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Are You Ever Too Old to Learn to Fly?

[File photo: Adobestock]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • It is not too late for an 83-year-old in good health to learn to fly, as the FAA imposes no maximum age limit.
  • Eligibility is based on health and cognitive abilities, not age; for instance, a sport pilot certificate requires being healthy enough to drive a car.
  • For a private pilot certificate, passing a third-class medical exam is necessary.
  • Essential skills include the ability to follow directions, remember procedures, make sound decisions, and control an aircraft.
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Q: I’m 83 years old and in good health. Is it too late for me to learn to fly? I took some lessons many years ago in a Cessna 150.

A: No, it isn’t too late. 

Although there is a minimum age limit for solo flight (14 years old for gliders and balloons, and 16 for powered aircraft) the FAA has no maximum age limit. If you are healthy enough to drive a car, you can qualify for the sport pilot certificate. If you can pass a third class medical exam, you can get your private pilot certificate.

Meg Godlewski

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.

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