Depending on the disability, a number of modifications may be necessary. Similarly, some aircraft may be more suitable than others. Check our ‘where to fly’ page to find the aircraft most suitable for you. Don't worry - "getting in" is always possible, one way or another!
Medical Conditions & their
implications on flying and licensing:-
Paraplegia
Paraplegia is paralysis due to spinal injury and can be
'complete' or 'incomplete'. Complete paraplegia results in
no bodily movement or sensation below a certain point,
whereas some limited movement may be possible in incomplete
cases. Involuntary muscular spasms can result, more likely
in cases of incomplete paraplegia. Skin care is an
important issue since damage requires bed rest and repair
is a slow process.
Licensing Implications - The likelihood of achieving a
Private Pilots Licence is excellent in most cases, although
the licence will have certain restrictions applied: for
instance, validation only in UK. Need to apply to
individual countries to fly abroad - should experience no
problems here. Conditions will include details of required
adaptions and in some cases may restrict to a particular
aircraft type. Many paraplegic pilots will achieve full
independence and should not require any assistance at all.
Most Suitable Aircraft types - Piper Cherokee: Fitted with
Visionaire or Blackwood hand control. The BDFA is currently
working on a design to allow us to provide these controls
in-house.
Cessna 172: Is possible to fly P1 with Union hand control.
However, this aircraft is difficult to enter from a
wheelchair and would require others to check the fuel
levels on top of wing.
YAK 52: Has recently been adapted and is capable of
advanced aerobatics. A bit difficult to get into unless the
pilot is reasonably fit.
The above are the most readily available aircraft but
others will be suitable for modification, especially those
without toe brakes. Individual modifications tend to be
fairly expensive.
Many Microlights would seem to be very readily adapted and
costs would tend to be lower.
The CFM Shadow is a three-axis microlight with currently
available adaptations.
Also the Chevron is another fixed wing microlight suitable
for conversion. Special adaptations have been made to some
Flex Wing Microlights. Many Gliders have hand-controlled
rudders and some gliding clubs are used to disabled pilots.
Licensing Implications: Likelihood of possibility to
achieve PPL a) Only in UK, b) Only microlight GMVFS, c)
When pre-flight checks assisted by another PPL microlight
pilot, d) With restrictions.
Most suitable microlight types: Microlight GMVFS is a
Pegasus XL with hand throttle for taxiing and a steering
bar extension to handle with brake. GMVFS is a flex wing,
however, several three-axis microlights are available to
paraplegic pilots - notably Shadow, Rans Coyote, Ballerit.
It is also possible to fly hang gliders and Para gliders
General Advice - To ensure skin protection when getting in
and out use a JAY protector, available from Gerald Simmonds
Healthcare - Tel: 01296 436557.
Disability Advisors Advice can be obtained from the
following paraplegic pilots:
1. John Askew Tel: Home: 01484 854562/ Work: 01484 489104
UK PPL
2. Tim Ellison Tel: 01780 482793 U.S. Commercial Licence
3. Keith Summerhill Tel: Home: 01954 250682/Work: 01223
495537
4. Steve Derwin Tel: 01642 898989
5.Steve Varden Tel: 01524 859643 (Chairman of BHPA, a
flyability organisation).
General advice - Disability need not necessarily prevent
flying. All that is needed is determination and extra
effort.
Cerebral Palsy
Spasticity of both legs, walking possible with sticks. High
frequency deafness.
Use Handbrake instead of toe brakes. Can use rudder
controls.
Licensing implications - Likelihood of possibility to
achieve PPL is good. Need to take GFT with CAA approved
examiner before medical is issued. Examiner needs to check
ability to operate rudder, brakes and hearing via headsets.
Aircraft types - Piper Cherokee, Bulldog. Many other types
can be considered.
General advice: Can often operate rudders normally but toe
brakes are difficult. Therefore more use of handbrake may
be required.
Disability Advisors Advice can be obtained from the
following:
1. Vic Gerhardi Tel: 01296 630617 Student PPL.
Aero Club requirements - Decent accessibility preferred but
not essential
Loss (total) of Balance
Licensing implications - Likelihood of possibility to
achieve PPL not yet known. Most suitable aircraft types -
Gliding as BEA accept ability to drive a car as sufficient.
Disability Advisors Advice can be obtained from the
following:
1. Ian Keyser Tel: 01304 821588
Amputees
Amputation is the loss of a limb(s), usually as a result of
trauma, and the severity of disability is dependent upon
where the limb is severed, i.e. below the knee is better
than above the knee. Amputation may be compounded by other
injuries to the remaining leg and back.
Licensing implications - Likelihood of possibility to
achieve PPL usually excellent, in many cases without
restriction. Some amputees may have difficulty in operating
toe brakes. If this is the only type of braking system to
the aircraft, then below knee amputees can operate these
types of braking systems after some time spent practising
(taxiing is recommended); otherwise there should be no
particular difficulty.
Aero Club requirements: None in particular - a smooth
surface and step-ups (to gain access to the aircraft) would
be preferable.
Disability Advisors Advice can be obtained from the
following:
1. Nick James Tel: Work: 01793 452500 UK PPL.
2. Kevin Heard Tel: 07970 606704, e-mail:
kheard@BDFA.org.uk
Non-Specific Back
Pain
The problem is due to osteochondritis. The pain is due to
prolapsed discs, damage to the sciatic nerve and general
deterioration. This manifests itself as a constant pain in
the lower back and legs. The problems resulting from this
are reduced mobility and sitting up for any length of time
can be extremely painful, as is standing. The long term
lower back problem can cause problems with the nerves in
the neck and shoulders that lead to the hands. Writing and
any fine motor control activities are difficult and muscles
are not very strong.
Licensing implications: Likelihood of possibility to
achieve PPL is good. The main problem as far as the CAA are
concerned is the strength of medication used to manage the
pain.
Most suitable aircraft types - The main problem physically
is getting in and out. Cherokee Warriors are easier than
the Cessna but checking the fuel on a Warrior is hard
because of the bending down.
General advice - Make sure you are having a "good" day pain
wise and pace yourself. It is frustrating when the pain
gets in the way, but if you take it steadily then you
should avoid the worst of it. Remember that this is a
hidden disability and that if some people cannot see it,
they find it difficult to take seriously. Find an
instructor who does.
Disability Advisors Advice can be obtained from the
following:
1. Sandy Harrup Unfinished PPL Solo Glider Pilot.
Aero Club requirements - Not too many steps and not
enormous distances between car park & club and from the
clubhouse to the aircraft.
Deafness
There are varying degrees of deafness ranging from mild
hearing loss to total deafness. Some deaf people cannot
speak. Each deaf person has his or her own preferred method
of communication. These include sign language, lip reading
and written English. Licensing implications – Currently
unsure of possibility to achieve PPL. CAA require a safety
pilot to fly with a deaf pilot in order to deal with radio
communications. In the USA deaf pilots (where there are
over 80 of them) are allowed to fly solo in areas where use
of radio is not required. They use old-fashioned light
system for take-offs and landings.
Most suitable aircraft types - Side by side seating for
easy communication. Electronic light systems and text
communications have been used successfully in tandem seated
aircraft and gliders. Other communication strategies
include use of mirrors and sticks etc. General advice -
Deaf people may take longer to learn because of the
communication problems.
Disability Advisors Advice can be obtained from the
following:
1. Joan Hartley Tel: 01480 370544 (voice/minicom/fax) Solo
Glider Pilot.
Aero Club requirement - The ideal instructor would know
sign language, speak slowly and clearly for lip readers and
use written English & diagrams to explain everything.
Polio
Polio is a disease of the nervous system. It destroys the
nerves that send messages from the brain to the muscles.
After the initial bout of the disease, sufferers are
usually left with permanent weakening of parts of their
bodies and limbs to varying degrees. Sensation is not lost
in those areas so pain, etc, can still be felt. Wear and
tear on the unaffected area resulting from excessive use
over the years - spine curvature, pulled ligaments and
tendons and arthritis are common complaints.
Licensing implications - Likelihood of possibility to
achieve PPL is excellent in most cases, although a license
will have certain restrictions applied by the CAA; for
instance validation only in the UK. You will need to apply
to individual countries to fly abroad, but you should
experience no problems here. Conditions of issue will
include details of the required adaptations and, in some
cases, may restrict the person to a particular aircraft
type. If Polio has affected leg function it may also
restrict the use of a foot strap adaptation or to fly an
aircraft with a fully hand operated brake.
Most suitable aircraft types - Piper Cherokee PA28: These
low wing aircraft are fairly easily accessed and have
operational hand brakes. Robin DA400: Another low winged
aircraft but not as easy to get into as the Cherokee, as it
has no interim step onto the wing, making the first step
rather high. It has an operational hand brake and being of
a light construction it is very easy to fly.
The above are the most readily available aircraft with
working hand brakes. If a foot strap is required because
use of one leg is restricted then these have to be made up
individually to suit each aircraft type, as the rudder
pedals are of different shapes and designs. As a foot strap
is not a permanent fixture of the plane, it is not subject
to inspection from the authorities.
Many microlights seem to be readily adapted and costs trend
to be lower. The CFM Shadow is a three-axis microlight with
many adaptations available.
Some gliders too have hand held rudder controls and there
are gliding clubs who are accustomed to disabled pilots.
General advice: Not to over strain joints and muscles when
getting in & out of an aircraft.
Disability Advisors Advice can be obtained from the
following:
1. Rosemary Rolfe Tel: Home: 01474 812064/Work: 01474
337377 UK PPL.
2. Stuart Sutton-Jones Tel: 0181 347 8959.
Aero Club requirements - Reasonable accessibility to all
facilities, preferably tarmac surface for the pre-flight
checks. Ensure that extra time is made available for
accessing and fitting of any adaptations
Spina Bifida
Spina Bifida is the result of the spine malforming during
the early stages of development prior to birth. This can
result in various degrees of disability from a slight
weakness of the lower body to complete paraplegia. It is
also possible that urinary infections will also be
involved. Excessive pressure on the exposed area of the
spine can, in some cases, cause severe headaches and care
must be taken not to allow this to occur too often as it
could spoil a day’s flying as certain pain killers are not
recommended for piloting an aircraft.
Licensing implications - Likelihood of possibility to
achieve PPL: As with paraplegia, there is a good chance of
obtaining a PPL. Much of this will depend on the severity
of the disability. Restrictions will be applied. Conditions
will include details of required adaptations and, in some
cases, may restrict to a particular aircraft type.
Most suitable aircraft types - Piper Cherokee: Fitted with
Blackwood Hand Control. Early Cherokees without toe brakes
are currently approved, though approval for modifications
to later types is currently being sought. Those less
disabled can use rudder pedals but may not be able to use
toe brakes and, as such, will need to use hand brake for
stopping.
General advice: Because of the urinary infections, kidney
stones can form and this will require regular x-rays to
ensure that no stones are present.
Disability Advisors Advice can be obtained from the
following:
1. Max Diment Tel: 01752 895256 UK Student PPL.
Aero Club requirements - Decent accessibility. Preferably
tarmac surface for pre-flight checks. Preferable that club
fits Blackwood Hand Control prior to flight. Crutch users
can use grassed airfields.