Uncorrected Visual Acuity Standards for the Airlines

Zidac

Zidac

Well-Known Member
Hey everyone,

From what I have read, a First Class Medical Certificate isn't always enough. United requires a 20/100 uncorrected visual acuity in each eye, even if it is correctable to 20/20. (Not that they are hiring now anyway, but I assume they are still doing this.)

Does anyone know of any other airlines (major carriers or regionals) that also have uncorrected vision standards? Thanks.
 
If this trend moves over to all of the other airlines then I have pretty much wasted tens of thousands of dollars on training, sweet!
 
Muff3n said:
If this trend moves over to all of the other airlines then I have pretty much wasted tens of thousands of dollars on training, sweet!
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No kidding man... I'd be totally screwed. I can't see anything past about 3ft without my contacts... sucks!
 
Actually the trend over the last several years had been a relaxing of requirements. If you go back in time the airlines used to give "Astronaut Physical exams". These went very far beyond FAA class 1 requirements. You could even fail at American for family tree medical conditions even if you were in perfect health. Delta was one of the last holdouts with a requirement of 20/20 near and far uncorrected. Many of these pre-employment medical weed out programs went away with the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Going forward there may be a few lingering things left when/if hiring ever resumes in force at the majors, but for the most part the trend is your friend.

At the regionals, a different story indeed. Drive through Class 1 in hand, pulse, breathing, willing to sit on sheepskin day or night on demand; Willing to work for next to nothing; The job is yours. Congratulations you r en error-line pilot.:drool:
 
I've got 20/500 in each eye uncorrected. While I don't work for a major, I haven't heard of any airlines where it'd be a problem (as long as you're correctable).
 
dasleben said:
I've got 20/500 in each eye uncorrected. While I don't work for a major, I haven't heard of any airlines where it'd be a problem (as long as you're correctable).
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Jesus, I thought I was blind. What do they make your glasses out of, old coke bottle bottoms?
 
Sounds like people haven't heard about any current airlines doing this, so that's good. The information I was looking at was pre-merger with Continental, so it's very possible that they have relaxed or done away with the 20/100 requirement. (Any UAL pilots know for sure?)

The issue actually went all the way up to the Supreme Court (Sutton v. United Airlines, Inc.) in 1999. Twin sisters with 20/200 vision (but correctable to 20/20) were rejected for this reason by UAL. They sued UAL under the Americans with Disabilities Act, but the court ruled in favor of UAL, thereby allowing them to continue with this requirement. You can check out the summary here:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/97-1943.ZS.html
 
Zidac said:
Hey everyone,

From what I have read, a First Class Medical Certificate isn't always enough. United requires a 20/100 uncorrected visual acuity in each eye, even if it is correctable to 20/20. (Not that they are hiring now anyway, but I assume they are still doing this.)

Does anyone know of any other airlines (major carriers or regionals) that also have uncorrected vision standards? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Well, for the most part, if you can pass a First Class, you're alright.

Delta used to require 20/20 uncorrected.
 
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