United3dArtists Archive

Been rather inactive here, let's make this wall of text make up for that

So, a few of you know of my career plan, that was joining the RAF as a pilot, always wanted to, but never beleived I could, which was the reason why I'm currently doing 3D modellign and a computer games course in college, at least until last christmas when I found out that it was more possible than I thought. So in March, I went down to the careers office, in Portsmouth, and we (I was with 2 friends) went in, we got seen and then I got called into the office, and we went through everything, everything went well until about 10 mintues in, he then made a funny face, and went to get confirmation about a piece of information from a CO of the centre. I'm now medically unfit to join the RAF. Then we went into town, bought some clothes, which because of the fact I've never carried a carrier bag in years, I left on the bus. Oh bugger

Why?

I'm 'ineligable' because of my medical History, I was diagnosed with Asthma at 18 months old, but 4 years ago I was removed from the register as I hadn't needed to touch an inhaler for a good half a year or so before (that half a year does not count, it was my choice not to take the inhaler when I was still perscribed), I have never had an asthma attack, my peak flow readings were always well above what they should have been and I've never had degrading health because of it.

Originally you neded to be clear of asthma for 4 years, but the rules changed that no aircrew can ever have a case of asthma, period. That rules me out for any job that isn't ground-pounding through my entire career, and I don't think I could live with actually sitting at a desk and remotely directing the 700mph reminder that I 'could have' just about every day. Or going through the training, only to go into an area that doesn't even touch the aircraft

Problem in this lies so many variables, being born in 1992, there was an almost epidemic of asthma diagnosis during the 90s, people with hay fever were being classed as 'asthmatic', people allergic to dogs and fur were asthmatic, along with the offending animals being diagnosed with it, that sort of thing (which a side note, the RAF pick up very heavily on Hay fever,while it CAN be linked to asthma, just not always, they just don't want their guys itching all the time), some even mis-diagnosed, I doubt I was mis-diagnosed because of the length of time I was asthmatic, but also the severity needs to be taken into account, how much it affected me, and the chances of me re-contracting it.

Now, I could argue that I needed to be slightly fitter than the average bear to kick asthma, but that won't wash, as, sat next to me will be a guy who has never had asthma, and is a safer bet, because where there can be 10 pilots, there will be about 100 people working on the machine that pilot flies, so even without having to appeal it's one hell of a struggle. So generally, an appeal for this sort of thing goes thus:
'I am so damn good at everything you will overlook this previous hinderance. I may have had asthma, but according to these various official looking papers here, I am no more eligable to recontract asthma than anybody you have currently serving in the force, Incidentally I can understand the theories of aeronaughtical technology, I have a pilot's lisence, I can speak x amount of languages and I can do these 'unrelated' skills still in my spare time, with this shiney degree'

Of course, aside from the appeal that I'm no longer a 'wheezy boy', then I have to worry about my hearing, whlie it is fairly swish as I've never been to loud concerts, or am I around loud environments or play loud music at all, since as long as I can remember I've had an unidentified noise in my head, similar to someone with tinnitus, minus the dizzyness and loss of hearing (note inside my head, not inside my ears) which we found out is 16khz, or in laymans terms, the sound those old analogue TVs make when they're being turned on, switching channels, or just plain detuned.

GP doesn't know what it is, and until about a year ago I actually believed everyone else had it, because I heard it when I was a kid, I didn't question it, I thought that's what 'silence' sounded like. It's possible to 'ommit' that bit of information, if it is casuing loss of hearing, any tests will soon show that it is a problem, if not, I won't have the need to tell them. Thing is, it doesn't get in the way of any sounds, it's there if nothing else is, I can only hear it when there's a either a drop in noise, or no noise.

Of course, there's still 3-4 years to go. I'm still going onto 3 years of university come September a split course that is, 'Aeronaughtical Technologies' and 'games design' course while my career path is 'on the fence' per se. Where I can join a University Air Squadron, hopefully get examined by existing RAF doctors, along with an existing one in my town, as well as having an ex-RAF doctor on my side and an active Tornado pilot, get a pilot's lisence through the UAS (they give 10+ hours of flying time a year) and enough evidence and qualifications to make a succesfful appeal against my ineligability, which are more possible than most believe. In those 3 years the Rules could change that would mean I'm no longer ineligable, especially as we are buying the new Joint Strike Fighters in 2012.

Or I could want to go into the Fleet Air Arm instead, or even civil aviation or do a complete U-turn and go back to the games, CADcam or Media industries

So, dear the Royal air force
Bring it on
Wot?

This is a pity.

Well I don't really know what to say about it, but the text was interesting

I had a similar experience. When I was 18, I missed a competition to get into the Air Force because of my ears. This handicap led me to make a career in an environment like visual design. At 30 I had vertigo and it led me to the hospital (pipes and oxygen mask during several weeks each time). Then the noises in the ear so hard that covered the noise of cars in the street! Then I could no longer work in a team because I lost 75% of my hearing ability. Thanks to the internet, I could start a career because I communicate by email. None of this worries me more. It is able to overcome his disability and finding the right solutions without comparing to others. Today I do not regret anything. I am very glad I chose based on what I am and not to be like others. The only thing that can bring me back to the hospital is the stress. I am obliged to be relaxed under any circumstances. It takes time to master. I became very relaxed and it's great, especially when I see this crazy world.
ps: when I see Bruce Banner get angry, it reminds me a lot of things.