Can pilots have health issues?

Pilot medical issues were the cause of 9 percent of fatal aviation accidents during a 10-year period from 2012 to 2022, data compiled by the National Transportation Safety Board shows. A fatal crash in Europe in March 2015 raised new alarms about the risks of pilots with undisclosed mental health conditions.



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Maintaining good physical and mental health is key. Pilots have demanding jobs that require good physical and mental health to perform. Tens of thousands of people rely on pilots each day for safe transportation.

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An airline pilot can be an extremely stressful job due to the workload, responsibilities and safety of the thousands of passengers they transport around the world. Chronic levels of stress can negatively impact one's health, job performance and cognitive functioning.

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Is Being a Pilot Safe? According to the National Safety Council, the risk of being injured in an aircraft accident is too small to calculate. While pilots fly more than most, the odds may be slightly increased. However, this is still minuscule.

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Yes, being a pilot is worth it for many students. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5% job growth for airline and commercial pilots over the next ten years. This is faster than the average growth for all occupations.

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If pilot's clearly do not meet FAA medical standards, particularly if they have conditions that are specifically grounding in Part 67 of the FARs or the Guide to Aviation Medical Examiners, the aviation medical examiner may issue a denial letter to the pilot revoking the pilot's current medical privileges.

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Yes, airplane pilots can wear glasses. (And many do.) If you wear eyeglasses or contact lenses, you can still become a commercial, private, or military pilot. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the military have certain minimum standards for prospective pilots.

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One of the major benefits of being a pilot is you can expect a hugely rewarding career; from taking your first solo flight, completing your first landing, flying to a new destination to overcoming challenges, every day is rewarding as a pilot in the cockpit.

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Most likely not, as the pilot was always meant to be actively involved in flying operations.

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Pilot Life – No Two Days Are The Same
It's an active job, and you'll get to meet and fly with various people. Depending on your airline's size and route network, you may fly to a different destination every day for months before you repeat the same flight.

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The FAA official numbers, which compares the number of student pilot certificates issued against the number of private pilot certificates issued, puts the number of successful students at 44%.

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“With anxiety and depression on the rise, the FAA needs to do more to remove the stigma surrounding mental illness in the aviation industry so pilots are more likely to report, seek treatment, and take time off work, if needed,” says Yalda Safai, MD, MPH, a psychiatrist in New York City.

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During the last several years, the FAA has invested resources to eliminate the stigma around mental health in the aviation community so pilots seek treatment. This includes: Increased mental health training for medical examiners.

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Yes, being a pilot is worth it for many students. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5% job growth for airline and commercial pilots over the next ten years.

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