

Getting into the armed forces is a big decision so think about it properly and methodically. Rather than walking into the recruitment office, talk to a serving IAF flyer or one who has just retired/quit to get a proper picture.........most importantly talk to your parents and ask them if they will let you join the IAF if all things fall in place.

ALL THE BEST

M.

Hey all!,
I am am sophomore in Mechanical Engineering, and pretty good at aeronautics,electronics integration (which i don't have as subjects) and really creative minded(although my academic records state the contrary ).
Anyways, I wanted to serve in the IAF as a pilot or RIO. However what is the minimum time required to serve once I join IAF? Is there any difference in commission period for Jet pilots and for Helicopter pilots?
Does the Navy have any Air Based Operations I can join after graduating?
Let me know as I want to plan lots of stuff based on this ..


-sgt.akshay

P.S: I have seen it in movies, but a question: does the Indian Army have the concept of a "Grease Monkey"?

[fantumfan2003]

Indian Navy has its own selection. So does the Army.

M.

@ boris

That's interesting, but then is it such that the navy selects from the the airforce or do they have their own selection?