 |
Answer :
That's a very good question. Here is what I recommend, if you are
really interested!
I am an Aeronautical Engineer with a Commercial Pilot and instrument
ratings; became an Air Force pilot with training in the class of 57H; active
duty in SAC flying B-47's; in the Air National Guard flying F-86H's, etc.:
and now flying our Cessna 182 in retirement.
I suggest the following;
o Take as many science and math courses as you can
o Become a Young Eagle (free airplane orientation flight
by contacting a local EAA Chapter. For more information please call (920) 426-6114 or toll free at 1-877-806-8902.)
o Visit an airport close to your home to see what
information about flying is available and take some flying lessons if you
can ...you will be pleasantly surprised to find lots of people that will
help you.
Also, as I recall, the Air Force ROTC training you will get during
college will prepare you for entering flight training after you graduate.
You need to follow up, by contacting an Air Force Recruiting Office near you
home for details. When you complete your Air Force ROTC training in college,
if it's the same procedure when I graduated from college, you will have the
opportunity to go into Pilot training. If you are accepted into the Air
Force Flight Training Program and become a pilot you will have an active
duty commitment (for specific details, check with an Air Force Recruiting
Office near where you live)
With the training to become a pilot in the Air Force you automatically
will have received enough training to obtain a Commercial Pilots rating by
taking the written FAA test...at least that is all I had to do after I
received my pilot's wings in the Air Force. An Air Force recruiting person
can give you the specifics. Also, by visiting a local airport in or near
town you live; talk to an instructor who gives training to learn how to fly,
and training to obtain a Private & Commercial Pilots ratings. They can and
will be very willing to provide you with the details of what is required.
Whether or not 20/10 vision is good or not, is not necessarily a factor. Eyesight needs to be correctable to 20/20 vision. The requirement is for normal color vision and depth perception and for vision that is correctable to 20/20. I think there may be a max limit on just how ‘bad’ the uncorrected vision is, but I have no idea (it’s pretty bad). Now, here’s the ‘rest of the story’ - as in many things, vision is one more area - like grades - where the military can make a screening to pick the most qualified applicants. So, if there are 200 applicants for 200 available pilot slots, then “correctable” vision is probably going to work just fine. However, if there are 200 applicants for 20 slots, then you might find that the 20 people selected have good grades, technical majors in college and 20/20 vision.
Good Luck!
Joel
|
1001 Aviation Photos | Ask the Expert | This Day in Aviation | Airplane of the Month
Privacy Policy 
