<p>Can anyone describe the pilot training after graduation? I’ve read it’s about 1 or 2 years, correct me if i’m wrong.
Also, if one wants to be a pilot in af, is there still a chance that he/she is accepted to AFA, but turns out he cannot become a pilot(and has to choose another career)?</p>
<p>Laur</p>
<p><a href="http://www.baseops.net/militarypilot/%5B/url%5D">http://www.baseops.net/militarypilot/</a></p>
<p>That gives a pretty decent overview of SUPT and all the stuff that you do while there.</p>
<p>"Also, if one wants to be a pilot in af, is there still a chance that he/she is accepted to AFA, but turns out he cannot become a pilot(and has to choose another career)?"</p>
<p>I don't know really what you are asking there, but, you can be a lot of other things in the Air Force besides a pilot, there are special forces, tons of engineering jobs, maintenance, and research just to name a few.</p>
<p>If you're PPQ or PNQ, then that can all change while you're at the Academy. Eyesight can go bad, hearing can go bad, you could break something or damage your body in some way (ie get a bad break and need screws or other orthopaedic work in a bone). I hope to fly after USAFA, but understand that if something does happen that may not work out.</p>
<p>thanks.
btw, i was asking is it possible that i go to afa(to become an aviator) but physical test(or something else) shows i won't be able to become a pilot. If you got my point :D</p>
<p>Laur</p>
<p>The DoDMERB physical (during admissions) gives your current status, PPQ (potential pilot qualified), PNQ (potential navigator qualified), or CQ (commision qualified). However, those can change during your time at the academy. Some cadets get eye surgery and upgrade their medical qualifications, others suffer injuries and loose qualifications. The "final" medical exams for SUPT are done at the academy. (Is it 3rd or 4th year?)</p>
<p>Hey, do you guys know how often people get eye surgery and then continue on with UPT? I've read that it has been happening a lot more lately, but I don't know how much of that is fact and how much is fiction. Just wanted to know because it is pertinent to my situation.</p>
<p>At orientation, they didn't give numbers as to how many, but they made it seem like if you were otherwise qualified to be a pilot, then you could get the surgery.</p>
<p>However, to get the surgery each eye has to be worse than -3.25. If you are in that -3.25--PQ range, they won't do the surgery but they will give you a waiver to go to UPT with glasses, again if you are otherwise qualified.</p>
<p>Unless things have been updated since I last checked, I think that current AF regs stipulate that the maximum number of PRK-corrected pilot candidates sent out of a commissioning source (USAFA, ROTC, OCS) could be 10% of all pilot-assigned cadets. This rule makes applying for PRK to obtain a pilot slot more competitive...of course, this kind of gels with the above post and explains why the AF chose -3.25 as the bottom cutoff...</p>
<p>Even if only 10% can have PRK coming from AFA, that's still about 50-60 people, and if you think about it, that is probably a pretty good majority of people that want to be pilots and are otherwise pilot qualified except for eyes that applied to get it.</p>
<p>True. Especially considering that the max standards for pilot candidates to receive PRK is -5.50 diopters. So the standards, apparently, set the limit for pre-PRK diopters between -3.25 and -5.50, which in reality is a small minority of people with acuity problems. That would make sense that the 10% rule allows for about 50-60 people who would qualify under this system, because in reality the numbers of candidates who apply within those parameters are pretty close to those numbers. For the record, Navs can have up to -8.00 diopters pre-PRK, I believe...</p>
<p>Does this put you at a disadvantage for a pilot spot decision between one who did not have surgery and one who did? I would most likely have to get surgery for my -2.75 (which will probably get worse) and my -3.25 eyes, and I feel that I have all the skills needed except for the eyes.</p>