Q: I’d like to complete my private pilot certificate—I’m disabled with my left foot shortened by 7 cm following a minor accident in 2007, with both hands and feet still in perfect condition. Is there any flight school available to pursue my dream?
A: The short answer to your question is yes, there are flight schools that will accept you as a student to become current, a lot actually. When we asked your preferred school if there were any limitations to you becoming current on your private pilot certification, Ken Bro, chief flight instructor and program coordinator at Southern Illinois University–Carbondale, noted the only requirement is for you to have at least a second class medical certificate before enrolling, and that your leg disability would not be an obstacle beyond that. With that being said, other flight instructors or schools may require a different medical certificate before beginning a program. Some Part 61 flight training locations should allow you to become current with a BasicMed certificate. The FAA has no specific wording that would prevent you from getting a medical certificate solely for the length of your leg.
FAA Medical Certificates
The FAA requires all pilots to have a medical certificate to fly an aircraft. There have traditionally been three types of medical certificates available for pilots to choose from: first class, second class, and third class. In recent years, the FAA has expanded the requirements for a medical certificate and now there is a fourth option, BasicMed.
