Expert: Ismar Avdic, Eng. - 1/29/2006

Question
hello there
my name is Steven
I am in my final year of High School
and plan on becoming an Airline pilot.

But my question is...
if you have the need to wear corrective lenses to achieve 20/20 vision...(my eyesight being roughly      -1.00) should i be looking at a new career path?

The CAA (civil aviation authority in New Zealand) states that to obtain a ATPL you may wear corrective lenses, but you must achieve 20/20 vision.(which i can)
But!
What about the Airlines...
Surely they would have their own medical policies.. and from what i hear.. some of the airlines such as korean air, asiana, maybe cathy pacific.. they only hire pilots who are +0.8 vision without correctives.

So i was just thinking...
Is there a point in spending time and money into hours and training for a qualification...only having to find myself unemployed due to my eye condition?

Your reply will be of great help

Yours Faithfully
Steven.

Answer
Steven!
The requirements to obtain ATPL in USA or New Zeland are same. You have to be able to have corrected vision to 20/20. However the US Air Foorce like example do not except corrected vision initial applicants for fighter pilots, however this is not the case for an already trained fighter pilot, they can have corrected vision. What I am trying to say that every airline has their own policies, however as I know in USA they are not allowed to segregate pilots based on their age or sight. As rules states you are apsolutelly allowed to have as ATPL so airlines if they try seperate based on rule that is hired from Federal requlations, they are always sued for segregation on unfair rule. It is the case that every juror will yeld adventage to an individual over an airline. So I would not be really concern with eye sight issue, finally I do have wear corrective glasses and airline do not pay attention to that, as long as you can get first class of medical for an Airline pilot, they do not care, if you wear even helmet on head. lololol

Good Luck
Ismar