ALT-1 Factors that Restrict you from being a Pilot
There are many factors that CAN and I stress the word can restrict you from some flying aspects. The big factors like having a heart attack, or epilepsy will mean that you will not get a medical certificate. But what do you need a medical certificate for? Just to fly by yourself. If you enjoy aviation as much as I do fly with an instructor. Have them sit in the right seat, most of us will be quite and just observe. You can fly around all day, you can even have passengers in the back seat as long as the flight instructor flies in the right seat.
For less serious conditions you can get what is called a SODA. This stands for Statement of Demonstrated Ability. You go up with an examiner and he observes your flying. If he feels that you can perform all of the required duties even though you have a condition he can grant you a medical wavier. Now you can go get your medical certificate and get your license. A flight instructor can get the requirements for a particular SODA and focus your training so you can pass the test.
Eye sight. I get asked this problem over and over again. For the Air Force or Navy there is specified requirements with oddly enough are not 20/20. But for civilian flying all you have to wear are corrective lenses, so your eye sight meets the criteria. All that will happen is on your medical certificate it will say must wear corrective lenses. Now you are good to fly. Even airline pilots just need to wear glasses or contacts and now they are good to fly.
There are many things that scared people away from flying a lot of these fear stem from the medical side. Consult a flight instructor before you completely give up flying. If you have your heart set on flying in the military the medical process is extremely difficult. I just completed all of my medical and am now pilot qualified to fly for the Air Force. Civilian flying as expected is a little more relaxed when it comes to medical standards. But there still are standards and for good reason. No one wants their pilot to have had multiple heart attacks and fly them from New York to Japan.
All of this information I am telling you can be found in the Federal Aviation Regulations part 67. It's not an easy read, just to warn you, but all the information is there.
