daniel l asked:
Yeah Im 17 and I want to become a commercial airplane pilot, Im thinking about goin into a 4year college, air force, or just regular pilot school. But I want to know the medical requirements? And Is it complicated to drive an airplane? Is it dangerous
Flying is not inherently dangerous or terribly difficult, but airplanes are notoriously unforgiving of incompetence. Though one can learn to manipulate an airplane in a short period of time (e.g. the 911 terrorists) it takes many years and a lot of experience to do it safely and well under difficult conditions. As some pundit said, “flying is 99% boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror”. There’s a lot of truth in that. Some people are naturally better pilots than others, and some just plain have no business flying a plane, no matter how hard they may try. I would recommend that you at least take some introductory lessons to see if flying is really for you. As far as FAA medical requirements for US pilots, go here to read up on them: .
i hear that you have to have 20-20 vision
This FAA web site (sources) should answer most of your questions about getting a medical certificate. A commercial pilot would normally need a 2nd class physical certificate, while an airline pilot would need a first class physical.
QUOTE: Royal Aeronautical Society Job Profile “Civil Pilot” Leaflet
QUALIFICATIONS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
(These are the usual minimum requirements)
-Hold a minimum of 5 GCSE passes at A*-C grades, including English Language, Mathematics and a Science subject, together with at least 2 passes at A2-level, again at grades C or better and diserably including Mathematics and Physics. Equivalent qualifications are accepted and a foreign language is disirable.
-Age range: 18 – under 26 years, with unrestricted residency in the UK and no impediment to working in the UK.
-Height requirements – from 1.58 (5ft 2inches) to 1.91 m (6ft 3 inches) – with weight in proportion.
-Eyesight must be of a very high standard (correcting spectacles are permitted) and normal colour vision is essential.
-Health and fitness must be excellent. This requirement can be severe as the company is looking to employ the sponsered trainee for say, the next 30 years. A minor medical defect now may indicate more serious medical problems in later years.
-Demonstration of enthusiasm for aviation will help your application.
Here is the link the FAA website section that talks about getting your medical.
For your training you will need a Third Class, but once you get further in your training you will want to get you First Class medical
You can find all the medical requirements in part 67 of the current FAR/AIM, but in a nutshell you just need to pass a second class medical to be a commercial pilot or a first class medical for ATP. The basic requirements are 20/20 vision, either corrected or uncorrected, normal color vision, no high blood pressure, no diabetes, normal hearing, no cardiovascular problems, and generally be in good physical condition. You mentioned Air Force or a 4 year college. If you want military flight training, you need to have a 4 year college degree or they won’t even consider you. If you want to pursue civilian flight training and do not have a lot of money saved, your best option is to get your flight training as part of a degree program through a university. Flight costs can then be coupled with your education so that you can receive federal student loans to cover flight costs, which are considerable, regardless of how you get the training.
Flying is not complicated or dangerous, but it does take a lot of training. If you have not done so already, consider going to your local airport and going on an introductory flight with an instructor. That would give you a good idea of what it is like.
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