Can I fly?

[AHPilot]

Right now I'm in the process of deciding career paths. I'm in my first year of college right now. After college I've been thinking about joining the Air Force, going to OTS...etc. The only problem is my vision. I'm 20/200 uncorrected, but corrected I'm like 20/15. I'm really serious about this Air Force thing, but I think this would be my only disqualifier. I don't want to be a navigator or anything like that I really want a pilot slot. Also I'm not deadset on flying a fighter (with my vision don't even know if it's possible)--don't get me wrong they would be great to fly--but would my vision disqualify me from one of the heavies?? Any info would be great..

Thanks
LT

 

[pilotyip]

Not a chance

With your eyesight, you have snowballs chance to get a military flight slot as a pilot, there is nothing wrong with being a Nav, In the 60's all P-3 pilots had to qualifiy as Nav's prior to going into the cockpit, I enjoyed my expereinces as a Navigator using the stars to cross the ocena.

 

[Rush Limbaugh]

Nothing against nav's but these days, you don't want to be one. Most navs are in the back of airplanes with no windows and not using celestial navigation to cross the ocean.

With your vision, you will have an extremely hard time getting qualified for a pilot slot. The Air Force doesn't have different standards for different airframes. To get your initial qual, I think you have to be 20/20 uncorrected. This may have changed recently. I think they may allow some corrective surgery. Talk to a recruiter and find out what they allow and what they don't. Make sure you talk to an OTS recruiter and not your average run of the mill basic training recruiter.

If you don't get a slot, it isn't the end of the world. Just read the "mil vs. civ" thread and you'll see that it really doesn't matter what your background is when it comes to airline hiring.

Good Luck

 

[lobohopeful]

Try the Marine Corps/Navy. They allow PRK, as long as THEY do it. I have a buddy who went in as a Nav select at 20/200, got the PRK done, reapplied as a pilot and is now going to pilot training.

 

[MercuryPilot]

don't throw in the towel yet

AHPilot,
I know a ton of pilots in the Navy, AF, USMC, and some Coasties that wear glasses when they fly (including Tactical guys). Only catch is they have to carry an extra pair. In fact, about one out of every 5 students I fly w/these days wears glasses. Also, every Nav to Pilot I know wears glasses. Don't get too bummed or give up on a career as a Military pilot until you hear it straight from a flight doc that your vision is too bad pre-corrected. There's always the possibility of some kind of waiver.

Good luck.

 

[Zulu]

Vision waivers are issued by the AF nearly every year. When I entered you had to be 20/70 correctable to 20/20, and over the last 12 years it's fluctuated from no vision waivers (20/20 uncorrected only) to somewhere around 20/200 correctable. With that being said, I'm working with a wannabe right now with eyes that were terrible (I'm thinking around 20/400) but got PRK with a result of 20/15. He had to jump through a lot of hoops with both the recruiter and the AF surgeon general, but it looks like he's in.
The specifics for qualifying after PRK (LASIK is NOT authorized right now) are pretty tight -- you need to talk to a recruiter who can get you the current guidelines. And don't be surprised if the first recruiter you talk to has absolutely no idea -- most still think that you have to be 20/20 to be a pilot -- tell him you know that's not the case.
With all that being said, I predict that, over the next three years, you'll see more-and-more pilot candidates with PRK, and possibly even LASIK. Not that my predictions are worth anything.

Gook luck in the hunt,

Z

 

[stlpilot]

Hey man dont give up First of all check out the Air force regs at these two links below. The first is AFI 48-123 Which gives all the medical requirements for a flying class 1 physical. Its a lot of reading but work your way trough the table of contents to get to the eye information. Now the second website is even better because it gives you info on what is waiverable on eyesite. Now it will say that up to 20/140 is waiverable or -3.0 diopters which is the same thing, but that is just for an automatic waiver. It will also give you information for PRK and how the Air Force process a waiver for that. Be careful you must follow the exact AF procedure for PRK to get a waiver. But again this second sight gives you an inside look at whats going on at the AF sergeon generals office. On this website go under(if not already there when you bring the site up) "Physical Standards Branch" and then look at "Sgt David Caples" who has the checklist for a flying class 1 as well as PRK checklist. This will show you what they must do to process waivers and ect. Look there may be slightly different rules from what Iv told you I admit Im no expert but I had to look into all this stuff when I did my flight physical last year becasue my vision is 20/70, but some days I test worse so check this out and try a search on www.studentpilot.net. I have seen a bunch of sight info on there as well under the military forum. Good luck and dont give up if you want a slot you will get one! Iv seen the guys with WORSE vision then you get in, but they wanted it. Dont listen to the recruiter if he/she says you cant, most are full of sh--t when it comes to pilot medical regs, so if you must, print off the info on these sights Iv provided and show them to SGT numb nuts recruiter if you must like I did.

http://afpubs.hq.af.mil/pubfiles/af/48/afi48-123/afi48-123.pdf


https://www.afms.mil/aetcsg/SGPS/SGPS.htm