Height and/or Weight Issues
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Thanks WWW,
Nearly choked on my full fat, spot generating breakfast there!
Maybe I'm in the wrong forum.. But you know how the "old guard CFS" think.. Standards!No clean shave, you might as well have VD.
Have to agree on the drugs issues but who's going to be man enough to introduce this to a selection proceedure? Think of the outcry and public confidence... It's worse than an episode of YES MINISTER.
Cheers..Off to get my salad dodging arse to the gym!
Nearly choked on my full fat, spot generating breakfast there!
Maybe I'm in the wrong forum.. But you know how the "old guard CFS" think.. Standards!No clean shave, you might as well have VD.
Have to agree on the drugs issues but who's going to be man enough to introduce this to a selection proceedure? Think of the outcry and public confidence... It's worse than an episode of YES MINISTER.
Cheers..Off to get my salad dodging arse to the gym!
Height Problem
I have just gone through OASC for general duties / pilot. I got good marks for aptitude and interview, but when it came to the medical review i had a problem. My arse-to-knee length was too long by 8mm. I completely understand why thats a problem in a fast jet (ejection can be messy etc) and clearly I was gutted. I really want to fly though, and want to know if this leg length is likely to be a problem with the airlines as well. My overall height is bang on 6'3". They also said they would like me to be an Air Traffic Controller or a Fighter Controller because I did well on the tests for them. I don't know a lot about these branches so any views or advice would be welcome.
(P.S. Does the RAF take kindly to people who have leg length reductions? I know its a long shot but i'd do anything!)
(P.S. Does the RAF take kindly to people who have leg length reductions? I know its a long shot but i'd do anything!)
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Hi GM. .Leg reduction? I wouldnt think so mate. I've heard of a lot of people drop out for medical reasons. It happens a lot, and there's really nothing you can do about it. . .I know its hard, I've been through it myself, but there are definite advantages to joining the airlines. Its just a matter of getting over the disappointment of losing such an amazing dream.. .I still dream of myself as a Fast Jet Pilot, but I now know that it is not for me.
Sorry mate,. .MSMD
Sorry mate,. .MSMD
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Gingerbread Man,
You sound just like me speaking!! I had exactly the same problem you have.
I listened to the people at OASC and visited the School of Fighter Control and very very seriously considered it, but in the end I want to fly for a living, just like it sounds you do. With the RAF, I got the impression that everyone else was there to keep the aircrew in the air, and I just felt that I couldn't work day in and day out with people doing the job I had so badly wanted to do. That's why I binned it. Like Monkey says, i'll always be gutted about it, especially after passing everything else, but there's nothing we can do about it is there? <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> Still, it's better to get rejected for being too tall rather than too short! <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
Look at it this way, you know you have the aptitude, you know you passed one of, if not the toughest, interview around and you passed the rest of the medical. Use that as a building block.
There is no problem with height and the airlines. Believe me, i've left no stone un-turned in finding this out. All you need to do is be able to hold a Class 1 medical. As far as i'm aware, there is no such thing as a leg reduction <img src="confused.gif" border="0"> Now that would be a messy op!!! <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">
Best of luck mate. Feel free to e-mail me about what I did when I got the dreaded news!!!
[ 27 February 2002: Message edited by: bow5 ]</p>
You sound just like me speaking!! I had exactly the same problem you have.
I listened to the people at OASC and visited the School of Fighter Control and very very seriously considered it, but in the end I want to fly for a living, just like it sounds you do. With the RAF, I got the impression that everyone else was there to keep the aircrew in the air, and I just felt that I couldn't work day in and day out with people doing the job I had so badly wanted to do. That's why I binned it. Like Monkey says, i'll always be gutted about it, especially after passing everything else, but there's nothing we can do about it is there? <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> Still, it's better to get rejected for being too tall rather than too short! <img src="wink.gif" border="0">
Look at it this way, you know you have the aptitude, you know you passed one of, if not the toughest, interview around and you passed the rest of the medical. Use that as a building block.
There is no problem with height and the airlines. Believe me, i've left no stone un-turned in finding this out. All you need to do is be able to hold a Class 1 medical. As far as i'm aware, there is no such thing as a leg reduction <img src="confused.gif" border="0"> Now that would be a messy op!!! <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">
Best of luck mate. Feel free to e-mail me about what I did when I got the dreaded news!!!
[ 27 February 2002: Message edited by: bow5 ]</p>
Thanks for the advice and comments everyone, very much appreciated. I will look more into the airlines, it's just harder because it doesn't all appear to be in a neat little package like the RAF, i.e. you have to pay for your own training etc. It was comforting to know that other people know how I feel, bow5. Thanks for making me see the bright side of the aptitude tests. . .Don't worry, I wasn't seriously considering having bits chopped out of my legs, I think I was just clutching at straws. Cheers.
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Height / Weight
Hi guys, glad to be a part of PPRUNE. I just have a quick question for you all:
I have recently applied for a cadetship. I'm naturally a fairly tall, thin person. I eat like an absolute horse, but my metabolsm is very fast.
I notice most cadetships look for height / weight proportionate people. I'm not quite height / weight proportionate. Will this cause me a lot of problems? I'm in excellent health, regardless. For reference, my BMI is about 19.
I have recently applied for a cadetship. I'm naturally a fairly tall, thin person. I eat like an absolute horse, but my metabolsm is very fast.
I notice most cadetships look for height / weight proportionate people. I'm not quite height / weight proportionate. Will this cause me a lot of problems? I'm in excellent health, regardless. For reference, my BMI is about 19.
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Mate,
These BMI things are only a rough guide. For example Jonny Wilkinson the England Fly Half is about 1.75 tall and about 90 kgs, his BMI would work out at 29ish which is really obese.
If it helps you get through the initial application fudge the weight a bit. But having a BMI of 19 is ok I reckon.
Cheers
BB
These BMI things are only a rough guide. For example Jonny Wilkinson the England Fly Half is about 1.75 tall and about 90 kgs, his BMI would work out at 29ish which is really obese.
If it helps you get through the initial application fudge the weight a bit. But having a BMI of 19 is ok I reckon.
Cheers
BB
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Oh to have a BMI of 19 
I reckon you'll be right mate. It is a bit of a sledgehammer tool this BMI, and as bronco says there are many elite sports people ie basketballers, marathon runners, pole vaulters, weight lifters and rugby players who would be classified as either anorexic or morbidly obese according to the scale.
In terms of airline jobs though, I would suspect that in any case it's far better to be athletically fit and BMI 19 than a big not-exercising pork-pie-scoffing 35 or 38. It's my impression that those who use it, do so more as a preliminary screener to find out the massively overweight types who are at increased risk of early retirement due heart disease - they just want to make sure that they aren't going to spend all this money on you and then you go and lose your medical just as you're about to make your command or something like that.
I reckon you'll be right mate. It is a bit of a sledgehammer tool this BMI, and as bronco says there are many elite sports people ie basketballers, marathon runners, pole vaulters, weight lifters and rugby players who would be classified as either anorexic or morbidly obese according to the scale.
In terms of airline jobs though, I would suspect that in any case it's far better to be athletically fit and BMI 19 than a big not-exercising pork-pie-scoffing 35 or 38. It's my impression that those who use it, do so more as a preliminary screener to find out the massively overweight types who are at increased risk of early retirement due heart disease - they just want to make sure that they aren't going to spend all this money on you and then you go and lose your medical just as you're about to make your command or something like that.
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Right. I was thinking that it was probably the obese chappies they were trying to filter out.
Thanks for your input, guys. I passed the initial screening anyway, so they didn't seem to mind.
Thanks for your input, guys. I passed the initial screening anyway, so they didn't seem to mind.
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BMI is a little mis-leading. It doesn't take into account muscle tone etc. A short, thin, muscular frame will have a high BMI because muscle is vey dense.
I wouldn't worry too much. I think anything over 30 for a male is morbidly obese, which some may turn their nose up at.
I wouldn't worry too much. I think anything over 30 for a male is morbidly obese, which some may turn their nose up at.
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The oft quoted argument that some sports people & athletes have high BMI's cuts no ice at my company.
The theory is that although fit, these body types suffer from an increased incidence of heart attack ! so they will not touch anyone with a BMI over 25.
Gerrupta Singh.
The theory is that although fit, these body types suffer from an increased incidence of heart attack ! so they will not touch anyone with a BMI over 25.
Gerrupta Singh.
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BMI Morbidly obese??
from what i have read and disscusions with medical officers in airlines, i have found that they usually don't like BMI's over 35. This is due to a really fit person with a BMI of 34.9 maybe muscular and in alot better condition than a person with a BMI of 25. It really does depend on your build, size and percentage body mass, (Muscle to fat etc).
Any opinions??
Any opinions??
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Airline height/eyesight requirements
A couple of questions for those that may have faced, or have heard of the problems I now face.
I am currently in my second year of university and would like to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. However, my height and eyesight may pose as a problem.
BA put a height limit on their pilots of 191cm, does anyone know if this applies with other airlines and how it is enforced? Are there any exceptions to the BA rule? I am roughly 200cm and don't want to fund advanced training only to be turned down for a physical condition that was evident from the start.
Secondly, I am slightly short sighted, 0.5 in one eye and 0.75 in the other. How strict are airlines when it comes to these standards?
There are both tall pilots and those with glasses out there, but I'd like to know with the current recruitment downturn whether I'd be likely to be turned down for reasons that are relatively beyond my control.
Any advice/ideas would be of great benefit!
Regards,
Matthew
I am currently in my second year of university and would like to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. However, my height and eyesight may pose as a problem.
BA put a height limit on their pilots of 191cm, does anyone know if this applies with other airlines and how it is enforced? Are there any exceptions to the BA rule? I am roughly 200cm and don't want to fund advanced training only to be turned down for a physical condition that was evident from the start.
Secondly, I am slightly short sighted, 0.5 in one eye and 0.75 in the other. How strict are airlines when it comes to these standards?
There are both tall pilots and those with glasses out there, but I'd like to know with the current recruitment downturn whether I'd be likely to be turned down for reasons that are relatively beyond my control.
Any advice/ideas would be of great benefit!
Regards,
Matthew
Supercharged PPRuNer
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Can’t help you with the height question, but your short-sightedness shouldn’t be a problem. I’m –2.5 in both eyes, which is comfortably within limits for a class 1 aviation medical (-5 off the top of my head), as long as it can be corrected with glasses or contacts. As long as you’ve got a class 1, the airlines will be happy.
However, the best advice would be to print off the class 1 vision requirements from the CAA website and take them to your local opticians. They can test your eyesight and advise if you are likely to have any problems – if so, you could then contact the CAA for a definitive answer.
However, the best advice would be to print off the class 1 vision requirements from the CAA website and take them to your local opticians. They can test your eyesight and advise if you are likely to have any problems – if so, you could then contact the CAA for a definitive answer.
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Your height (about 6'7"?) may restrict the types of aircraft you can fly, but it shouldn't prevent you flying altogether. I had a number of colleagues in the RAF of that height or thereabouts. They couldn't usually fly ejector-seat equipped aircraft, but they were normally fine in transport types. Most of them now fly for major airlines.
The problem is that many of the turboprops and small commuter jets may not fit you, and therefore you might need a somewhat more buoyant job market than exists now to give yourself a shot at getting into larger aircraft from the word go.
However, I would have thought that your best option is to contact the airlines or other employers that you might apply to and ask them! While you're at it, get your eyes checked by an Aviation Medical Examiner - they sound fine from what you've written. Lastly, have you checked whether you fit in the average piston trainer? You may not fit in some, which will affect which schools you consider.
Scroggs
P.S. Please do not post duplicate threads on the same topic.
The problem is that many of the turboprops and small commuter jets may not fit you, and therefore you might need a somewhat more buoyant job market than exists now to give yourself a shot at getting into larger aircraft from the word go.
However, I would have thought that your best option is to contact the airlines or other employers that you might apply to and ask them! While you're at it, get your eyes checked by an Aviation Medical Examiner - they sound fine from what you've written. Lastly, have you checked whether you fit in the average piston trainer? You may not fit in some, which will affect which schools you consider.
Scroggs
P.S. Please do not post duplicate threads on the same topic.
Last edited by scroggs; 10th Feb 2004 at 18:53.
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Height Limits for civil flight crew
Hello, All
I am seriously considering perusing commercial flying as a career to the extent that I have passed the skills assessment to a reparable FTO and have now passed the class 1 medical. I am just about to put my deposit down, but a issue regarding pilot height ‘stature’ has arisen.
Does anyone know of anyone over 6’ – 4" to 6’ – 8" in stature, and know whether or not there has been any issue due to height limits implemented by airlines, alternatively does anyone know of any height limits implied by airlines and what they are.
I noticed on the BA web site that they have given a guide line height range which is the reason I am posting this thread.
Good or Bad any news all will be appreciated.
I am seriously considering perusing commercial flying as a career to the extent that I have passed the skills assessment to a reparable FTO and have now passed the class 1 medical. I am just about to put my deposit down, but a issue regarding pilot height ‘stature’ has arisen.
Does anyone know of anyone over 6’ – 4" to 6’ – 8" in stature, and know whether or not there has been any issue due to height limits implemented by airlines, alternatively does anyone know of any height limits implied by airlines and what they are.
I noticed on the BA web site that they have given a guide line height range which is the reason I am posting this thread.
Good or Bad any news all will be appreciated.
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I am 6'5 never had an issue regarding my medical. Smallest aircraft I could fit in was cessna 152. There is PLENTY of room in cessna 172, I even have to bring the seat forward in that aircraft. The only issue I can think of is appearance. I am tall and sturdy built. Some people get afraid of me when they see me. Thats not a good thing for the passengers.
Although some major airlines like lufthansa has height requirements. Its usually 6'4. But on the other hand if you just planning on working only for major carriers don't waste your money. Its really tuff to get in there.
On smaller airlines I doubt that you will have a problem.
Although some major airlines like lufthansa has height requirements. Its usually 6'4. But on the other hand if you just planning on working only for major carriers don't waste your money. Its really tuff to get in there.
On smaller airlines I doubt that you will have a problem.
Blah Blah Blah
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When i was trianing my instructor was 6'6" !(he most likely still is 6'6" 
)
It is a hilarious sight watching a man that size get in to a C150. It is even more funny watching him peel him slef out the aircraft after a few hours.
He has not had any problems reagrding height (so far).
Gary
)It is a hilarious sight watching a man that size get in to a C150. It is even more funny watching him peel him slef out the aircraft after a few hours.
He has not had any problems reagrding height (so far).
Gary