What medically disqualifies you from being a pilot?

Medical Problems
Unfortunately, some medical or health issues may cause you to fail the extensive medical examinations required to become a pilot. This includes certain heart diseases, conditions such as epilepsy, poor hearing, bad vision, and even common allergies, as certain allergy medications can make you drowsy.



People Also Ask

What medical conditions does the FAA consider disqualifying?
  • Angina pectoris.
  • Bipolar disease.
  • Cardiac valve replacement.
  • Coronary heart disease that has been treated or, if untreated, that has been symptomatic or clinically significant.
  • Diabetes mellitus requiring hypoglycemic medications.


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A criminal record check is a crucial component of the pre-employment background check. Airlines need to ensure that their pilots have a clean criminal record and do not pose a threat to passengers. Pilots with past criminal convictions, especially for violent crimes or drug offenses, may not be eligible for employment.

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Due to the risks to flight safety posed by ADHD, regulatory authorities worldwide consider ADHD a disqualifying condition for pilots.

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In most cases, pilots are required to have vision correctable to 20/20 or better in each eye with or without glasses or contact lenses. As long as your vision can be corrected to meet these standards, you are eligible to become a commercial pilot. Myth 3: It takes a long time to become a pilot.

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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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How far back does an FAA background check go? Since 2002, airline pilots and anyone who works airside (those who enter places known as SIDAs or security identification display areas) at an airport must submit their fingerprints for an FBI 10-year criminal history check.

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Criminal Background Check Required
  • Aircraft piracy.
  • Aircraft piracy outside the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.
  • Armed robbery.
  • Assault with intent to murder.
  • Carrying a weapon or explosive aboard an aircraft.
  • Commission of certain crimes aboard aircraft in flight.
  • Conveying false information and threats.


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The FAA has a lengthy list of “disqualifying crimes.” Such convictions include murder, espionage, kidnapping, armed robbery, destruction of aircraft, and carrying a weapon or bomb aboard an aircraft.

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Some cardiovascular conditions may disqualify a person from becoming a pilot. Coronary Heart Disease: Pilots with a history of myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass surgery, or angioplasty may be disqualified. Cardiac Arrhythmias: Irregular heart rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation, may disqualify a pilot.

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If you ever need to submit medical records to the FAA, they will review everything you give them. Many pilots have waited months or years for their medical certificates because each new record they provide to justify their medical certificate eligibility reveals another ailment they did not disclose before.

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Commercial pilots will be allowed tattoos in some airlines as long as they are covered. This means if a pilot has a sleeve-type tattoo on their arm, they must wear a long sleeve shirt to cover it. Most major airlines do not allow tattoos that cannot be covered.

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Airlines in the western world, such as United Airlines, Lufthansa, or even Air New Zealand have started to revise their uniform policy to be more inclusive and diverse, allowing hairstyles that reflect cultural and personal identity. As a result, long hair is not universally prohibited for pilots today.

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Pilot Career Cons
  • You need a deep bank account. While you will earn a lot of money as an airline pilot later down the years, the first few years might cost you up to $100 000. ...
  • A steep learning curve. ...
  • Missing out on holidays. ...
  • A lot of stress. ...
  • Losing your career in an instant because of medical reasons.


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The biggest advantage of becoming a pilot and working in the Aviation profession is that you have a very low chance of facing an accident. Some statistics show that student pilots are less likely to have accidents.

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The FAA encourages pilots to seek help if they have a mental health condition since most, if treated, do not disqualify a pilot from flying.

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Pilots and air traffic controllers should not use Viagra within 8 hours of performing their (aviation) duties. Levitra, approved by the FDA in August 2003, has a similar profile to Viagra. The FAA initially allowed the use of Levitra in pilots/controllers.

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