How easy is it to get vision waivers for flying in the Air Force?

Answer 1

To become a pilot in the Air Force, the candidate's vision can be no worse than 20/70 (correctable with glasses to 20/20) in each eye. To enter Navigator Training, the candidate can have vision no worse than 20/200 in each eye (also must be correctable to 20/20).

After flight school, the standards relax a little. Pilots and Navigators who have already graduated flight training, can remain fliers as long as their vision doesn't deteriorate beyond 20/400 in each eye (correctable to 20/20).

Normal depth perception and color vision is required.

Unlike the Navy, Marine Corps and Army, individuals who have had laser eye surgery are disqualified from entering flight training. A selected number of pilots and navigators who have already completed flight training, can have laser eye surgery, as part of the Air Force's on-going study about aviator laser eye surgery.

The Navy and the Marine Corps use the same standards (The Marines do not have their own medical department. They use the Navy for all medical procedures and standards). Naval Aviators must pass a Class I Flying Physical. To become a pilot in the Navy or Marine Corps, an applicant's uncorrected vision can be no worse than 20/40 (correctable to 20/20) in each eye. Once flight training begins, vision can deteriorate to no worse than 20/100 (correctable to 20/20) in each eye. After flight training graduation, if the eyesite deteriorates worse than 20/200 (must be correctable to 20/20), the pilot will require a waiver for carrier operations. If the vision deteriorates past 20/400 (correctable to 20/20), the pilot is restricted to aircraft with dual controls (ie, aircraft with co-pilots).

NFOs (Naval Flight Officers) have no vision requirement to enter flight training. However, the student NFO's vision must be correctable to 20/20 and there are limits on refraction. Refraction must be less than or equal to plus or minus 8.00 sphere in any meridian and less than or equal to minus 3.00 cylinder. No more than 3.50 anisometropia. After flight training, to continue on flight status there is no limit on refraction for NFOs. No waivers are authorized for NFO applicants who exceed these refraction limits.

Normal color vision is required for both NFOs and pilots. Normal depth perception is required for pilots and pilot applicants.

The Navy allows laser eye survery, both for current pilots and NFOs, and for pilot/NFO applicants, if they apply for, and are accepted to participate in the Navy's on-going study about laser eye surgery for aviators.

Waivers outside of these parameters are highly unlikely for any of the services.

Answer 2

Yes. Your son might must move an eye fixed examination that suggests he has 20/20 imaginative and prescient or higher. I skilled the identical dilemma and was once no longer approved into the application. Get this regardless that, as soon as you are a pilot you'll be able to have 'corrected imaginative and prescient' (glasses, contacts or surgical procedure) of 20/20 and nonetheless be a pilot. Makes no experience.

Answer 3

probably not that easy, i know for a fact that you have to have uncorrected vision (not sure if you have to have 20/20 vision though) to be a pilot in the Air Force for the Canadian military