~ RSAF Fighter Pilot ~
-
Originally posted by Rednano:
TV ads shows the glam side of the job... u haven't see the unglam side.......
u can jollywell sit in a grounded cockpit computerised stimulator more than fly plane. u can clock more mileage on land than on air...Well, I know... Same as our lives, everyone of us got our ups and downs... Everything sure has its good and bad...
Becoming a fighter pilot is my aspiration, for the sake of flying and to defend our tiny nation... Not to look down on our country but one nuclear strike on Malaysia can led to total annhilation of Singapore >.<
As I had asked just now, can you tell me about the 'unglam' side?
-
Originally posted by KiraYamato100:
Well, I know... Same as our lives, everyone of us got our ups and downs... Everything sure has its good and bad...
Becoming a fighter pilot is my aspiration, for the sake of flying and to defend our tiny nation... Not to look down on our country but one nuclear strike on Malaysia can led to total annhilation of Singapore >.<
As I had asked just now, can you tell me about the 'unglam' side?
as mentioned:
u sit in a grounded cockpit computerised stimulator more than fly plane. u can clock more mileage on land than on air...
u think RSAF like USAF meh... RSAF is always on standby on ground, not like US everyday got mission/navigator recce....etc.
sometimes.. fly around the island to just to refresh memory on flying in the air.
anyway... to fly a real plane on air is a minimum of CPT. 2lt/lta train on grounded cockpit computerised stimulator. even got fly, also is a co-pilot, twin seater.
and the best part is... u get paid more in SIA than in the rsaf pilot. -
Oh if that's the case, then I don't really mind...
Besides, no one can predict the future... RSAF may always be on standby, doesn't mean they will standby forever... Future is untold and unforeseenable...
-
Originally posted by KiraYamato100:
Oh if that's the case, then I don't really mind...
Besides, no one can predict the future... RSAF may always be on standby, doesn't mean they will standby forever... Future is untold and unforeseenable...
then u wait loh... -
maybe ts likes his weekends and public holidays burnt.. let him be shall we?
and no the reason why you're on ground more often then airborne is due to the huge amount of shitwork u have to do..
passion, so many times have i heard it being used, but then why are there so many pilots leaving immediately after their 10 year bond?
-
Originally posted by stellazio:
maybe ts likes his weekends and public holidays burnt.. let him be shall we?
and no the reason why you're on ground more often then airborne is due to the huge amount of shitwork u have to do..
passion, so many times have i heard it being used, but then why are there so many pilots leaving immediately after their 10 year bond?
SIA... the great way to fly... more money as u gets older... -
Originally posted by Rednano:
SIA... the great way to fly... more money as u gets older...Agreed... SIA pilots have a really high pay... Get to fly around the world and sit by relax till your next flight... Lots of benefits and SIA sponsors their pilots on their expenses during their working period...
Originally posted by stellazio:
passion, so many times have i heard it being used, but then why are there so many pilots leaving immediately after their 10 year bond?
I wonder as well... Probably due to long periods of working and salary not high enough for em...? Not very sure about RSAF pilot's pay but a senior technician is only $2400++ to $2800++ after working there for 10 years... Zzzz... Starting pay good but after that the pay increments very low...
-
no its also because of the things they have to do that they didnt think would come with being a pilot..
like i said, 70% of the time you wont be flying but doing other stuff, some are really shitstuff..
and yeah weekends getting burnt along with ph doesnt seem like a very nice job to do isn't it?
-
That's based on shifts, right...? But unless their schedule is really tight...?
-
Originally posted by KiraYamato100:
That's based on shifts, right...? But unless their schedule is really tight...?
shift...? what shift u r talking abt... lol -
Working shifts, apparently...
I only know that policemen from NPPs had their working schedule based on shifts, since it's part of a job in civil service, I assume RSAF is also based on that...?
-
Originally posted by KiraYamato100:
Working shifts, apparently...
I only know that policemen from NPPs had their working schedule based on shifts, since it's part of a job in civil service, I assume RSAF is also based on that...?
pilots shifts r like hospital doctors...
on shift = on duty,
off shift = off duty BUT on standby recall.
anything, u kena called back, no extra pay -
Originally posted by Rednano:
pilots shifts r like hospital doctors...
on shift = on duty,
off shift = off duty BUT on standby recall.
anything, u kena called back, no extra pay
I wonder this is how the government enjoys sucking their own citizens' pay...Hospital doctors do have a good pay unlike those who are in civil service, unless you are at high-ranked post... >.<
-
so... SIA... the great way to fly...
-
Not to look down on our country but one nuclear strike on Malaysia can led to total annhilation of Singapore >.<
Not very likely, unless they hit somewhere near like JB.
The typical H-bomb of 20MT yield have a lethal radius of roughly 17km, where it will destroy most civillian buildings. At 47km there is only moderate damage, though you have to worry somewhat about the fallout.
So by most calculations you need at least a two or three overlapping H-Bomb strikes to totally annhilate Singapore, or an oversized bomb like the 50MT Tsar Bomba.
But seriously if you keep worrying about nuclear war and say there's no need for the SAF since no point, then see what exactly will happen when we really have NO SAF and other nations find this little island a pushover.
-
I read with amazement some of the stuff posted here. For a start, while simulator flying is part of the air force training, there is a lot more actual flying than in simulators. Also, if you had been to the Air Force open house recently, you'll probably find that some pilots are of LTA rank and they do fly real aircraft regularly. On the other hand, in SIA, if you are in the wrong aircraft fleet, you may find yourself visiting the simulator regularly to keep current with take-offs and landings.
Will post a bit more when more come to mind.
-
its funny how some people think they know more bout the airforce and pilots just because they went to an open house..
i'm laughing my ass off..
-
Originally posted by stellazio:
its funny how some people think they know more bout the airforce and pilots just because they went to an open house..
i'm laughing my ass off..
I think I've been around long enough to differentiate between fact and fiction.Anyway, flying in the RSAF is not about "flying around the island". How do you think the RSAF conduct bilateral exercises with foreign air forces that deploy here?
Also, being on standby is part and parcel of any military force and therefore it is something you are expected to do if you join the air force. What good is an air force if every pilot wants to have every weekend and public holiday off? In any case, try asking around any SIA pilots, you will find that only the lucky few will get to spend their X'mas, New Year, Chinese New Year and etc in S'pore.
Pay wise, I think a newly qualified RSAF pilot's pay is comparable to a newly qualified SIA pilot. The main difference is that the mentioned RSAF pilot is probably 22-23 years old whereas the SIA pilot is about 29 years old at best. To earn big bucks as captain in SIA, you'll have to wait till you are in your late 30's.
-
so are you in the airforce?
-
Originally posted by Pablo:
I think I've been around long enough to differentiate between fact and fiction.
Anyway, flying in the RSAF is not about "flying around the island". How do you think the RSAF conduct bilateral exercises with foreign air forces that deploy here?
Also, being on standby is part and parcel of any military force and therefore it is something you are expected to do if you join the air force. What good is an air force if every pilot wants to have every weekend and public holiday off? In any case, try asking around any SIA pilots, you will find that only the lucky few will get to spend their X'mas, New Year, Chinese New Year and etc in S'pore.
Pay wise, I think a newly qualified RSAF pilot's pay is comparable to a newly qualified SIA pilot. The main difference is that the mentioned RSAF pilot is probably 22-23 years old whereas the SIA pilot is about 29 years old at best. To earn big bucks as captain in SIA, you'll have to wait till you are in your late 30's.
i think hor, maybe if you are in the air force, you might be singing a different tune.
i am (not a pilot though).
pay-wise, you can't complain.
the commercials paint the glam side. who doesn't like the glamour of being a fighter pilot, especially a Black Knight's one?
but the reality is, it's not Top Gun nor Behind Enemy Lines everyday.
you may not even get to fly the plane more than once a week.
and the 'extra shit' that people tell you? it's all the paperwork and secondary appointments that suck up your non-flying time. most pilots get farmed out to staff jobs after a few years anyway.
and the standby? yes indeed it's true. 15 mins from receiving the call to being in the aircraft ready to be take-off? that call can come anywhere anytime. why do you think pilots move so close to their air bases?
sometimes, you just wear your flight suit, sit in the plane and sweat it out just because something out of the norm happened. then, realising that it's all for nothing, you just get out of your plane, engines left unfired.
and not all get to be fighter-trained. a substantial number get transport a/c (rumoured that this is more relevant for SIA) and others get helicopters.
of course, there's no denying that having chances to take part in overseas exercises is eye-opening.
as in all things, there are pros and cons.
i ask you to consider it carefully, because many people signed on for pilot thinking about the pros but neglecting the cons.
if it's really your dream to be in the skies, then by all means sign on.
i look forward to hearing you over the comms someday in the future, if you make it.
-
Originally posted by teraexa:
i think hor, maybe if you are in the air force, you might be singing a different tune.
i am (not a pilot though).
pay-wise, you can't complain.
the commercials paint the glam side. who doesn't like the glamour of being a fighter pilot, especially a Black Knight's one?
but the reality is, it's not Top Gun nor Behind Enemy Lines everyday.
you may not even get to fly the plane more than once a week.
and the 'extra shit' that people tell you? it's all the paperwork and secondary appointments that suck up your non-flying time. most pilots get farmed out to staff jobs after a few years anyway.
and the standby? yes indeed it's true. 15 mins from receiving the call to being in the aircraft ready to be take-off? that call can come anywhere anytime. why do you think pilots move so close to their air bases?
sometimes, you just wear your flight suit, sit in the plane and sweat it out just because something out of the norm happened. then, realising that it's all for nothing, you just get out of your plane, engines left unfired.
and not all get to be fighter-trained. a substantial number get transport a/c (rumoured that this is more relevant for SIA) and others get helicopters.
of course, there's no denying that having chances to take part in overseas exercises is eye-opening.
as in all things, there are pros and cons.
i ask you to consider it carefully, because many people signed on for pilot thinking about the pros but neglecting the cons.
if it's really your dream to be in the skies, then by all means sign on.
i look forward to hearing you over the comms someday in the future, if you make it.
you sound like a C3 controller..hahaha..
-
Originally posted by stellazio:
you sound like a C3 controller..hahaha..
as a matter of fact, yes.
-
Originally posted by teraexa:
as a matter of fact, yes.
a H controller i'm guessing?
-
Originally posted by stellazio:
a H controller i'm guessing?
soon to be. 2 more months.
-
Lemme just give u an overall picture mate. A pilot in RSAF would have less actual flying hours as compared to a SIA pilot. I wont say exactly how much, but then if u want the flying hours, SIA is the way to go. But if u want hands-on flying instead of auto-piloting most of the flight, the RSAF is the way to go.
But if u like the commercial sector, with less regimentation, less shit and more pay, more nice women, then u shldnt even be contemplating abt joining RSAF. The air force doesnt pay as well, and the perks and benefits sure as hell dont match up with SIA. Thus most people dont want to go RSAF, but instead join SIA straight the moment they reach 26 yrs old. If not, some take the longer but safer route of joining RSAF and then hopping over to SIA once their 12 yr bond is over. This is the reality man. Dont get ur mind clouded by all the illusions that RSAF has painted for u.
I'm more or less a military fella, so I'm all for RSAF. But get this straight; not everyone likes this kind of lifestyle. For the people who truly want to become air force pilots, they do not mind the lower pay nor less glam as compared to SIA pilots. They do it cos they like it. Sad thing is that most people who go over end up not liking it. I'm kinda thinking that KiraYamato and u, Pablo, are people like that.
If u have ever been in a uniformed group back in ur sec sch days, as in either ncc or npcc (the others are gay), then u shld noe whether a regimental lifestyle is one for u. Its not exactly the same type of life, but then u get the message.