KELPkid From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 5932 posts, RR: 4 Reply 2, posted (4 years 11 months 2 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 30996 times:
Quoting Longitude (Thread starter): Just read somewhere that there are some height limitations for pilots. Is it true?
The US FAA has no such restrictions, but much smaller than average people may have to use adaptive controls to demonstrate pilotage of the aircraft to FAA standards On the flip side of the coin, I'm also sure really tall pilots ( >2.3 M? ) will be quite uncomfortable in small airplane cockpits.
Of course, the airlines are free to impose their own requirements on top of the law...
Celebrating the birth of KELPkidJR on August 5, 2009 :-)
CosmicCruiser From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 2212 posts, RR: 16 Reply 3, posted (4 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 30969 times:
Quoting KELPkid (Reply 2): Of course, the airlines are free to impose their own requirements on top of the law...
If I remember correctly waaaay back in the 70s a female pilot applicant filed a discrimination lawsuit against Ozark because they said she had to be tall enough to go full travel on the rudder pedals and she couldn't.
Moose135 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 2009 posts, RR: 12 Reply 4, posted (4 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 30967 times:
Quoting KELPkid (Reply 2): but much smaller than average people may have to use adaptive controls to demonstrate pilotage of the aircraft
Blocks on the rudder pedals?
I remember the USAF had minimum and maximum height requirements. In addition to short pilots having a problem reaching controls, if you are too tall, you could have a problem fitting under the canopy of a T-37 or T-38.
Swiftski From Australia, joined Dec 2006, 2701 posts, RR: 2 Reply 5, posted (4 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 30956 times:
Quoting CosmicCruiser (Reply 3): If I remember correctly waaaay back in the 70s a female pilot applicant filed a discrimination lawsuit against Ozark because they said she had to be tall enough to go full travel on the rudder pedals and she couldn't.
You make a valid point; Medicals will decide this too. I don't know the requirements for each type; mine is CASA but then I'm 1m81 so its not such an issue.
Andz From South Africa, joined Feb 2004, 8298 posts, RR: 11 Reply 7, posted (4 years 11 months 1 week 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 30894 times:
Quoting KELPkid (Reply 2): Of course, the airlines are free to impose their own requirements on top of the law...
But if you make that same statement about flight attendants then you will get a slew of replies about how it doesn't matter how tall/short/fat they are.
After Monday and Tuesday even the calendar says WTF...
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29350 posts, RR: 62 Reply 8, posted (4 years 11 months 1 week 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 30888 times:
Quoting KELPkid (Reply 2): The US FAA has no such restrictions,
FAA doesn't but the USAF.
Mainly because of the limitations of ejection seat design.
But when you figure that after WWII most medical regs where based on military rules, it wouldn't surprise me to see a couple of countries might still hang onto this atiquated rule
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
Ozzy738 From Australia, joined Jun 2008, 12 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (4 years 11 months 1 week 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 30717 times:
I remember I was worried when I was finishing school - back then BA had a height limitation of 6ft3in? As I recall - that's why I decided I was going to apply to Ansett Australia - then finished school in the same week they first ceased ops
At least they let you play with all the fun toys on the ramp when you are 6ft 4
SLUAviator From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 357 posts, RR: 4 Reply 10, posted (4 years 11 months 1 week 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 30661 times:
I am 6'3" and it is a little tight for me to make it into my seat in the RJ or the 1900 I used to fly. I have flown both with guys taller than me, and it was fun to watch them get into their seats, especially in the Beech! Strangely enough, getting out is easier!
BooDog From United States of America, joined Nov 2007, 253 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (4 years 11 months 1 week 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 30534 times:
PhilSquares From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (4 years 11 months 1 week 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 30458 times:
Quoting Blackbird (Reply 13): Okay, what's the USAF Height limitations for
-A T-38 Instructor Pilot
-An F-15 Eagle
-An FB-111 (Back when it flew)
-A C-141 Starlifter
-A C-5A Galaxy
Andrea Kent
Check AFI 48-123 -A.430. Basically for a pilot it's 64-77 inches. Waivers are available but it depends on the aircraft. The catch 22 here is there are no waivers available for UPT. So if you meet the height requirement for UPT upon graduation you don't need a waiver.
Moose135 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 2009 posts, RR: 12 Reply 15, posted (4 years 11 months 1 week 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 30452 times:
* Normal color vision
* Distant vision – pilots, uncorrected to 20/50
* Near vision – pilots, uncorrected to 20/20
* Meet refraction, accommodation and astigmatism requirements
* Corrective eye surgery could be a disqualifier
* Have no history of hay fever, asthma or allergies after age 12
* Meet Air Force weight and physical conditioning requirements
* Have standing height of 64 to 77 inches and sitting height of 34 to 40 inches
There are no individual requirements listed for particular aircraft.
2H4 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8950 posts, RR: 62 Reply 16, posted (4 years 11 months 1 week 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 30445 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW HEAD DATABASE EDITOR
Quoting Moose135 (Reply 15): There are no individual requirements listed for particular aircraft.
There seem to be some interesting physical limitations out there, though. The U-28A reportedly has a very strict pilot weight limit. I've seen a job listing for a U-28A pilot position stating a maximum allowable weight of 190lbs.
PhilSquares From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 17, posted (4 years 11 months 1 week 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 30437 times:
Quoting 2H4 (Reply 16): There seem to be some interesting physical limitations out there, though. The U-28A reportedly has a very strict pilot weight limit of 198 lbs
Al ejection seat equipped aircraft have similar minimum and maximum weights. 103-240 including all equipment. The T-38 is limited to 230.
2H4 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8950 posts, RR: 62 Reply 18, posted (4 years 11 months 1 week 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 30433 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW HEAD DATABASE EDITOR
Quoting PhilSquares (Reply 17): Al ejection seat equipped aircraft have similar minimum and maximum weights. 103-240 including all equipment. The T-38 is limited to 230.
Sure, but the U-28A doesn't have ejection seats. Apparently, payload is a very precious commodity in that particular aircraft.
Metroliner From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2007, 1058 posts, RR: 1 Reply 19, posted (4 years 11 months 1 week 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 30417 times:
BuckFifty From Canada, joined Oct 2001, 1314 posts, RR: 21 Reply 20, posted (4 years 11 months 1 week 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 30408 times:
Even if you're above or below the limit in civil ops, many airlines will give you a chance in the simulator or a mock-up to see if you can hit the switches, or be in reach of the controls with a proper seating position. Remember, most of these restrictions are set by the company, and they can give exemptions based on the pilot in question.
I remember reading something about the pilot seats in the one of the Boeing or Airbus MM's once. IIRC, they stated that the seats were designed to accommodate something like the 95th percentile of heights. I think this makes the range something like 5'6"- 6'6" or 5'4"- 6'8".
Regards, JetMech
JetMech split the back of his pants. He can feel the wind in his hair.
BooDog From United States of America, joined Nov 2007, 253 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (4 years 11 months 1 week 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 30356 times:
Quoting Moose135 (Reply 15): Have standing height of 64 to 77 inches and sitting height of 34 to 40 inches
ok... I very much believe this for C-5's, bombers, etc. Plenty of tall pilots out there that fly these planes. But I don't see many fighter pilots over six feet tall. How a 6'5" pilot can safely fly some of the fighters/trainers beats me. Depending on the aircraft, their knees could limit movement of the stick, block switches, etc.
BAe146QT From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2006, 996 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (4 years 11 months 1 week 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 30349 times:
Here's a question that's vaguely related to the thread since it's about physiology - is there an upper limit to the vital statistics of a commercial pilot?
Is it safe to assume that they might be grounded for becoming overweight to such an extent that it affects their mobility? (I'm guessing they can if they fail a medical...)
On a slight tangent, I knew a girl who was not only barely 5'6", but was also generously endowed and could barely reach the odometer reset button in her car. Last time I saw her, she was going to start commercial training... Sadly she was a friend of an ex, so I never saw her again and don't know how she got on.
KELPkid From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 5932 posts, RR: 4 Reply 24, posted (4 years 11 months 1 week 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 30339 times:
Quoting BooDog (Reply 22): ok... I very much believe this for C-5's, bombers, etc. Plenty of tall pilots out there that fly these planes. But I don't see many fighter pilots over six feet tall. How a 6'5" pilot can safely fly some of the fighters/trainers beats me. Depending on the aircraft, their knees could limit movement of the stick, block switches, etc.
There was a famous NFL player (linebacker?) who was also an A-10 Warthog pilot in the Air National Guard. His name escapes me at the moment, but I believe he was also rather tall, like 6'7"...
Aaah, Chad Hennings of the Cowboys, behold the power of Google He was a defensive lineman, which meant he is a big dude...
[Edited 2008-06-20 10:40:56]
Celebrating the birth of KELPkidJR on August 5, 2009 :-)
25 Swiftski: If you fail the medical, you can't fly, even if the airline love you to bits.
26 BAe146QT: That's what I mean, Swiftski. I have no doubt that you would be grounded if you failed your medical, but what if you passed your medical despite (for
27 Swiftski: If you passed and then became overweight and unfit to fly before your next renewal (in the case of CASA, Annually for Class 1) then I don't know what
28 Blackbird: PhilSquares Okay so what's the height requirement for UPT? 64 to 77 inches?
29 Stratosphere: I really don't think there are any requirements for airlines..I know of a female who was a chief pilot for NWA and is a 747-400 captain and is 5 foot
30 PhilSquares: Yes, that is the height restriction for entry into UPT, for the Air Force.
31 Blackbird: Out of curiousity, how long have those height requirements been as such. Since the USAF came to be (1947), or the last 20-40 years? Andrea Kent
32 Longitude: Guys, thanks for information. However we didn't enlighten much about short people. I've decided to make this topic live again, as for me this is quite
33 Longitude: Sorry, just found out that 5' ft 2 in doesn't equal 156 sm. So, my true height is 156 sm.
34 CanadianNorth: I've seen quite a variety of sizes in our cockpits, so I'm sure the limitations for airliners are pretty reasonable. I'm not a pilot myself, but as ma
35 Rwessel: Out of curiosity, isn't the Russian version of “centi,” “санти”? Why “sm” instead of “cm”?
36 Longitude: Yes, you're definitely right. Just "cm" looked for me as "km" )
37 Longitude: Why then do they all have different requirements for same fleets? Some of the pilot guys I know say that even with 100 cm (Rwessel ) one can fly 777
38 Longitude: Somebody told me the Airbus seats had been designed to accomodate somewhat 90% of people in terms of height. Since then I am trying to find the height
39 Jetstar: I am 6’ 3” and getting in and out of the seats in the Lockheed JetStar required a little contortion act, especially to avoid hitting the pressuriz
40 Longitude: Jetstar, I didn't get the sense of this your sentence Are you saying you don't believe she could get a type rating with the problem she had with rever
41 Longitude: By the way, which type of aircraft did she fly? I used to fly Jetstar, but that was before my aviation life, so I don't know the type ...Was it A320?
42 Jetstar: It was not the airline Jetstar, but the 4 engine Lockheed JetStar corporate jet. I am not even suggesting she did anything improper to get her JetSta
43 Longitude: Ahh, ok, got it! Thanks for a detailed explanation on how the thrust reverser levers are operated on the JetStar, interesting to know. Yes, modern ai
44 Jetstar: This may apply to airlines and the military, but not to corporations who own their own aircraft, its up to them who they hire. Also I do not know of
45 Longitude: As far as I know there is no such a common regilation for airlines in the US or Europe, for example. It is their business whom they take. But they hav
46 Viscount724: LX says they want pilot applicants to be from 160 cm to 198 cm (5 ft. 3 in. to 6 ft. 6 in.).
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On the flip side of the coin, I'm also sure really tall pilots ( >2.3 M? ) will be quite uncomfortable in small airplane cockpits.
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