Flight School: Age Limits for Flying

Lane Wallace

Monday, November 22, 2010 at 10:53 PM ET

Verified

Scott Leigh

Key Takeaways:

Neither youth nor old age definitively determines readiness to learn to fly; instead, individual physical and mental capabilities are the key factors.
Critical attributes for successful pilots include motivation, the ability to understand and follow procedures, interpret instruments, maintain situational awareness, and demonstrate sound judgment and decision-making skills.
While younger students require maturity and discipline to harness fearlessness, older students often leverage experience and refined decision-making, provided their mental acuity and physical health support safe operation.

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Donna F. Wilt, Ph.D., is an ATP, a Master CFI and an associate professor of aviation at Hampton University. She says:

“The FAA states that an applicant for a student-pilot certificate must be at least 14 years old for the operation of a glider or balloon and 16 years old for other categories of aircraft. Many of us have heard of teenagers who soloed an airplane on their 16th birthday. These teenagers probably started flying years before they were eligible for a student-pilot certificate.