Height has no bearing on a Medical from the regulator, considering you can still be growing when you start your training. Some jurisdictions do focus on height to weight more than others, but that’s really only where height comes in to play.
However, many airlines do list a minimum (or even maximum) height, and you definitely need to know this before going down the path - you’d hate to put out all the money to find out your desired career path was a no go from the start. It should not limit your career per se, but it may limit some options throughout your career (company wise).
The thinking is that pilots below a certain height will be unable to reach critical switches in the cockpit, while above a certain height they will simply not fit in the seat - although maximum height is more a concern for smaller aircraft (Learjets, etc.) than transport category aircraft.
I know lots of pilots who are in the 5’ to 5’5” range and are happily employed with airlines. Some have applied to the likes of Cathay and got the “too short” notice, while others never cared for that type of flying. I know one or two shorter pilots that do have to sit on a pillow with the seat as far up and as close to the controls as they’ll go, and it certainly looks like a struggle, but nothing I’ve ever been concerned with; but then, I don’t make those choices at my airline.
Last edited by +TSRA; 5th January 2018 at 03:57.