Curious what pilots think

[BoB]

I have been curious for quite sometime about how pilots feel about this topic. This summer I met a handicapped pilot. He flew a fixed wing aircraft with another passenger that acted as 'Air Attack' for firefighters on the ground. Now I was impressed because this man was in a wheelchair but could still fly an airplane. However as I brought this up to a few people about how cool it was that he could fly I began to hear a few disturbing things. I heard of a hotshot crew that refused to get on a helicopter because the pilot was handicapped. This particular pilot was missing a leg and yet could still fly a helicopter with the use of a prosthetic (excuse the spelling) leg. What do pilots think about this? Do you think a pilot could still safely fly a helicopter or a fixed wing aircraft under adverse conditions? Just curious....

[Have Blue]

I think thre're just as capable providing their means of controlling their damaged limbs and such are good.

[Mike]

Hmmm, touchy subject.
Here is my take on it:

The Hot Shots just need to grow up, build a bridge, and get over it!
There are many things that make a pilot a good pilot and controlling the aircraft, although a very important part, isn't all of what being a pilot is all about. There are Go/No-go decisions to be made judging the weather, reading the elments, and especially when you fly a helicopter you make hundreds of little decisions all the time.
These guys are more than able to control the aircraft, let me tell you. I happen to know the fellow you mentioned who flys a Cessna 337 for air-attack.
This guy is not only a good pilot, but a true inspiration to me. He has done more stuff in his life without the use of his legs than most people have done being able to walk. He owns a boat, skies, goes horseback-riding, and flies planes. He used to be a Vietnam pilot until a helicopter accident finished his helicopter career. So now he's off flying planes. AND he even teaches other people how to fly planes! I'd jump into a plane with this guy any day. As I would with the guy with the prostetic leg. He works River City Helicopters, right? I know him too.

Check out this website www.wheelchairaviators.org for more info and inspiration.

Athough Hot Shots are known for the hard and dangerous work they do, I don't think they are the biggest thinkers out there and have very knowledge about aviation. I wouldn't go by what they say too much. They can always walk off the mountain if the aircaft or pilot doesn't suit them.

I don't think this has ever been an issue in the pilot world, 'cause this is the first time I had somebody bring it up. . .

[BoB]

Are handicapped pilots allowed to fly commercially?

[Sleek-Jet]

Are handicapped pilots allowed to fly commercially?

The guy mentioned before, flying air-attak, is a commercial pilot.  And I've known a few legless instructors.  I also know a 135 pilot that could barely walk, but he flew Seneca's and what not all around the Western US for years.

As far as, say, the airlines, I've never seen a Boeing with hand controls.  It's probably more a mater of logistics than a disqualification due to the person being paraplegic or what have you.  Now amputies would be a different story.  I'm sure there are a few inhabiting the front office.

[Inept]

I've read about a deaf pilot in Illinois that has his commercial ticket.   He is ineligable for an instrument rating nor going anywhere that requires two way communication without a safety pilot to take the radio.   He's limited to VFR commercial work, but can still fly for hire within those restrictions.

[Roland]

It depends on the passion one has for his work he does. I met so many pilots, who tried to kill me with their stupidity and lack of skill, but had no visible handicap. I’ve met pilots, who are unable to organize simple live on their own but could fly like god. To me it is not so important if a pilot has all limbs to fly but the fact he brings his passengers an plane back safely and in one piece.

[BoB]

So incredibly true! I have had the pleasure of most of my aviation career being filled with competent and safety conscious pilots. However I have ran into a couple who have a complete disregard for the rules and safety precautions we have as regulations. However, with the hotshot mentality these are the pilots they grudgingly fly with while they discriminate against the handicapped yet competent pilots. I am truly pleased with the response you guys have given my topic. You have given me some material to fire use if I get in such a conversation again.

[fireflyr]

GEE!,

I wish I had signed onto this board earlier since this is a rather dated post.

The handicapped pilot Mike mentioned earlier is my boss, Mike Smith, who is my relief pilot and the company check airman.    He compensates for being a paraplegic with

 intelligence, great skill, preflight planning, knowledge and confidence.    He has been discriminated against by certain FAA individuals, some Forest Service employees, and

 a few other pilots. 

His reply to any discrimination is simple yet difficult---he just redoubles his efforts and proves them wrong!   He is hard and demanding because he expects as much from

his pilots as he does from himself yet he treats us like family, and because of that, our end of season evaluations are among the highest in the industry. 

I also know a very competent fling wing pilot who is a paraplegic, he was a fixed wing cargo pilot who's back was broken in a takeoff accident.   When asked by

Workman's Comp what kind of retraining he would like, his rely was "I'd like to fly helicopters".  I have also flown with a paraplegic private pilot in his new Bonanza who's

determination was only eclipsed by his skill.    This kind of determination in the face of great difficulty produces the finest sort of individual who compensates for a

handicap by being better at what they do than most.   

I will ride in the back seat and take a nap when these men are at the controls which is a lot more then I can say for a lot of pilots with whom I've ridden.

[BoB]

Wow Thanks so much for all the info! I will use this  information next time I encounter such close minded people!

[FlyingBlind]

Its perfectly normal for a handicapped man (in this case ,missing a leg but has a prostetical one...whats the problem?) to fly a helicopter.Those hotshots need to grow up.

[gschjetne]

One perhaps less significant thing, though...what about colour blindness? I don't see why it would be a problem (If you can't see the redline, look it up in the POH and remember it) but there was much ado about getting a colour blindness test when I was getting my JAR-FCL PPL. I checked out on the vision, no problem, but I'm kind of curious if it poses an actual issue.

[Gulfstream Driver]

The Feds think color blindness is more of a problem than it tends to be.  The theory is that you need to see in colors to read the maps and to get light gun signals.  It's usually not too much of a problem for Private (in the U.S., anyway), but it poses a real obstacle for Commercial.

[Mike]

One perhaps less significant thing, though...what about colour blindness? I don't see why it would be a problem (If you can't see the redline, look it up in the POH and remember it) but there was much ado about getting a colour blindness test when I was getting my JAR-FCL PPL. I checked out on the vision, no problem, but I'm kind of curious if it poses an actual issue.

I had a color-blind student once. Aparently there are very many different ways of being color-blind. He had to do some sort of test to make sure he can differentiate between red and green (the light signals are and issue with the FAA) and then get some sort of permit from Oklahoma directly. But it can be done. Although I think if your completely color-blind and can't keep green and red (signals) and or yello and white (rwy and txywy) apart it might be extremly difficult.

I even met a deaf pilot once. He was able to get some sort of a private license and I think he has to file a flight plan and squawk a code wherever he goes but even that can be done!

Commercially it gets difficult, I admit . . .

[FlyingBlind]

One perhaps less significant thing, though...what about colour blindness? I don't see why it would be a problem (If you can't see the redline, look it up in the POH and remember it) but there was much ado about getting a colour blindness test when I was getting my JAR-FCL PPL. I checked out on the vision, no problem, but I'm kind of curious if it poses an actual issue.

I had a color-blind student once. Aparently there are very many different ways of being color-blind. He had to do some sort of test to make sure he can differentiate between red and green (the light signals are and issue with the FAA) and then get some sort of permit from Oklahoma directly. But it can be done. Although I think if your completely color-blind and can't keep green and red (signals) and or yello and white (rwy and txywy) apart it might be extremly difficult.

I even met a deaf pilot once. He was able to get some sort of a private license and I think he has to file a flight plan and squawk a code wherever he goes but even that can be done!

Commercially it gets difficult, I admit . . .

I agree about the commercial part...it does intend to get difficult...handicap is a serious thing !