Can i be a pilot with glasses

[Wannabepilot01]

Hi there, Could someone please tell me if i can become a pilot even though i have glasses? I would like to become a pilot in the RAF but was not sure due to this problem.

[frodo_monkey]

See here:

https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/405176-officer-aircrew-candidates-please-read-thread-first.html

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but highly likely you can’t.

[cynicalint]

As long as they are full, you may be accepted, but if they are correcting your vision, you will be sorely disappointed.

[SASless]

Perhaps if they contained Pink Gin....you might be a cinch for the Navy.

[Herod]

Check the CAA aeromedical branch. If not the RAF, commercial flying may still be a possibility. Expensive though. Good luck either way.

[NutLoose]

Commercial wise, some companies do sponsorship.

https://www.pilotcareernews.com/flying-scholarships/

http://yesflyers.org.uk/scholarships/

[downsizer]

Current advice is spekkys can apply for pilot and attempt CBAT.

I suspect your score would need to be through the roof to be picked ahead of an applicant with uncorrected vision. Or it could be a cynical ploy to get people who would normally walk away through the door and talk them into another branch.

[Tankertrashnav]

I remember when I had my one and only flight in a Lightning (T4). After he had done his pre takeoff checks at the holding point the pilot reached into his flying suit pocket, extracted a pair of aircrew specs and put them on. My illusions about "steely-eyed fighter pilots" were shattered! In all seriousness he had obviously started off training with uncorrected vision and the specs came along later. Don't know how it goes for WSOP these days, but from the outset as a nav I had prescription specs, which I have to admit I rarely wore as they were for distance work and I didn't need any help seeing the H2S screen a few feet in front of my nose.

[melmothtw]

In a nutshell, yes and no.

Yes, there are military pilots who wear glasses. Unfortunately, for you these are pilots who started out with perfect eyesight which then deteriorated marginally some years after they were already on the job.

No, the RAF or any other organisation is not going to select someone for pilot training who already wears glasses when they can choose from thousands who don’t – why would they?

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news (I discovered all of this first hand myself many years ago).

All the best, and good luck.

[KenV]

Hi there, Could someone please tell me if i can become a pilot even though i have glasses? I would like to become a pilot in the RAF but was not sure due to this problem.USAF, USN, and USMC accept folks into their pilot program whose eyes have been corrected by lazer surgery. Don't know if RAF does or not and if not why not.

[melmothtw]

USAF, USN, and USMC accept folks into their pilot program whose eyes have been corrected by l@ser surgery. Don't know if RAF does or not and if not why not.

Interesting. Things may have changed, but certainly when I was going through the process laser surgery was a definite 'No No!' - it was stated on the qualification criteria that no applicants would be accepted with corrective laser surgery.

Of course, that was a while ago and no doubt procedures and success rates have improved so maybe not the issue it once was.

[ShyTorque]

The CAA now insist that I wear reading glasses! I never did whilst in the RAF though...

[Bob Viking]

https://www.raf.mod.uk/recruitment/media/1652/medical-conditions-that-preclude-entry.pdf

Hopefully that tells you all you need to know.

It took me five seconds to google ‘RAF laser eye surgery’!

I’m the first to offer encouragement to prospective applicants but please try a little harder!

BV

[melmothtw]

https://www.raf.mod.uk/recruitment/m...lude-entry.pdf (https://www.raf.mod.uk/recruitment/media/1652/medical-conditions-that-preclude-entry.pdf)

Hopefully that tells you all you need to know.

It took me five seconds to google ‘RAF l@ser eye surgery’!

I’m the first to offer encouragement to prospective applicants but please try a little harder!

BV

To be fair, the OP asked about aircrew wearing glasses. Helpful though your link is, it doesn't actually answer his question.

[SASless]

The CAA now insist that I wear reading glasses! I never did whilst in the RAF though...

Proves the CAA requires a Pilot to be able to read.

Did they also test your ability to speak.....English as does the FAA?

[Herod]

Proves the CAA requires a Pilot to be able to read.

No. The requirement is for ONE pilot to be able to read. That's the reason for two crew; the other one can write. :ok:

[Parson]

Came across a documentary on yewchoob the other day on Tornado Down which included interviews with the crew. I was interested to hear John Peters say that he 'popped out his contact lenses' not long after landing in his 'chute. Which made me think;
1. I didn't think FJ crew could wear contacts lenses? I thought there was a 'g' issue with them? Not to mention them potentially moving about when flying.
2. If you happened to be 'downed aircrew', glasses or contacts are not going to be with you for long so you will have to manage without 'in captivity'. Given what happened to these guys, probably not a big issue but could be if you were planning an escape.

[melmothtw]

Came across a documentary on yewchoob the other day on Tornado Down which included interviews with the crew. I was interested to hear John Peters say that he 'popped out his contact lenses' not long after landing in his 'chute. Which made me think;
1. I didn't think FJ crew could wear contacts lenses? I thought there was a 'g' issue with them? Not to mention them potentially moving about when flying.
2. If you happened to be 'downed aircrew', glasses or contacts are not going to be with you for long so you will have to manage without 'in captivity'. Given what happened to these guys, probably not a big issue but could be if you were planning an escape.

That is interesting. I wear contacts, and cannot imagine having them in for an extended period of time, let along for high-g maneuvering etc. If he had got sand into them after landing on the ground, it would have been completely debilitating.

[Bob Viking]

I must have misread the title of the thread then!

BV

[Parson]

RAF medical requirements are here;
https://www.raf.mod.uk/recruitment/how-to-apply/eligibility-check/#health-requirements
Doesn't appear to give specific eyesight requirements but states "A requirement to wear glasses or contact lenses may be allowed for aircrew. Get in touch if you have any questions about the health criteria, or would like to find out if any additional health requirements apply to your role of interest."
That is what the OP should do.

[KenV]

Interesting. Things may have changed, but certainly when I was going through the process laser surgery was a definite 'No No!' - it was stated on the qualification criteria that no applicants would be accepted with corrective laser surgery.

Of course, that was a while ago and no doubt procedures and success rates have improved so maybe not the issue it once was.All three US services require a specific all laser (no knife) type of surgery. And they will do it for free if an applicant is otherwise qualified and enters the pilot training program.

[blimey]

If it's only one eye and you're the right sort of chap you might get away with a monocle.

[Typhoondriver]

A number of RAF FJ colleagues have had the procedure KenV refers to above. I believe they all paid privately for the laser procedure and attended Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, all utilising the services of the same world renowned eye surgeon.

On each occasion (that I am aware of), these guys were in a ground tour at the time of the procedure. Whilst USAF / USN rules allow their pilots to be flying again within a matter of weeks, RAF medical rules require something in the order of 6 months before a valid med cat can be re obtained.

Please do not go to your local opticians that may be offering a special '2 for 1 deal' - you'll invariably end up getting the wrong type of operation (LASIK vs LASEK?) and it'll be performed by someone who has little knowledge of the exacting military medical requirements.

Also, please do not try and have the procedure performed on the QT - I'm told it's very easy to spot individuals that have had laser eye surgery with the correct equipment. So if anyone was thinking about having the procedure before IOT and trying to claim they've never had it done - that would be a very unwise course of action.

[MPN11]

One of my less-riveting tasks at MoD in the early 90s was staffing a paper on "Contact Lenses for Aircrew". Not sure whether it related to 'on entry' or a subsequent need. One aspect, IIRC, was that the user had to carry a pair of corrective specs as well, in case a contact lens went walkabout.

[melmothtw]

One of my less-riveting tasks at MoD in the early 90s was staffing a paper on "Contact Lenses for Aircrew". Not sure whether it related to 'on entry' or a subsequent need. One aspect, IIRC, was that the user had to carry a pair of corrective specs as well, in case a contact lens went walkabout.

This is all very interesting stuff, and I'm very surprised to discover that wearing contact lenses for any aircrew is allowed. As a wearer, I can vouch that if one or both go 'walkabout' (and they do) it isn't always a simple job getting them back again. I dread to imagine trying to do that while hammering along at 50 ft and 400 kt, or even at 30,000 ft with 300 passengers in the back.

[twentytoofifty]

I joined without glasses (managed to squint through the eye test) .. issues with glasses through training .. progressed to lens after about 5 years.. they were fantastic and neither glasses or lens made any different for the 4000 hrs fast jet I accumulated (apart from the few AR5 trips which were thankfully seldom, but awkward). Had trips in F16 and M2000, no problem under high G.. lens were way better, but I reverted to bifocal glasses after about 20 years as long sight improved .. it's a huge misnomer and a way for recruiters to thin out potentially candidates..!! Just my view..!

[melmothtw]

Just my view..!

I see what you did there.

Maybe it is just my lenses that are keep popping out. While they don’t seem to have hampered your flying though, as has been said before surely they would have limited your ability to escape and evade, no? And if you had been captured, unless your captors were decent enough to provide you with cleaning lens solution you would have quickly become as useful in any escape attempt as Donald Pleasence in The Great Escape.

[twentytoofifty]

I see what you did there.

Maybe it is just my lenses that are keep popping out. While they don’t seem to have hampered your flying though, as has been said before surely they would have limited your ability to escape and evade, no? And if you had been captured, unless your captors were decent enough to provide you with cleaning lens solution you would have quickly become as useful in any escape attempt as Donald Pleasence in The Great Escape.

easy solution..! I always carried a pair of glasses in my G-suit just in case a lens became misplaced.. never needed to use them.

[melmothtw]

Yes, a pair of glasses would work to.

[57mm]

While the entry eyesight standards were high for the RAF, the subsequent testing and monitoring of aircrew eyesight left a lot to be desired. I can recall 2 mid air collisions with Coningsby based jets that were down to less than adequate eyesight......

[MPN11]

I joined without glasses (managed to squint through the eye test) .. issues with glasses through training .. progressed to lens after about 5 years.. they were fantastic and neither glasses or lens made any different for the 4000 hrs fast jet I accumulated (apart from the few AR5 trips which were thankfully seldom, but awkward). Had trips in F16 and M2000, no problem under high G.. lens were way better, but I reverted to bifocal glasses after about 20 years as long sight improved .. it's a huge misnomer and a way for recruiters to thin out potentially candidates..!! Just my view..!Glad to hear it worked for you, and that my work on the paper brought fruit! I had made an offer to the gp cape Medic to completely re-write his submission, which he accepted! There was a small battle, as the Medics wanted a further 5 years of trials ... the Ops arguments won the day, and my scribblings went on to ACAS (then Tim Garden) and upward fo AFB approval.

[Meikleour]

One point regarding contact lenses and spare spectacles - consider if one lens falls out/is lost or gets dust contamination - then the other lens has to be also removed before putting on the spectacles otherwise one becomes monocular! Not so easily done in a hurry or when wearing gloves.

[melmothtw]

One point regarding contact lenses and spare spectacles - consider if one lens falls out/is lost or gets dust contamination - then the other lens has to be also removed before putting on the spectacles otherwise one becomes monocular! Not so easily done in a hurry or when wearing gloves.

Under the most perfect circumstances, let along when operating an aircraft, there is nothing simple or easy about dealing with contact lenses that have become contaminated with grit or moved out of place. That said, it seems to have worked for some from the comments in this thread. Respect.

[Prangster]

Hmm,,me thinks the i's have it.

[earthrider]

Just went through medical screening for pilot candidates and a couple of the guys there passed with LASIK, something to consider.