am I too short?

H

Howard

Well-Known Member
Hi guys,

I have one question which is not really medical so I post it here. I am 168cm (5.5 feet) tall which is well, not tall really. I know that "technically" it is not an obstacle and no airline has an "official" problem with this, it is well within limits, but ive always been worried that maby this fact will play against me in the sense that airlines might not see "their ideal image of a captain". You know, that kind of "behind closed doors" thinking by airlines.

Probably im just being stupid, but it would be good to hear your thoughts.

thanks in advance,

Alonso
 
5'5" is not that short.

Airliners have fully adjustable seats & pedals, reaching the controls is not an issue. In your case I can pretty much promise you your height is not an issue.
 
thanks for that MQAAord

dont get me wrong I know that I have no "physical problem" (using pedals and controll) hell, im not that short im thinking more of the "image" airlines are looking for.

but thanks anyway
 
...and guys much WIDER at mine...

The 5'10' - 6'00", trimmed, shaven, square jawed, steeley eyed, properly dressed and pressed, and in-shape "Image" of an airline pilot is WAAAAAYYY gone. Unfortunately...

Most interviews these days:

Can you fly the plane? Yes
Are you an idiot? No
Are you an Arse in the cockpit... excuse me... flightdeck? No
Do you meet the Mins? Yes
Did anyone refer you or do you have any letters of Recommendation? Yes

Welcome aboard! ;)

Bob
 
Philip said:
I got a buddy who is about 5'2. He doesn't QUITE need a booster seat, but close.
Click to expand...

Don't you be pickin' on the booster seats, man!

I needed one for my PPL training, the warriers & archer I flew didn't have enough vertical adjustment in the seat to let me see well enough so I used a seat cushion from Nelson. It looked like this only mine is blue:

booster.jpg
 
Yeah, used to see this little dude walking around the airport carrying one of those. It's probably better than carrying bags of ballast to toss in the backseat.

Adjusting the seat for me is easy, grab the release, slide all the way back, release release, slide seat forward to first "latch"
it's important to remember the last step, it sucks to have your seat slam forward a couple inches on final.
 
Pipers have enough forward movment with the seat that I can reach the pedals fine, for me it was that the seat was too low, and it just didn't adjust high enough for me.

When I got to fly the ATR (don't ask) & the ATR sim (courtesy of a ATR sim instructor buddy of mine) the seats & the pedals adjusted just fine. Airliners really do have a lot of room for adjustment, for both really tall and really short people.
 
I honestly don't ever remember bothering with the up/down controls. Maybe I should have, doing something like a cross controlled stall demo my legs get in the way of the controls.
 
well guys thanks for those replies I guess I knew it all along but its good to hear it from people in the business.

all the best
 
I had a guy that was fairly short and struggled for the longest time with landings. I couldn't figure out why at first but after a while I suggested a booster (I didn't know they existed until someone asked me if he used one because of his height) and he got the landings thing down just fine after that. I should have had him start with a booster from the beginning but didn't really think about it. Gotta put yourself in the student's shoes from time to time.

I have the other problem. I am 6'4" 210 and can't fit in some planes like the Diamonds and am borderline in the Seminole (just can't use a kneeboard) in that thing. Before I started spending money on flying though I sat in a whole bunch of airliners and made sure I fit in those!
 
My last captain was 6'5 and a former BYU and Dallas Cowboy football player!

One of my friends is 6'7 (luuuuuuuuuurch!) and he fits in the 75/76 just fine. ("Damn Steve, you get taller every time I see you!)
 
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