AOPA has reported that older pilots have more total hours, fly more frequently, and are more likely to stay proficient. [Adobe Stock]
Key Takeaways:
There is no maximum age limit for becoming a first-time pilot; the ability to learn is the key factor.
Private pilots must pass an FAA medical examination, detailed in 14 CFR Part 67.
Sport pilot certificates and flying gliders do not require an FAA medical certificate; sport pilots only need to be healthy enough to hold a driver's license.
Individuals unable to pass a medical exam can still fly the controls with a flight instructor (CFI) acting as the Pilot in Command.
Question: Is there a maximum flying age limit when considering being a first-time pilot? How old is considered not to be a good candidate for a first-timer?
Answer: There is no maximum age limit for being a first-time pilot. If you have the ability to learn—it doesn’t matter how long it takes—, you can potentially become a pilot.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
