Is LASIK allowed for pilots?

Commercial carriers each have different regulations about LASIK for their pilots. American, Continental, and FedEx permit LASIK, embracing the same 6-week healing and stabilization requirement as the FAA. United Airlines allows LASIK, but requires a 12-week healing period after care.



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Both the Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.) and the United States military allow pilots to wear glasses to correct imperfect vision. That being said, every pilot must have at least 20/20 vision in each eye with or without corrective lenses in place.

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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.

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Once flight training begins, vision can deteriorate to no worse than 20/100 (correctable to 20/20) in each eye before disqualification. After flight training graduation, if the eyesight deteriorates to worse than 20/200 (also correctable to 20/20), the pilot will require a waiver for carrier operations.

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In the U.S., there are no FAA age limits for pilots except for commercial airline pilots employed by airlines certificated under 14 CFR Part 121. These airlines cannot employ pilots after they reach the age of 65. However, these pilots may stay on with a Part 121 carrier in some other role, such as flight engineer.

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There are no specific height restrictions for pilots under FAA rules. Flight schools and commercial airlines accept pilots for training as long as they are physically able to reach the controls and obtain a full rudder deflection in the aircraft they will operate.

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Due to the risks to flight safety posed by ADHD, regulatory authorities worldwide consider ADHD a disqualifying condition for pilots. Unfortunately, pilots sometimes fail to disclose ADHD to their Aviation Medical Examiner (AME).

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