Navy lists > Quarterly > 1917 > January

ENTRY AND EXAMINATION OF OFFICERS.
664a
ROYAL NAVAL AIR SERVICE— contd.
Snellen's test is required for candidates for the Naval
Air Service. A memorandum is Issued by the
Admiralty which gives details of the physical re-
quirements of candidates.
12. If candidates are required by the Admiralty to
obtain their Royal Aero Club pilot's certificate at a
private school at their own expense, the sum of 75i,or
such lesser sum expended by them in their tuition,
will be repaidthem by the Admiralty on their obtain-
ing their certificate. Such payment will not he made
until after a reasonable period of probation, and will
depend upon a satisfactory report being received
from the Commanding Officer under whom tho officer
is serving. If a candidate is permitted to resign
within four years of entry he may be required to
refund this sum or part of it. Should a candidate
fail to obtain his certificate within a reasonable time
hia name will be removed from the list.
13. Candidates on appointment as Probationary
Flight Officers, Royal Navy, will be appointed to
undergo a course at one of the Royal Naval Air
Service Instructional Establishments.
14. This course will last about four months, and
will consist of practical and theoretical instruction
In various branches of Air work. On the completion
of this course, officers will be required to graduate.
15. Graduation will depend upon qualification in
the following subjects:—
(a) Flying ability (including cross-country and
long-disiance flying).
\b) Aerial engines and construction of Aircraft.
(e) Navigation [including chares, compass, map
reading and meteorology).
id) Gunnery (including bombs and sights, aerial
guns, rifle and squad drill).
(«) Wireless Telegraph Signals and aerial photo-
graphy.
16 Officers will be required to obtain 85 per cent,
of marks in any group of subjects to qualify for a 1st
class certificate for that group, arid 60 per cent, of
marks in any group will be the minimum necessary
for qualifying in that group. Officers will be allowed
to <'Ount half a month's seniority for each 1st class
certificate obtained except in the case of Group (A),
for which one month will be given. An officer who
obtains five 1st class certificates will thus gain three
months' seniority.
17. An officer who fails In any group of subjects
will begiven further instruction, with re-examination
after one month. Officers who fail in any group
cannot gain seniority by obtaining 1st class certifi-
cates in other groups.
18. An officer's seniority as Flight Sub-Lieutenant
will date from the date of graduation except in the
case of officers allowed to count time for lst-class
certificates, whose seniority will be ante-dated in
accordance wil h the amount of time gained.
19. The candidate, on completion of the school
course, will be attached to an Air Station or Cruiser,
and will be required to undergo an advanced course
in seaplane, aeroplane, or airship work, during which
time he will also receive instruction in naval matters,
machine gun drill, seamanship and boat work, and
other special subjects connected with the Naval
Air Service.
20. Probationary officers may be required to with-
draw at any time if in the opinion of the Lords
Commissioners of the Admiralty—
(a) they fail to obtain a satisfactory standard ;
(o) their conduct is unsatisfactory;
(c) they are considered unsuitable for the Royal
Naval Air Service.
21. Parents or guardians of officers under the age
of 21 must in all cases of permanent change of resi-
dence communicate the same to the Admiralty and
to the Commanding Officer of the Naval Establish-
ment In which their sons or wards are serving.
22. Any officer who at anytime is fonnd to be un-
fitted for the duties of the Royal Naval Air Service
will be liable to discharge to the Reserve or from the
Service. This will not necessarily Indicate that any
blame is attribu'able to the officer. The special
nature of the duties peculiar 10 the Air Snrvice
renders essential a very high siandard of mental and
physical fitness.
23. Reserve Service.— Officers not desirous of com-
pleting their active service may, at the discretion of
the Admiralty, be permitted to transfer to the
Reserve.
24. Officers of the Royal Naval Air Service will be
graded in one of th e following ranks :—
Flight Sub-Lieutenant with relative rank of Sub-
Lieutenant, R.N.
Flight Lieutenant with relative rark of Lieutenant,
R.N.
Flight Commander with relative rank of Lieu-
tenant. R.N., over 4 years' seniority.
Squadron Commandor (when In command) with
relative rank of Lieutenant-Commander.
Squadron Commander (when not in command) with
relative rank of Lieutenant o»er four years' seniority
(but senior to all Flight Commanders). On attain-
ing eight years' seniority in the relative rank of Lieu-
tenant these officers will rank with Lieutenant-
Commanders, R.N.
Wing Commander with relative rank of Com-
mander, R.N.
Wing Captain with relative rank of Captain, R.N.
Th« rates of pay for the various grades will be :
Probationary Flight
Officer - - - 10<5. per diem.
Flight Sub-Lieutenant los. per diem.
Flight Lieutenant - 12a. per diem, and Is.
per diem in addition
for each year's service
as Flight Lieutenant.
(Max. 16s.)
Flight Commander - 17s. per diem, and 2s.
per diem in addition
for each year's service
as Flight Commander,
(Max. 23s.)
Squadron Commander M. 6s. per diem.
Wing Commander - 21. per diem.
Wing Captain - - 21. 10s. per diem.
25. Flying pay for Squadron Commanders, Flight
Commanders, Fl'ght Lieutenants, and Flight Sub-
Lieutenants 8s. per diem in addition to above rates.
26. Whilst undergoing flying instruction Proba-
tionary Flight Officers will receive half flying pay at
the rate of 4s. per diem in addition to the pay of
their flying ra'ik. Full flying pay at the rate of 8s.
per diem will no', be payable until the date on which
an officer graduates, notwithstanding that he may
have gained time.
27. Whilst serving In the Royal Naval Air Service
officers will rank and take command according to
their grade.
28. If messing and accommodation is not provided
for them officers will receive lodging and provision
allowance in lieu as payable to officers of the Royal
Navy.
29. Whilst messed and accommodated they will
be required to pay the same mess subscriptions, &c,
as are paid by officers of the Royal Navy.
30. Officers will be required to provide themselves
with such uniform as is established for the Royal
Naval Air Service.
Probationary Flight Officers will wear the uniform
of Midshipmen, R.N. except that the white turn-
back, button and button hole on the collar will not
be worn, the dirk will not be required, the anchor on
buttons and cap badge will he replaced by an eagle,
and an eagle will be Worn on the left sleeve.
31. An outfit allowance of iOl. will be granted to
officers entered under these regulations ; 201. of this
sum will be paid on first entry and a subsequent 201.
after successful graduation at the termination of the
four months' course at one of the Royal Naval Air
Service Instructional Establishments. During this
course officers will only be required to provide them-
selves with a reduced kit. Officers who leave at
their own request before the expiration of their first
four years' service may be called upon to refnnd the
whole or part of this sum.
Gentlemen entered for temporary service are only
entitled to an ontfit gratuity of 151.
32. Temporary officers who during the period of
hostilities, resign their commissions or whose ser
vices are dispensed with, exce"t on account of ill
health or through causes outside their eontroli will
be required to refund the outfit gratuily paid to them.
Office's whose services are dispensed with owing
to inabilitv to qualify as Pilots will be regarded as
having been discharged through causes outside their
own control.
33. Any allowance for outfit paid in regard to ser-
vice in the Naval Reserve Forces within three years
previous to date of entering the Air Service will be
. deducted from this sum.