Air Force Fighter Pilot Requirements
Flying in a fighter jet for the US Air Force is one of the most exhilarating jobs in the military. The fighter pilot and navigator are on the cutting edge of technology operating some of the most state-of-the-art machines. Pilots and navigators have similar requirements, with the pilot requiring a flight physical that the navigators do not.
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Height
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The cockpit of fighter jets are made to a standard size as are the placement and size of all of the instruments and consoles. This is the reason that there is a specific range of heights that a pilot must fall into: 64 to 77 inches, or 5 feet 4 to 6 feet 5. Also, the pilot must have a sitting height, meaning from the top of the head to the seat, between 34 and 40 inches.
Vision
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Given the nature of the job, there are strict vision requirements in order to be a fighter pilot. Pilots must have excellent depth perception and have a distant vision of no worse than 20/200, but it must be corrected to 20/20. Also, the pilot must have near vision of no worse than 20/40 which must also be corrected to 20/20.
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Health
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The rigors of flying take a toll on the body of a pilot, and as such, pilots are required to go through special physical examinations to ensure they will be able to adequately perform while maneuvering the craft, such as during a steep climb or roll. Also, pilots must not suffer from any allergies or asthma after the age of 12, which may adversely affect their performance.
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References
- Photo Credit the fighter f-22 displayed at an air show image by Gary from Fotolia.com
