Thank you for your interest in the Virtual Royal Air Force. We are a unique organisation with a challenging training curriculum that requires determination and perseverance - new pilots must undergo an average of 20 hours of flight training before being considered a front line pilot.

Requirements for Membership

All applications are screened for validity and compliance. Applicants must:

1. Have a valid VATSIM CID.
2. Be at least 18 years of age.
3. We are a PC only organisation and are not able to accept Xbox users
4. Have at at least 25 hours of IFR flight time on the VATSIM network.
5. Be able to file a flight plan, fly SIDs, STARs and approaches using raw data, follow airspace restrictions and communicate with ATC
6. A good working knowledge of a supported simulator:
   1. Prepar3D
   2. X-Plane 11
   3. Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS)
7. Own a working microphone for use with Discord and VATSIM.
8. Know how to use vPilot\xPilot

Application Process

Step 1: Registration

Complete the registration form entering as much detail as you can.

Step 2: Theoretical Knowledge Assessment

After initial an screening, applicants will be invited to complete a short theoretical exam. The exam is open book and timed. Please ensure you complete it promptly upon receiving the invite for the exam.

Step 3: Application Successful - Holding

Your application is successful. To ensure new pilots are able to complete initial training within a reasonable time frame, we carefully balance instructor availability against the number of students on each aircraft type we may place your application into a hold pool until a training place becomes available on your chosen type.

Step 4: Offer of Training Place

When a training place becomes available that matches the aircraft types you requested, an offer of training will be made. Due to the demand for training we must ask that you respond this offer within 7 days of it being made.

Step 5: Training

Congratulations you are now a member vRAF! Now the hard work begins, your training will be split into several phases.

Initial training phase:

Certain front line aircraft require an initial training phase that will cover basic military flying skills. This will be conducted on either the Tutor, Phenom or Texan. If this phase is required it will be made clear in the training place offer.

Type Conversion Phase:

This phase will be on the front line aircraft type where you will learn how to operate your chosen aircraft type.

Advanced Phase:

During this phase of training you will learn how to operate your aircraft to its full operational capability whether that be Air to Air refuelling to Air to Surface operations to combat search and rescue.

Each phase ends with a practical examination where you will be tested on all skills you have been taught during that phase. Upon successful completion of your final check flight you will be promoted and posted to a front line squadron where you will be able to take part in all operations with vRAF and other VSO partners around the world. Once you reach this stage there are opportunities for you to train on other aircraft types that vRAF operate so you won’t always have to be limited to one type.

We look forward to receiving your application and flying with you soon.

Good Luck!

By ticking the box you confirm that you meet all the requirements for membership stated above.