Flight School: Age Limits for Flying

Lane Wallace

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

Verified

Scott Leigh

Key Takeaways:

Chronological age is not the primary determinant for learning to fly; both young and old individuals can be highly capable.
Readiness to fly depends on individual attributes such as motivation, physical and mental acuity, judgment, maturity, and the ability to learn and adhere to procedures and rules.
Generalizing about a person's ability to fly based solely on age is inaccurate and can lead to discrimination, as individual capabilities vary widely regardless of age.

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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.