What Disqualifies You From Becoming a Pilot?
Flying an aircraft is a serious responsibility. One mistake can easily turn into a disaster with tragic consequences for everyone involved. Due to this, there are a number of reasons that an individual can be disqualified from ever becoming a pilot. These include medical conditions or physical impairments, trouble with the law, and violation of FAA regulations.
Vision Impairments
Depending on the type of flying, whether commercial or recreational, pilots will need an aviation medical certificate. For a third class medical certificate, which is needed to obtain a private pilot license, individuals must have a distant vision of 20/40, with or without correction. For first and second class medical certificates, which are required for commercial flying, an individual must have distant vision of 20/20 and 20/40 vision at 32 inches, with or without correction. Take note that vision correction is allowed, meaning that one can still be a pilot if they need glasses. Failure to meet vision requirements makes an individual ineligible to be a pilot.
Hearing Issues
While vision may seem like the most important sense when it comes to flying, the ability to hear is equally as important. Pilots must be able to hear communications from air traffic control, as well as any sounds that could be a sign of damage to the aircraft. For this reason, the FAA requires that pilots have the ability to hear an average conversational voice at a distance of 6 feet without the use of a hearing aid.
Hearing ability is measured using audiometric testing. If a hearing aid is required, then a waiver may be granted if an individual is able to operate a plane while using the hearing aid. If an individual cannot meet hearing requirements, they will be unable to become a pilot.
Cardiovascular Conditions
Cardiovascular health is another consideration when deciding if one is fit to be a pilot. A heart attack while in control of a plane can result in disastrous consequences not only for oneself, but also for any passengers and even people on the ground below. Heart conditions that will disqualify individuals from being a pilot include heart disease, cardiac arrhythmias, and heart valve disorders.
Please note that this is not a complete list. Any disorder of the heart, even a seemingly small one, can prohibit an individual from being a pilot if there is any chance that it could cause a medical emergency while flying.
Neurological Disorders
Neurological disorders can cause issues with cognitive abilities, motor function, and consciousness, and for this reason the FAA takes them very seriously. Any history of epilepsy is an automatic disqualification from being a pilot. Even if an individual has their seizures under control, the FAA views it as too great a risk to allow them to be in control of an aircraft.
Additionally, if an individual exhibits a history of migraines, especially ones accompanied by an aura, they are likely deemed unfit to be a pilot. Besides epilepsy and migraines, any condition which causes neurological symptoms can cause disqualification.
Mental Health Conditions
Any mental health condition which affects judgment, behavioral control, emotional control, or mental capacity is a pilot disqualifier. Most mental health conditions will not result in an automatic disqualification, but will require a decision by an FAA medical examiner.
The medical examiner will investigate an individual’s medical condition through interviews and reviewing records. They will then decide whether or not an individual should be barred from becoming a pilot.
Criminal Record
Having a felony on record is not a disqualifier for becoming a pilot. However, if one is convicted of an alcohol or drug related offense, they cannot apply for a pilot certificate for one year after their conviction. If charged with an alcohol or drug related offense while already possessing a pilot’s license, it may be suspended for up to one year. It should be noted that if an individual wants to fly commercially, many employers of pilots will have their own guidelines regarding criminal offenses, and criminal history may lead to hiring challenges.
Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Actively abusing drugs or alcohol is an automatic disqualification from becoming a pilot. Drug examiners determine this based on drug and alcohol abuse history. They will do an investigation to determine whether an individual is likely to abuse again, which could pose a risk to being a pilot.
Lack of Training Hours
When working towards a pilot license using a specific training program, such as the F.A.R. Part 141 course or the F.A.R Part 61 course, prospective pilots are required to complete a specific number of training hours. The amount of hours varies depending on the certificate. Regardless of the certificate, failure to complete the required training hours will result in delays to becoming a pilot until the required hours are met.
Failed Exam
As mentioned earlier, prospective pilots will need to pass a medical exam and be granted a medical certificate. Medical certificates come in different levels, and the required level is dependent on the type of license an individual is hoping to acquire. A private pilot license requires a third class medical certificate, while a commercial pilot license requires a second class medical certificate. An FAA medical examiner will conduct the exam and determine if one meets the requirements for the specific needed certificate. Failing this exam will result in automatic disqualification from becoming a pilot.
Non-Compliance with FAA Regulations
Pilots must adhere to hundreds of FAA regulations. Failure to comply with these regulations will result in disciplinary action. First time offenders may receive a fine or a suspension of their pilot license. However, repeated non-compliance or flagrant disregard of regulations will result in disqualification from being a pilot, and even being prohibited from flying an aircraft ever again. Regulations are put in place for the safety of everyone, and the utmost care should be taken to ensure that pilots are always complying with them.
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