Eligibility

To join CUAS you need to satisfy the following criteria:

• Older than 17 and a half years on joining.
• A full time undergraduate with at least 3 terms remaining before graduation.
• A citizen of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth or of the Republic of Ireland and resident in the UK for the last 3 years.
• A member of one of the universities we serve: Cambridge University, Anglia Ruskin University, The University of East Anglia, or Essex University.

Be medically and physically fit. The medical requirements are to meet the DVLA standards for group 1 and 2 vehicles(the same as for a National PPL).

If you are not a member of one of these Universities but still interested in joining you may be able to join one of the other University Air Squadrons in the country. More information of these can be found here.

When you join CUAS, you will be a member of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, however, there is no commitment to join the RAF after you finish university. Membership entitles you to participate in all activities organised by CUAS.

Recruitment

New members apply to join Cambridge University Air Squadron (CUAS) at the start of the first term of the academic year. This can be done in several ways:

Find us as Freshers’ Fair

The Air Squadron will have a stand at affiliated universities Freshers’ Fair at the start of the 2012/13 academic year. Details will be publisher nearer the time.

Online

An online application form will be available from the summer of 2012.

In Person

Cambridge UAS’s Town Head Quarters (THQ) is located in Cambridge on 2 Chaucer Road. It is possible to arrange an appointment to visit by telephoning 01223 356 942 or emailing cuas@btconnect.com.

Selection

Every year many more people than we can accept apply for membership. This means that the competition for places is high. Shortly after Freshers’ Fair, eligible applicants will be called for an interview at the THQ in Cambridge. Successful applicants will then be able to join CUAS once they have satisfied medical standards (see the Eligibility section).

The Interview

When you come for interview please bring your birth certificate and two recent passport photographs. The interview will be conducted in a formal manner, will last about 45 minutes and will include questions covering the following topics:

• Your background
• The schools you attended and what activities you were involved in whilst there.
• What hobbies and activities you undertook outside school.
• What positions of responsibility you have held.
• What other activities you are involved with at University.
• Your motivation for joining the UAS and what activities we carry out.
• A few questions about the RAF including current operations and where we are deployments as well as the future of airpower.
• Current affairs.

In general we are looking for young men and women who have both an interest in flying and including themselves fully the activities CUAS has to offer. Applicants should be enthusiastic, reliable, self-motivated and good team members who are keen to attempt something new and challenging. Previous flying experience is not required

If successful at the main interview, you will then be asked to forward a medical questionnaire to your GP to be completed from you medical records in order to confirm your fitness to participate in all activities on the UAS. Until this is completed, you will only be able to join as a social member

Commitment

Membership of a University Air Squadron does not commit you to joining the RAF, however you will be expected to commit a minimum amount of your time on Squadron activities.

Members are required to attend one night in Cambridge at THQ per week during term time (once a fortnight during exam term). These are currently on a Wednesday evening. Members are also required to spend three weeks of the year undergoing continuous training with the Squadron (not at the same time).

The continuous training can consist of Periods of Intensive Flying Training (PIFTs) during the vacations where a week will be spent flying from RAF Wyton.

In addition to the PIFTs, members are also expected to attend the one week of Personal Development and Leadership Training, held in the Long Vacation. This is where the whole squadron deploys to a training area for the week where leadership and personal development training as well as Squadron physical training is carried out.

First years are also expected to attend a 4 day induction camp at RAF Wyton where uniform will be issued and you will get an introduction to life on CUAS.

Although being in the Air Squadron can take up a lot of your time, you are also an undergraduate. As such your first priority is to study, get your degree and enjoy university life, with all the advantages that undergraduate status implies.

Benefits

Flying

While a member of Cambridge University Air Squadron, you can apply to fly during the week during term time on a daily basis. You will be taught to fly by RAF instructors and get the opportunity to fly solo. There is no previous experience required. As you become more advanced there is the opportunity to learn aerobatics, formation flying, instrument flying and navigation.

Other Activities

In addition to flying, the UAS runs many adventurous training expeditions, sporting activities, personal development and leadership training. For more information on recent activities CUAS have undertaken, please click here.

Financial

Students currently get paid for up to 30 days per year between £38 and £59 pounds per day depending on their status on the Squadron. To qualify for pay, students need to attend flying, adventurous training expeditions, military training days, sporting events or formal functions

The Squadron will also reimburse reasonable travel costs for getting to and from official Squadron activities. This includes travel from your own university to town nights, or from your home to activities during the vacation such as flying camps, sporting events or adventure training expedition.

Career

Whether or not you choose to join the Royal Air Force, membership of CUAS will be of huge benefit in later life. It impresses employers, and you will gain priceless teamwork and leadership skills, all taught by some of the finest instructors in the world. Completion of the ground training syllabus will gain you a level 3 certificate in Leadership and Management from ILM.

Social

The friends you make in CUAS, thanks to your shared interests and enthusiasms, are likely to be friends for life.