You may hear rumors that state that there are strict height requirements for pilots. Some people will come to the conclusion that they are too tall or short to become a pilot.
However, although there are a few height restrictions for pilots, a majority of human beings fall within the approved limits.
There are no hard and fast limits at what is considered to be too tall or too short for commercial pilots.
These rumors of stringent restrictions may actually come from the rules that are applied in the air force. Military/ Air Force pilots do have height restrictions, but the same does not apply for commercial piloting.
So if you are too tall or short to fly in the air force, but you still really want to fly, you will be welcomed with open arms to commercial piloting regardless of your height.
There are a few restrictions around any type of piloting but generally, it is unlikely that you’re too tall or too short.
Can I be a pilot if I’m short?
If you are aiming at flying in the military, then, perhaps. However, for pretty much every other type of piloting, no.
The military does have height and weight requirements for their pilots, but flight schools and airlines do not have these same requirements.
The only actual requirement needed, aside from experience and the relevant qualifications is that you can reach the flight controls.
There are many short pilots who are perfectly capable of flying a plane, in fact, if anything it is the really tall pilots who have more issues with flying an aircraft, simply because the taller you are, the more cramped the cockpit is going to be.
Many airlines will have pilots around and even blow 5’2”, they may require a seat pillow in order to be comfortable, but they can still fly a plane perfectly well.
So, unless you are dead set on being a military air force pilot then your height should not be a problem at all when it comes to flying a plane.
Most of the rumors of restrictions for flying are stemmed from military standards rather than flying in general practice.
Can a 4 feet girl become a pilot?
If a girl at 4ft wanted to be a military pilot then the answer would be no, as 4ft is well below the restrictions set by the military.
That being said, for commercial piloting the only requirement is that you must be able to reach all the controls as is required in the flight deck.
Your legs must also be a sufficient enough length to obtain a full rudder deflection.
Someone at 4ft may not be suitable to fly a larger plane such as a Boeing 747, however their height might be perfect for a smaller plane.
It depends on the type of aircraft, the size of the aircraft and if you can fit into the cockpit fine and reach all the necessary controls.
While 4ft is a bit below average in height it will not be a problem all the time, taller pilots cannot fit in some smaller aircraft, much like shorter pilots cannot fit in some of the larger aircraft.
Certain companies may have minimum and maximum height requirements though, often dependent on the type of aircraft they fly, it is always best to check out the individual requirements of an airline to see if you make the cut.
Can a 5 feet girl become a pilot?
Between 5ft and 6ft is a fairly common height size, especially among women in the western corners of the globe. It is also not uncommon for men either.
Being around 5ft is a fairly normal size and most of the time being 5ft is not a problem at all. With some larger commercial airliners it may be slightly problematic, and you may need a pillow for your seat.
Nonetheless, as long as you can reach the controls it is not really a problem.
On the other hand, if you wanted to be a pilot for the military air force, then you may still be able to get in.
There has been some controversy in recent years over the height requirement restrictions set by the air force. To pilot in the air force rules stated to be a height between 5ft4inches and 6ft5inches.
For many young women this is problematic, and the air force noted this, there is a waiver though.
In short, even with the air force, people at 5ft2inches fit the standards, and people as short at 4ft11inches and as tall as 6ft9inches have been able to fly.
They can provide special seats for the shorter candidates, and so height, especially around the 5ft and 6ft marker, is no longer a problem, in either military flying or in commercial flying.
Do fighter pilots get shorter?
Fighter pilots do not get shorter by just being a fighter pilot. The cockpit size is considerable and there is no compression during the fight that will make a fighter pilot get shorter.
Yet, it is possible for a fighter pilot to get shorter due to their career, not from flying but from using the ejector seat. It is said that the force at which they are ejected can compress the spine, especially if done on more than one occasion.
So while fighter pilots do not get shorter just by flying as a fighter pilot, they can actually lose height when it comes to using the ejector seat and the effects that it causes to their spine.
The height loss is not massively considerable, however it is still not a favorite repercussion of doing this, as there are many health problems that can come with having your spine compressed.
It should not massively affect the ability to fly either, but it is still not something that every pilot wants to endure. So, do fighter pilots get shorter, they can, but not always.
What is the height limit for a pilot?
The height restrictions to be a pilot vary depending on a few factors, first of all if the piloting career you seek is for commercial flying or military flying.
Commercial piloting has fewer restrictions and every airline has their own restrictions on height.
Military piloting is more picky, however they now accept applicants that are below 5ft4inches or are above 6ft5inches.
You may still be able to fly in the air force even if your height is above or below these restrictions with a waiver process.
Commercial airliners are a lot more accepting of the different heights, and therefore you may be able to become a pilot for a commercial airliner at almost any height, depending on the airline and your height.
There are special seats to help accommodate those who may be shorter than average. The main factor taken into consideration by these airlines is that they must be able to reach the controls properly.
Being too tall is more problematic, as shorter people can have a special seat or an added pillow, whereas taller people cannot shrink, therefore taller pilots may have to look into flying larger planes with bigger cockpits in order to be comfortable flying.
