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 primary factor.
Aspiring private pilots of powered airplanes must pass an FAA medical examination, detailed in 14 CFR Part 67.
A medical certificate is not required for sport pilot certificates (flying lighter aircraft) or for flying gliders, with sport pilots only needing to be healthy enough to hold a driver's license.
Individuals unable to pass a medical exam can still fly by manipulating controls with a Certified 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.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
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.
