Oficial SAAF Pilot/ Navigator Training 2024-2025
We are pleased to inform you about SAAF Pilot/ Navigator Training 2024-2025-read full details below
THE SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE PILOT / NAVIGATOR TRAINING
In the absence of any significant external military threat against South Africa, the main aim of the SA Air Force
is still to keep our air space safe. It remains, therefore, crucial to have a well-trained flying corps to be able to react to potentially threatening situations. At this stage, Pilots and Navigators are mainly utilized for humanitarian
purposes.
PROCESS FOR PILOT AND NAVIGATOR TRAINING IN THE SA AIR FORCE
MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
l
be a South African citizen or relinquished any other citizenship he/she may have
l
Age between 18 and 24 or not older than 26 years, if he/she is a graduate
l
Not be older than 28 years upon commencement of practical flying training
l
Currently busy or successfully completed Grade 12 or equivalent
Obtain at least a D-symbol in higher-grade Mathematics and Physical Science or a C-symbol in standard grade
Mathematics and Physical Science in Grade 12, or 60% in N4 level Mathematics and Physical Science and at
least 50% in these subjects at N5, N6 and 1st year university or university of technology level or equivalent
l
l
Pass English at Grade 12 or an equivalent level
l
Be medically fit, as normally required of persons wishing to train as pilots or navigators in the Air Force
l
Have 6/6 vision, in other words, he/she must not need of spectacles, contact lenses, or laser correction
l
Not have any hearing impairment, in other words, he/she must not have a need for hearing aids
l
Must be single when applying and remain single for the duration of training
l
Must be willing to relocate and participate in deployment both in South Africa and abroad if required to do so
Must not have a criminal record
SAAF SELECTION PROCESS 2024-2025
Candidates who comply with the minimum requirements for application may apply throughout the year and may be earmarked for further selection. This will mainly depend on the need to train new Pilots at the time. Candidates will be invited to take part in the pre-selection process in Pretoria and this entails the following: Psycho-metric Evaluation: All applicants will be required to undergo aptitude and general cognitive ability
assessments. Only candidates who perform above the norm will be allowed to
proceed to the next selection phase.
Psycho-motoric assessment: A hand-eye coordination test must be passed in order to proceed to the next selection phase.
Formal Selection Board: Candidates will then be interviewed by a Selection panel comprising of senior military personnel from the Air Force and other staff divisions. Taking into account the candidate’s performance thus far, the following additional variables
will serve as criteria for evaluation during the interview: motivation, perseverance, purposefulness, creativity, officer potential, knowledge, adaptability, and analytical ability.
Medical Examination: Candidates who are recommended for Pilot or Navigator training by the abovementioned selection panel, will then be subjected to a thorough medical
examination at the Institute for Aviation Medicine.
An offer of employment will be extended to the most successful candidates, taking into consideration equal opportunity and affirmative action programs within the Department of Defence.
PHASES OF TRAINING
Basic Military Training (BMT): will be presented over an 8-week period at the Air Force Gymnasium.
Officers Forming Course: On the completion of Basic Military Training, Pupil Pilots and Learner Navigators will be
transferred to the SA Air Force College, Thaba Tshwane, Pretoria for a period of 19 weeks in order to complete the
Officers Forming Course.
Survival Training: Subjects currently presented by 80 Air Navigation School at Air Force Base Ysterplaat include Basic Parachute Course (does not include jumps), First Aid Course, Land Survival Training and Sea Survival Training.
- Preparatory Phase: Members who are recommended for preparatory training will be transferred to the Military Academy on the West Coast for their preparatory phase which lasts approximately 6 months. Subjects currently presented include Geography, Science, Mathematics, and English.
- Military Certificate Course: All pupil pilots and learner navigators will complete a Military Certificate before commencing flying training. This course is offered at the Military Academy in Saldanha and includes all Flying Theories.
- Ground School and Flying Phase: On successful completion of the survival, preparatory training phases (if recommended) and the Military Certificate Course, learner navigators will be transferred to 80 Air Navigator School in Cape Town and pupil pilots will commence their flying training at Central Flying School Langebaanweg.
-
Learner Navigators
- Learner navigators will be stationed at AFB Ysterplaat in Cape Town for their flying training, but will from time to time receive training at various squadrons in the Air Force if required and subject to aircraft availability.
- The subjects offered and the type of aircraft used for the duration of these phases are as follows:
- Subjects: Navigation, Maps and Plotting, Flight Planning, Avionics, Crew Cooperation, and Electronic Warfare.
- Aircraft: Astra (PC7 Pilatus), Cessna Caravan, C47 TP Dakota.
- Learner navigator training lasts for approximately 2 years and approximately 180 flying hours. Learner navigators will qualify and receive their wings at the same time as the pupil pilots.
- Pupil Pilots
- Pupil pilots will be stationed at the Central Flying School Langebaanweg for the Basic Flying Phase (ab initio phase).
- The following subjects will be presented: Ground Phase: Air Dynamics, Plotting on Maps, Navigation, and Electronic Warfare.
- Flying Phase: Pupil pilots will be required to master the Astra, Pilatus PC7 trainer, including Simulation Exercises, General Flying, Formations, Instrument Flying, Navigational Flying, and Night Flying. Pupil pilots qualify after a period of approximately 2 years of training and approximately 180 flying hours.
- CONTRACTS Successful completion of the pilot/navigator course members will be offered a contract and compelled to fulfill their contractual obligations to the SA Air Force.
- FURTHER TRAINING AND UTILISATION
- On completion of the flying phase, a streaming board will be convened to determine in which line function a pilot will be utilized, namely:
- Fighter, Helicopter (including maritime) or Transport line criteria used for the allocation of pilots to various line functions:
- • Need of the Air Force • Results and achievements on course
- • Own preference • Recommendation by flying instructor pilots will be transferred to one of the following Air Force institutions for further training in their line function, before being utilized at the various squadrons of the SA Air Force:
- Fighter Squadron – 85 Combat Flying School (Makado, Limpopo Province)
- Transport Squadron – 41 Squadron (Waterkloof, Pretoria, Gauteng Province)
- Helicopter Squadron – 87 Helicopter Flying School (Bloemfontein, Free State Province)
- ENQUIRIES
- www.mil.za
Recommended: SANDF Application Form 2024-2025 | PDF Download
Note: If you need help, or have questions or corrections regarding this post, kindly use the comment box below.