Squadron Leader Mark Byrne was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in the 1980s as an air traffic controller and served at a number of different bases including RAF Bruggen in Germany, a 'front-line' station with 4 squadrons of Jaguar/Tornado aircraft and RAF Brize Norton, the home of the RAF's strategic transport fleet.
He served for brief periods in Sardinia, Venice, Washington and Calgary (Canada) as well as a couple of four-month tours in the Falkland Islands.
Currently enjoying an extended tour at RAF Valley in Anglesey as the Corporate Communications Officer, Mark is married to Christine and they have a crazy dog called Tess.
Owen, Pwllheli
I am interested in becoming a fast jet pilot. I am only 14 but am dedicated to getting into the RAF. What should I do next, like join the air cadets or a certain group? What subjects are best to take at school?
It's great that you have such a clear idea about what you want and I hope that I can point you in the right direction.
Firstly, there is no single right way of preparing yourself for a career in the Royal Air Force as a pilot or for any of the other 70 careers that we offer. What is more important is that you achieve a certain minimum standard of education, normally 2 A' Levels for officer entry (3 highers in Scotland) and you are the right person for the career you want (all pilots enter at officer level).
Having said that, the Air Training Corps is a fantastic youth organisation that offers you a real insight into the Royal Air Force. On summer camps, you fly in RAF aircraft and gliders and it lets you get a taste of RAF life before you apply for the real thing.
Even if there is no ATC squadron nearby I would recommend that you take every opportunity to develop yourself; get involved with school or community groups, keep yourself fit and above all pursue your goal with determination.
When you eventually get to RAF Cranwell for Officer and Aircrew Selection you are going to have to convince some senior officers that you are the right person to be a leader in the Royal Air Force and are capable of being trusted with some serious military hardware!
Paul Bishop, Birmingham
I've wanted to be a fast jet pilot since I can remember but I have glasses, so can I join? There has been a lot mentioned about the RAF relaxing standards on short sightedness and allowing candidates entry with laser eye surgery but nothing is definite. Any advice would be great!
I am afraid that entry standards for medical, educational and personal standards are very strict and currently your need to wear glasses would prevent your selection for pilot. Although I can imagine that this must be a huge disappointment to you there are a lot of other careers that may interest you from officer branches that take you up close to the aircraft - from our Engineering roles to controlling the action as an Air Traffic or Fighter Controller.
Similarly there are many airmen trades that offer challenging work and an interesting career that could not be described as routine or run of the mill. For example RAF Regiment Gunners serve all over the world defending our airfields on Field Squadrons and are equipped with the Rapier missile system. They also serve on ceremonial duties at the Royal Palaces and in high profile public roles as members of the Queen's Colour Squadron.
Darren Petty, Salisbury
I've wanted to work with jets ever since I can remember. I want to go to university to study aeronautical engineering and would like to try and get a scholarship to the RAF. Does anyone know how to go about it, as where I live there are only Army centres.
Your first point of call should be the Royal Air Force Careers website at www.rafcareers.com, which has a huge amount of information on tap. You should also look in the Yellow Pages under 'Armed Services' for your nearest RAF Careers Office, many of which are co-located with Royal Navy and Army offices.
You can qualify for sponsorship to the tune of £5,500 a year through the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (DTUS) if you're studying Engineering or a related subject at the universities of Southampton, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumbria or Aston. The scheme will also start at Loughborough University in 2005. In return, you will be asked to become a member of the University Support Unit, spending at least 45 days a year with the RAF - and to join the RAF once you finish your studies.
If you're at another university, you can apply for a University Bursary of £4,000 a year. And if you're in the Sixth Form, you can qualify for a Sixth Form Scholarship of £2,000. In return, we ask you to become a member of the University Air Squadron (or Air Training Corps while you're at school) and to join the RAF once you finish your studies.
Leah Cockcroft, Leighton Buzzard
I'm 14 and have wanted to be a fast jet pilot for years, but I'm a girl and I don't know if girls can do that. I want to know what it's like for girls to join the RAF and what we have to do? Also, I want to find out what subjects I should take in school to become a pilot? The show is great by the way!
Delighted you like the show and that you have such a clear idea of what you want to do.
If you want to be a pilot then it's up to you to go for it, it doesn't matter if you are a girl. As you may have seen in the programme we have three female Flying Instructors at RAF Valley and they are highly professional, respected officers. They have got where they are today on merit and ability and that's what we demand of everyone irrespective of gender, sexuality, religion, marital status or race.
There are lots of flying related careers available including Pilot, Weapons System Operator and Air Loadmaster to name but three. There is only one career opportunity that is not available to women and that is RAF Regiment Gunner.
Good Luck.
You need maths and English at GCSE level and at least 2 A' Levels to become a pilot. You don't have to have a university degree, though it can help you when applying to join. It doesn't really matter which subject you take your degree in, though if you want to be an RAF engineer you should study engineering.
Andrew Richards, London
I would like to be a helicopter pilot in the RAF after university. When you join the RAF do you get to chose if you fly planes or helicopters and can you leave before you complete your term of service?
You are clearly focussed on what you want to do and have a specific flying goal. The officer and aircrew selection process is quite sophisticated and aims to identify individuals who have the potential to succeed in their chosen careers but it does not distinguish different pilot specialisations at that stage.
Once you've completed initial flying training, assuming that you have not been a member of a University Air Squadron, you would be selected for the fast-jet, multi-engine or rotary-wing streams depending on your strengths and ability.
If you are chosen to follow the helicopter path your duties might include anything from search and rescue flights to ferrying troops and equipment into combat zones and is very challenging.
There are a number of circumstances in which members of the Royal Air Force may leave before they have completed their commissions or engagements but the waiting times can be lengthy (up to 18 months) and we would expect a satisfactory return upon the extremely expensive training that is provided. For a pilot this is 12 years.
Might I suggest that if you make it to interview, this is a question that may not exactly fill the officers who are interviewing you with the greatest confidence about your commitment to a career in the Royal Air Force!
Mike, London
Can you become a pilot if you're older than the stated 17.5 - 23 years of age?
I am afraid that entry standards and criteria are (necessarily) very strict and they are not normally varied beyond the laid down limits which exist to ensure that candidates have the best possible chance to succeed in training and the opportunity to pursue a full career. There are occasional dispensations made to individuals who are already in the Royal Air Force, but these would be granted only to those who are already in a flying appointment of some sort and are deemed to have a reasonable chance of success. Thirty-eight year old Dave McBryde is a good example.
Mike Weberstadt, Hampshire
I am extremely interested in becoming a pilot and have been watching intently - I don't have any medical problems and have very good 3-D awareness but the odds of getting in are still slim. Could I be turned away even as the perfect candidate because they have too many people wanting to fly fast jets?
There is intense competition for a lot of the opportunities that the Royal Air Force offers and pilot sits on top of this pile. If you are the perfect candidate you will get in but most people are not perfect and will have to compete with their contemporaries and yes, you could be turned away if other, more suitable people have applied at the same time as you.
The RAF is looking for people to fill vacancies based on their particular skills, abilities and aptitude and if you are not as well fitted as some you may be asked to re-apply at a later date.
There are no pre-determined 'odds' of getting in, it is largely up to you to demonstrate your suitability and persuade the recruiters that the Royal Air Force cannot do without you.
Charlotte Havey-Dickens, Ilkeston
What is the ATC, how old do you have to be to join and do you have to join to be a fast jet pilot?
Speaking as an ex-air cadet and current President of 1439 (Skelmersdale) Squadron in Lancashire I am bound to be biased but the Air Training Corps is, in my opinion, the finest youth organisation that a young person could join, whether or not they have a desire to join the RAF.
Firstly there is no requirement for a prospective pilot to have ATC experience and no obligation on cadets to join the Royal Air Force, but it does give you a wonderful opportunity to experience a taste of RAF life through annual camps and privileged visits to RAF stations.
Secondly, the ATC provides young people with the chance to have a go at so many different activities from flying, gliding, shooting, adventurous training, overseas exchange visits and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme to name but a few.
Finally cadets enjoy their time in the ATC immensely, they make life long friends and the experiences remain with them for a long time.
The ATC is open to all young people between the ages of 13 and 20, the maximum age on entry is 17. I've never regretted my time in the ATC and continue to contribute in my own small way.
If you want more information about the ATC, email ccao@atc.raf.mod.uk or call 01400 267630.
Richard Smith, Scunthorpe
I am 16 and have wanted to be a pilot for many years. I was placed on inhaler by the doctors for asthma because of a bad chest infection and I was just wondering if I still could be a pilot?
I am afraid that the answer is not what you are hoping for. The RAF requires all recruits to be medically fit to serve worldwide. New entrants undergo intensive training that is both physically and mentally demanding and accordingly must be fit and free from disease or pre-existing injury to meet this challenge.
Certain medical conditions rule out RAF service. Applications will be rejected if you suffer or have suffered from asthma in the last four years. However, if you have been diagnosed previously as suffering from asthma but have remained symptom-free for a continuous four-year period, you may be considered for RAF ground service but not aircrew.
Lewis, Plymouth
Are there height restrictions in fast jet combat planes?
Yes and no! There are a number of physiological factors that determine overall suitability as a combat pilot in fast-jet aircraft. Height is not the full story, rather there are certain key measurements that will determine whether it is safe to fly in a certain type of aircraft.
In particular, the length of the upper leg (from buttock to knee) is critical in ejection seat equipped aircraft as it would sting like crazy if you had to eject in an emergency and shaved off the lower parts of your legs!
Seriously though, it is not just height that is important, body weight is also a factor which is taken into consideration.
