Can i be a pilot with glasses
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Can i be a pilot with glasses
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.
See here:
OFFICER and AIRCREW 'CANDIDATES' PLEASE READ THIS THREAD FIRST!
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but highly likely you can’t.
OFFICER and AIRCREW 'CANDIDATES' PLEASE READ THIS THREAD FIRST!
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but highly likely you can’t.
Perhaps if they contained Pink Gin....you might be a cinch for the Navy.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Check the CAA aeromedical branch. If not the RAF, commercial flying may still be a possibility. Expensive though. Good luck either way.
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Commercial wise, some companies do sponsorship.
https://www.pilotcareernews.com/flying-scholarships/
http://yesflyers.org.uk/scholarships/
https://www.pilotcareernews.com/flying-scholarships/
http://yesflyers.org.uk/scholarships/
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Last edited by melmothtw; 2nd Apr 2019 at 13:09. Reason: Spelling
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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.
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.
Of course, that was a while ago and no doubt procedures and success rates have improved so maybe not the issue it once was.
Avoid imitations
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The CAA now insist that I wear reading glasses! I never did whilst in the RAF though...
And now for the definitive answer...
https://www.raf.mod.uk/recruitment/m...lude-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
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
https://www.raf.mod.uk/recruitment/m...lude-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
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
The CAA now insist that I wear reading glasses! I never did whilst in the RAF though...
Did they also test your ability to speak.....English as does the FAA?
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Proves the CAA requires a Pilot to be able to read.
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.
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.
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.
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.
RAF medical requirements are here;
https://www.raf.mod.uk/recruitment/h...h-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.
https://www.raf.mod.uk/recruitment/h...h-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.