RAAF Air Force Pilot Wings Metal Brevet
By joining the Air Force as a Pilot, you'll be entering into an 'Officer Aviation' role. This term refers to a handful of Air Force Officer aircrew and ground-based mission controller roles. In an Officer Aviation role, you'll become a world-class leader and manager and operate some of the most advanced aircraft and aviation systems in the world.
As an Air Force Pilot, you'll be responsible for operating military aircraft. Depending on your role, you'll fly either fighter jets, or fixed wing aircraft. Getting your wings and undertaking a career as a Pilot isn't easy, but if you're tough, ambitious, and you have a passion for the skies, you might just have what it takes.
While Air Force Pilots operate aircraft, that's where the similarities with commercial airline pilots stop. Flying in the Air Force is the ultimate flying experience, where each mission and each day is different to the last. It's an exciting, hands-on role, if you give it the dedication and motivation it requires. Along with excitement and a high level of responsibility, the Air Force will provide you with a very competitive salary package, and a lifestyle like nothing else. Plus, you'll experience life on board a wide variety of aircraft and benefit from continual investment in your personal and professional development.
The next 10 years will see significant changes in the Air Force as the service continues to modernise, with a focus on information technology and how that can be translated into a competitive warfighting advantage. The Air Force will require highly motivated professionals to manage missions and pilot our aircraft, making real-time decisions relating to missions in an ever-changing environment.
Fast Jet Pilots in the Air Force fly state-of-the-art combat aircraft, including the F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (JSF), which the Air Force is currently acquiring to replace our F/A-18A (Hornets). The JSF is a modern fighter that employs stealth technology and high performance. Fast Jet Pilots also team up with Weapon Systems Officers on the F/A-18F Super Hornet or with Electronic Warfare Officers on the EA-18G Growler to complete missions. The operations that Fast Jet Pilots are involved in are varied and complex in nature and include air-to-air combat and air-to-surface strikes. As a Fast Jet Pilot, you'll be at the heart of Australia's modern Air Force.
There's more to the Air Force than fighter jets. Without the support of fixed wing aircraft like the E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft (AEW&C) or the KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) flown by Fixed Wing Pilots, fast jets and the wider Air Force can't operate as effectively. Fixed Wing Pilots also fly the P-8A Poseidon aircraft, performing a variety of missions including anti-surface strike, anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, and maritime Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. On top of this, a vital component of joint operations is air transport, and Fixed Wing Pilots fly a diverse variety of transport aircraft ranging in size from the C-27J Spartan and C-130J Hercules through to the giant C-17A III Globemaster.
The Future
Remote Piloted Aircraft (RPA); dedicated Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft; and space-based technologies will join with our advanced, capable platforms as part of a modern Air Force.
