How tall must you be to become a pilot?

[SPF50]

I'm just 5'0 :(:{ would this be a problem? I'm still 14 though. My parents aren't that tall either, they're just around 5'1 - 5'5. But it's my dream to become one :(

[BYR]

As far as I know it shouldn't be a problem. But I know that some airlines have height requirements :)

[gingernut]

Well the odds are that you won't be a seven footer, but it's likely that you'll be somewhere in the middle of your parents height, which won't pose a problem for most jobs.

[FLCH]

I'm 5' 5" and a good friend of mine is a good 3 inches shorter than me, but we both fit comfortably into a 757.

At 14 you still have some growing to do, you should have no problem.

Good luck with your flying career !!

[AvMed.IN]

You shall continue to grow till mid-20s, so if you are 5 ft tall now - please go ahead and follow your dream in civil aviation.

[PAPI-74]

Get into the Air Cadets and they will pay for you to go flying. I never looked back from there.

[denhamjosh18]

Just backing up PAPI-74's point, Im at 2370(Denham) (the best one !!!:ok:) and I have had free flying and gliding, with about 2 hours in a Tutor and 5 in a Vigiliant, and shortly be doing a scholarship to go solo in two weeks time.

Trust me if you want to go in to aviation, then joining the ATC is the best thing you'll do.

Advert over :ok::ok::cool:
PS: im 5' 3" and it "ain't" stopped me :}

[PAPI-74]

1166 ATC Sqn. Website - Gallery (http://www.wgc1166sqn.co.uk/gallery.php)
YouTube - ‪ATC - air cadets recruiting video‬‏

1166 All the way !!! :ok:

[Jerry Lee]

I'm 157cm (5'2'') and it shouldn't be a problem, but we may need a pillow or cushion to fly on small planes. On Cessna152 I would probably need it, so I'll try to fly directly the PA28 or Cessna 172.

[SPF50]

Have you ever seen small pilots working at any major passenger airlines?

I've wanted to become a pilot ever since I was a little girl but I think I'm too short :sad: I'm just 5'0 :O I'm know I'm still 14 but my parents are short:* and I doubt I'll still grow

I've heard you could get hired at regional airlines but I'm not sure, is that true? If I ever get a job at any regional airline, I don't wanna be working for them forever. Is there any chance I could get into any major airline? I know some of them have height requirements but not all of them right? And do they allow booster cushions cuz I haven't seen any pilot sitting on one

:sad::{

[Jerry Lee]

Don't worry, I'm 19 and 5'2'' tall. You're just 14, so I think you will grow up to 5'4'' or 5'5''. Who knows! I can say for sure you haven't finished to grow yet.

On bigger planes you shouldn't have any problems as they've got adjustable seats and adjustable pedals. On small planes like Cessnas e Pipers you may need a cushion or pillow.

[SPF50]

Thanks to everyone who answered :ok:

[denhamjosh18]

PAPi-74, doesn't know what s/he is on about

its all about 2370 :ok::ok::ok::ok::ok:

[SPF50]

But what if I don't reach 5'3?! :sad:

maybe i'll just take some growth supplements then :p

[teresa green]

We used to have a Qantas Captain who was mad on golf, took his clubs with him everywhere, trouble was the clubs were bigger than him! Go for it!:D

[SPF50]

OMG I JUST FOUND OUT THAT IM 5'2 IN THE MORNING! :} MY ACTUAL HEIGHT IS 5'1 NOW! YAAAAAAAAAAAY! JUST 3 CM MORE! I'M GONNA MAKE THIS WORK :E

*happy dance*

[HowlingMad Murdock]

Yaaahooo! Hi ya'll the 1408 Sqd is ace! Happy flyin' to all-whatever height ya'll are.:)

[Genghis the Engineer]

Have you ever seen small pilots working at any major passenger airlines?

I've wanted to become a pilot ever since I was a little girl but I think I'm too short :sad: I'm just 5'0 :O I'm know I'm still 14 but my parents are short:* and I doubt I'll still grow

I've heard you could get hired at regional airlines but I'm not sure, is that true? If I ever get a job at any regional airline, I don't wanna be working for them forever. Is there any chance I could get into any major airline? I know some of them have height requirements but not all of them right? And do they allow booster cushions cuz I haven't seen any pilot sitting on one

:sad::{

The lady who posts occasionally on here as Whirlybird, worked for quite a few years (she may still do, we don't talk as much as we did but I *think* she just does aviation journalism now) as a helicopter instructor. Whirly is 4ft 11in. She is something of an expert on the subject of booster cushions, but it has never stopped her flying.

Eric Brown, arguably the most accomplished test pilot Britain - and possibly the world - has ever produced was 5ft 7" at the height of his, err, height.

I've been flying all sorts of stuff for 22 years now, and am 5ft 6"; I occasionally use a booster - particularly in older aeroplanes that have no adjustment in the seat (some 1940s and 1950s military training aeroplanes I particularly need this since they seem to have been designed for training 6ft+ Scots Guards, whilst still wearing their buzbys).


Cushions are fine; the only thing you want is to ideally use cushions made from specialist foams designed for the purpose (something called dynafoam with a cover made in something that's flame retardant. Easily run up on a sewing machine from denim if you don't mind doing a bit of sewing (NOT intended as a sexist comment, I'm a 41 year old male and don't mind doing my own sewing.)

Quick physics lesson - conformal foams such as dynafoam only change very slowly in response to changes in load so ar effectively rigid to sudden loads. This means that if you "enjoy" a hard landing you are locked to the aeroplane and see the same loads as the rest of the aeroplane. With a soft springy foam (the sort of thing you'd use in sofa cushions) you'll still be descending downwards as the aeroplane structure is heading upwards in response to the hard landing. The effect of this can be up to an 80% increase in the loads to your spine, and substantially increased potential for a career ending spinal injury.

G

[Pull what]

We had a couple of guys in our airline that were only 5 feet tall, so no problem.

[piton]

I'm also a girl (well, a women now I guess :)) only 5'3" and a B737 captain... I also don't think I'm the shortest at my airline.

[denhamjosh18]

Jake. Ummmm.... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO :ugh:


everybody knows its about 2370:p:ok::ok::ok:

[metradon]

Do you know anyone being just 5ft. tall and flying commercial planes for a living and which airlines, regional or major airline? I really want to be a commercial pilot. I'm so obsessed with planes all my life, but I'm just 5 ft. tall. this is my height at night. I've tried so many growth enhancer, nothing worked. Still I thank GOD giving this much to run after my dreams. thank you.:ugh:

[dlx_xlb]

Some airlines may have a height requirement.. But some airlines such as Qantas don't..

I'm about 5'6 not the tallest pilot out there..

As long as you can reach all the controls and operate them to their full extent and also be able to sit at the correct eye height at the same time.. it shouldn't be a problem..

As people have said before when flying GA planes with limited height adjustment you may need a cushion..

Some planes, you can adjust the seat... Forward/Aft... Height and also the location of the pedals..

[Whirlybird]

The lady who posts occasionally on here as Whirlybird, worked for quite a few years (she may still do, we don't talk as much as we did but I *think* she just does aviation journalism now) as a helicopter instructor. Whirly is 4ft 11in. She is something of an expert on the subject of booster cushions, but it has never stopped her flying.

Hello, Genghis, my old friend, good to see you here. You're right that I'm working almost exclusively now as an aviation writer (I prefer that term to aviation journalist, if you don't mind, and books and websites don't count as journalism), but how did you get the idea I'm only 4ft 11ins? I'm speaking from way up in the stratosphere at a lofty 5ft 2ins.

However, as you pointed out, I do have a large collection of booster cushions. As a helicopter instructor, my best one was specially made for the R22, and the factory wouldn't have made them if it was uneconomic, ie a lot of pilots must need them. Ditto for dynofoam cushions, one of which I still have, I think. An American company also makes a nice collection of cushions with and without backs too, and in different thicknessess.

The point I'm making is, a lot of us are of normal height, ie not overgrown giants. I've never worked for the airlines, but I've never heard of them having a height requirment; why would they? Oh, and I knew a North Sea helicopter pilot who really was 4ft 11ins - she lent me an immersion suit made for her when I went up there, and it was too short!

So SPF50, please stop worrying.

[Genghis the Engineer]

Probably just a tendency to think that anybody actually shorter than me must be very short indeed. Sorry about that Whirly.

Interesting distinction, writer versus journalist. I recall one person I met during the volcanic extravaganza who was very adamant that she was a "journalist" not like all the others around her who were (she said rather dismissively) only reporters. Yes, I agree that what you do nowadays is mostly writing - and jolly good writing it is too. Some of it in regular journals :E (Isn't the English language great.)

G

[enicalyth]

".... flew back so low he had to stand up to see over the wave tops".