Hi guys. I have wanted to be an airline pilot since I was 2. However I feel the dream slipping away from me as I get older. I’m currently 6’7” but shouldn’t grow much more. Can I still be a pilot?? Do airlines have height restrictions (I know the Air Force does) (I’m in Australia btw) I’m sure I could do it commercial airliners cockpits could accomodate me I think. I’ve read about y’all people flying as well. Would training be the main issue? In a small plane, or would I have to train in a bigger aircraft
Thanks in advance!!
Copyright © 2024 1QUIZZ.COM - All rights reserved.
Answers & Comments
Yes, might have some head banging on some planes. Military has some height restrictions for fighters-- but C5, C130 crew and pilots aren't crowed as much. Blom/Volkow/Boss is German company that has old Meschersmidt and couple other lines, Focker and PZL new designs from some older originals have high head spacing and extra large seats available- Cynics note that comes from WW2 use by Herman Goering in his 'chubby' days. Sud Avion had DeGaulle sized pilots cockpits and seating in designs from 1960s- several business plalns designed with idea of wealthy 'fat cats' may want to fly it--and those may be really fat pilots with money so make it a bigger cockpit to sell in market. American, European market has larger/taller customers than Asian Market-- and some Japanese designs look at potential American customers size, just like the motorcycle and car builders looking at profitable export market, bigger size customer built for models can be used by shorter domestic customers with domestic seats .
Your are going be a hard fit in many planes. I see a drone driver job in your future.
We have a club member who says he's 6'6", though we suspect he is in fact taller. He flies as a short-haul captain and says he doesn't want to do long-haul as he'd get too cramped over time. He manages to wedge himself into the club 152 when he's home on leave, though it gets a bit crowded in there two-up.
There are no civilian rules about it, other than that you must be able to fit in and operate the controls properly and some airlines set limits to that end. The military have lower and upper limits both so you can reach the controls and, should you be posted as a fighter pilot, use an ejector seat safely. Too big and you break your neck.
Why not contact some airlines and ask them if they have size criteria?
Is it possible? Yes, if you don't get any taller. Is it going to be difficult? Probably
The problem is that you don't train in airliners and there are no training aircraft really suitable for someone your height, and after training you will undoubtedly have to fly smaller planes to build the job experience needed to be hired by an airline that flies large aircraft. Even then, some airliners do not afford the headroom and legroom someone your height needs, and sitting hours on end in cramped quarters is going to be physically difficult, especially the older you get. Everything out there is already going to be tight for you, and some planes you simply couldn't manage already. If you keep getting much taller, I'm afraid it isn't really going to be a viable career. A practical limit is about 6'6", so if you stop growing now you might just make it with a shoehorn. You can test this theory by going out to a couple flight schools to sit in a few different airplanes, and if they have a charter fleet, or there is an aviation expo you could visit, you might be able to try sitting in some of the larger planes as well.
Flying for the military is pretty much out of the question because they like their people to be of a standard height, but as a civilian, you can be a pilot in any aircraft that you can fit into... IF you can afford the cost of training and certification.
Well Roald Dahl coped. He was just a bit cramped in small planes. But he was flying in
wartime, when the need for pilots was great.
Good question. If there's not room for you to fly comfortably because you head's jammed
under the cockpit window they may see that as an un-necessary risk, & limit you to bigger planes. But in big planes, with more headroom you'd be fine.