AOPA has reported that older pilots have more total hours, fly more frequently, and are more likely to stay proficient. [Adobe Stock]
Key Takeaways:
There is no maximum age limit for becoming a first-time pilot; the ability to learn is the determining factor.
To fly powered airplanes as a private pilot, you must pass a physical examination by an FAA-approved medical examiner.
A medical certificate is not required for sport pilot certificates (for lighter aircraft) or for flying gliders; only general health comparable to holding a driver's license is needed for sport pilots.
Even if you cannot pass a medical exam, you can still fly aircraft with a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) acting as the Pilot in Command.
Question: Is there a maximum flying age limit when considering being a first-time pilot? How old is considered not to be a good candidate for a first-timer?
Answer: There is no maximum age limit for being a first-time pilot. If you have the ability to learn—it doesn’t matter how long it takes—, you can potentially become a pilot.
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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.
