In general, it is difficult to give a black-and-white answer. Disabilities are on the spectrum of severity and can affect the individual in different ways. There are of course some disabilities which are incompatible with being a pilot. It could, for example, be certain forms of colour blindness or loss of hearing or sight which is below the limit values. Sometimes it is not the disability itself that prevents you from becoming a pilot, but perhaps the medication you take to manage your disability that prevents you from becoming a pilot.
The gray areas
If you have a disability that is in the “grey zone” area – it could e.g. be, if you have an autism disorder (are on the spectrum), are dyslexic, have dyspraxia, have a form of anxiety, stutter etc, then the question is how it affects you. As a starting point, you must imagine that there are certain functions that you must be able to perform as a pilot.
Ask yourself these questions about becoming a pilot
- Can you perform as well as someone who does not have a disability? (Often the benchmark is that you have to be able to perform to the same level and standard as someone without a disability.)
- Do you have the motor skills to e.g. cycling or driving a car? (If you can’t, then you probably can’t fly as a pilot either.)
- How do you handle a noisy, rapidly changing environment? (Aviation is generally a noisy, rapidly changing and time-consuming environment.)
- How do you deal with change? (In aviation plans and situations change fast and you need to be able to adapt and think on your feet.)
- There are many tests you have to pass as a pilot, can you generally pass exams?
- Do you need special support in everyday life? (If yes, it might be more difficult for you to become a pilot.)
- Can you change your circadian rhythm without it affecting you? (If lack of sleep affect your disability, remember that many pilots work variable hours.)
- How do you feel about working with many different personalities? (In the aviation industry, you will meet many different personalities every day with whom you must be able to work.)
- Can you work in a team? (Collaboration and teamwork are essential to every pilot.)
- How will you react to an unprepared situation, e.g. an emergency? (By far the largest part of the pilot’s work is routine work, but the pilot must be able to handle an unprepared situation by using procedures, good communication and decision-making ability. Does your disability make you have challenges with it?)
Research
We understand if you want to do some research to get clarification. Here is some help; The first question you need to ask yourself is whether you want to be a private pilot or a commercial pilot as the health requirements are different. The next question to ask yourself is where in the world you would like to be a pilot. Is it in Europe, the US, Asia or the Middle East? If you want to be a commercial pilot in Europe, the answer is that you need to search for “Initial EASA Class 1 Medical”. The list of things you have to go through to get the medical clearance is long, and the one who can decide to issue a Class 1 Medical is called an AME (Aviation Medical Examiner). A good place to start is to search for information is the individual country’s traffic authority. Usually on their websites, you can find requirements for the Class 1 Medical.
Do you need help?
If you have dreams of becoming a pilot, we recommend that you do a “reality check” about whether your expectations of the industry are realistic. You will find a lot of free information on this site, as well as our YouTube channel “Ask A Pilot”. Our booklet “How Do I Become A Pilot” is also full of good tips and covers many areas – so why not download it? We offer a 15-minute free chat if you want to talk about your plans. You can then more easily decide whether the personal advice we can offer you (for a fee) is something for you.
Happy landings
Ask A Pilot
