Disabled pilots
 

Hi, I am a double amputee (right arm above elbow and right leg below knee) and have been offered an opportunity which may result in being offered a scholarship to train for a PPL. Has anyone else gone through this recently?> I f so can they offer me any advice?

Do a search for Polly Vacher, she is tied in with a charity that does this stuff.

Good luck. You will love it.

Go for it! You won't regret it. :ok:
Although your Bank balance might:\

Adaptations
 

Hi, have spoken to my local flying school and have managed to get inside a Piper Warrior. However, due to my right arm disablement I cannot sit in the left side and control the plane. Does anyone know about adaptations to enable me to control the plane?

I have met Polly - well known for her round the World flights. I think the charity is called "Flying Scholarships for the disabled" Your browser should find it; they WILL know the answer. db16

Unless the POH (operation handbook) for the aircraft says you have to sit in the left seat, you don't! Technically there's no reason at all why you couldn't learn to fly completely from the RH seat. The only difference being that the majority of the instruments are on the left, but if sitting in the right gives you better access, why not?

That's what I thought, will hopefully find out more when I get to Cranwell.

Here's a guy who is using some sort of extension to his right arm so that he can operate the throttle. The picture was taken from THIS website.

http://www.bdfa.net/page16/page11/files/page11_2.jpg

If you have full use of your left leg, it might be possible for you to have your foot strapped to the rudder pedal so that you can operate it in both directions (in and out).

If it's something you really want to do, then go for it!! :ok:

Keep us posted!

Despite coming to grief on motorbike (wasn't my fault, driver on wrong side of road) I bought a Suzuki GS500 and got it adapted to my needs. Scared me silly, but achieved what I wanted. Her indoors made me sell it, so now have a BMW Z4.

Hi

Also try the Aviation for Paraplegics and tetraplegics web site, their CFM Shadows have been modified for all levels of disability, if a tetraplegic can fly most levels of Amputee should be ok I would think.

http://www.disabledflying.org.uk/

Welcome to aviation!!

Crash

Hi all, many thanks for all your replies and interest in my situation. Whilst Old Sarum airfield is quite some distance from where I live, I often are required to work not far from there, so next time I'm in that location I'll give them a visit.

Thanks

blackdog - I'm sure I remember seeing something in the EEN or EDP recently about a disabled guy learning to fly at Norwich Airport. I believe one of the schools there has a modified PA28. Have you checked with any of them?

Hi, yes Anglian Air Centre have a plane adapted and owned by a disabled pilot, although not to my requirements.

Blackdog,

I taught a lady to fly; she had had a below-knee amputation of her right leg, and got by in a standard aircraft with her prosthesis, by wedging her backside tight into the seat for takeoff and landing and applying appropriate pressure - she was never very delicate on the rudder, but perfectly in control. I think you might perhaps be in the same boat leg-wise, but the arm side of things may be more of a challenge.

Good luck nonetheless.

Have a look at that: http://www.plasticpilot.net/blog/200...-yes-find-how/

Hope this helps.

Thanks to everyone for their continued interest in my latest venture. Over the last 22 years since my accident, I've managed to overcome most of the challenges presented to me. So flying will another one to overcome.

See my website www.blackdogenterprises.co.uk

Cheers

Well I somehow managed to convince the selection panel at RAF Cranwell that I've got the ability to fly. So I'm off to South Africa and hopefully coming back with a PPL in my pocket.

Cheers to all and thanks for your input.

watch this space for further news.

That's excellent news! Good luck. :)

My personal feeling is that flying's more about attitude and knowledge, the skill bit comes with time, and I can't think of anything about your disability that'd hamper your long term ability.

I wouldn't have thought your missing a lower leg below the knee would cause much of a problem with the brake or rudder pedal. A lack of articulation of the right wrist/elbow could need more work, I guess your instructor/examiner will be very interested in how you manage emergency procedures.

(And let's face it, it's more about attitude and knowledge than anything else.)

Keep us posted.

And never trust a black dog, eventually they will eat through your kitchen:)

Must be a sucker for punishment, I've got 2 black dogs and their both labradors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!