General Duties Pilot (GDP) Branch Officers play a leading role in maintaining air supremacy in the skies over Sri Lankan. These Officers are enlisted as Flight Cadets after a filtering process called the Flying Aptitude Tests, which includes a few hours of flying in a trainer aircraft under the supervision of an experienced flying instructor. Candidates who are selected to join the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) as Officer Cadets in the GDP branch undergo over two years of training before being commissioning as Officers. This includes Basic Ground Combat Training, Basic Administration Training, Basic and Advanced Flying Training.
After initial flying training in a piston engine aircraft and an advanced jet trainer, they are selected to fly in Fighter Jets, Fixed Wing (Heavy or Light Transport) or Rotor Wing (Transport or Attack Helicopters). Flying training continues even after their commissioning, to achieve higher qualifications as operational pilots.
A GDP Officer will be posted to an operational Flying Squadron where conversion training on the relevant aircraft type of the Squadron will take place. They are offered the opportunity to switch from one type of aircraft to another throughout their carrier adding variety to exposure and experience. After reaching a certain level of seniority in the SLAF, pilots would be appointed as Commanding Officers of Flying Squadrons and subsequently as Commanders of SLAF Air Bases. The Commander of the Air Force also comes from the General Duties Pilot Branch.
| Nationality | Must be a citizen of Sri Lanka |
|---|---|
| Age | Not less than 18 years and not more than 22 years as at 01 August 2026. |
| Civil Status | Unmarried |
| Height |
Male: 165 cm Female: 160 cm |
| Weight / BMI |
Male: 17 < BMI < 25 Female: 17 < BMI < 26 |
| Chest (Male) | 32 inches |
| Color Vision | CP2 |
| Visual Acuity | Left eye 6/6 and Right eye 6/6 (Without spectacles / Contact Lenses) |