The US Air Force still needs more pilots, despite the effects of the COVID-19 virus on the rest of the aviation industry. Last week, the Air Force removed one more barrier to recruiting the pilots it so badly needs by eliminating the height requirement for applicants. Under the previous Medical Standards Directory requirement, a pilot applicant was required to stand between 5’4″ and 6’5″ with a sitting height between 34 and 40 inches. While the service said its goal in dropping the height requirement was to attract a more diverse group of candidates, it admitted in a news release, “The previous height screening criteria eliminated about 44 percent of American women between the age of 20 and 29.”
Air Force Drops Pilot Height Requirement
Key Takeaways:
- The US Air Force has eliminated its blanket height requirement for pilot applicants to address a pilot shortage and attract a more diverse pool of candidates.
- The previous height criteria, which mandated standing between 5'4" and 6'5", excluded a significant portion of potential applicants, including 44% of American women aged 20-29.
- A new "anthropometric screening process" will be implemented, using various body measurements to determine which specific aircraft an applicant can safely fly, rather than a single height standard.
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