What are the health requirements to obtain a private pilot's license?
Brother B asked:
I'm thinking of taking flying lessons and wondered what the health requirements are. I am color-blind. Would that affect my eligibility? What are any other health requirements?
I'm thinking of taking flying lessons and wondered what the health requirements are. I am color-blind. Would that affect my eligibility? What are any other health requirements?
Basic good health without a history of diabetes, hypertension, heart or mental condition or physical inability to control the aircraft, decent vision, warm and breathing
You should be in good general health and free of any medical conditions which might cause you to become incapacitated in flight, such as epilepsy, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, hypertension (because of the increased risk of incapacitating heart problems or stroke), etc.
You can get a license if you are color-blind. If you can pass any one of about two dozen approved color vision tests, you can get an unrestricted license. Otherwise, you'll generally get a license that doesn't allow night flight or flight without a working radio.
That's how it works in the U.S. Other countries may differ.
In general, the medical requirements for pilots are still very strict and somewhat inconsistent—if you've ever had a seizure in your life, you might be disqualified, but if you take a drug like ethanol daily, no problem. The FAA claims that at least 95% of all applicants can obtain a medical certification allowing them to fly.
If you can't get a license, you can still fly, but only with a licensed pilot who acts as pilot in command. So you could fly a small Cessna with yourself and a licensed pilot friend on board, for example.