Too fat to fly?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Glasow
Age: 37
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Too fat to fly?
I have long dreamed of gaining my PPL, and hopefully (everything going ok) making a career out of it. Although I am a big guy. I am 6 foot tall and I'm 19 stones...would this prevent me from learning to fly? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Portugal
Age: 39
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't think so...If you're generally healthy there should be no problem...
If anything, your size can be important when it comes to choosing the airplane you're doing the PPL in, some people just cant fit inside a Cessna 152 comfortably..
Anyway i'd advise you to do the medicals before you start investing money and time and enthusiasm on being a pilot ( but that's not because of the weight, it's just good advice for anyone..).
And have fun flying!
If anything, your size can be important when it comes to choosing the airplane you're doing the PPL in, some people just cant fit inside a Cessna 152 comfortably..
Anyway i'd advise you to do the medicals before you start investing money and time and enthusiasm on being a pilot ( but that's not because of the weight, it's just good advice for anyone..).
And have fun flying!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Glasow
Age: 37
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeah....
Thanks ever so much for the advice mate....I will look into it more...even if not for a career, just something to do in my spare time. Thanks.
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: London
Posts: 519
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
19 Stone is quite heavy but you should still be okay. Where I trained one of the instructors was a small female so she used to be put with the big students that would have otherwise been too heavy with the average instructor. You probably won't be able to train in a little C150/2 but the slightly larger 4 seaters should be okay for you.
If you find you absolotely love flying it may also incentivise you to try to lose a few stone as well!
For commercial flying you will need a Class 1 medical and I think (I may be wrong) that they work out your BMI from weight and height. They also test blood colesterol. It's been a while since I did my medical exam so I forget but you should check the medical requirements first if you only want to fly commercially. For private flying the medical requirements are a bit more slack.
Hope all that helps.
If you find you absolotely love flying it may also incentivise you to try to lose a few stone as well!
For commercial flying you will need a Class 1 medical and I think (I may be wrong) that they work out your BMI from weight and height. They also test blood colesterol. It's been a while since I did my medical exam so I forget but you should check the medical requirements first if you only want to fly commercially. For private flying the medical requirements are a bit more slack.
Hope all that helps.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Glasow
Age: 37
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thx
Thanks for the advice mate, yeah I've lost a stone nearly in about 2 weeks just getting back into fitness and stuff, aiming to get back down to around 15 or 16 through running and kick boxing 
I'll lose some more before I go for my lessons....thanks again.
I'll lose some more before I go for my lessons....thanks again.
Losing a stone in 2 weeks sounds awful fast to me - something like twice as fast as recommended.
Is there a maximum seat load in a Cessna etc.? I ask as there is in gliders and it's commonly 242 pounds - 110 kg, 17 stone 4 pounds, and that includes the parachute.
Is there a maximum seat load in a Cessna etc.? I ask as there is in gliders and it's commonly 242 pounds - 110 kg, 17 stone 4 pounds, and that includes the parachute.
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Near Stuttgart, Germany
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Hello!
They take the body mass index under consideration for the class 1 medical (in case you want to make a carrer out of it), but I think you are within limits alerady. I have flown with heavier guys than you, all of them professional pilots or ATPL holders. Some even instructed on the C152. Not too nice for the student though!
They take the body mass index under consideration for the class 1 medical (in case you want to make a carrer out of it), but I think you are within limits alerady. I have flown with heavier guys than you, all of them professional pilots or ATPL holders. Some even instructed on the C152. Not too nice for the student though!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Glasow
Age: 37
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
...
Yeah it is fast but I have been eating my RDA in calories, just exercising for 4 or 5 hours a day. Recommendations for weight loss say 1 or 2 lbs a week. I'll wait until I get closer to where I want to be before taking my lessons...I've always dreamed about flying myself to France or down to Spain...
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: London
Posts: 519
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is there a maximum seat load in a Cessna etc.? I ask as there is in gliders and it's commonly 242 pounds - 110 kg, 17 stone 4 pounds, and that includes the parachute.
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: n/a
Posts: 1,425
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Click thread tools (just to the right of the top of the first post) there is an option to subscribe. You can choose instant (so it emails as soon as anyone posts) or a daily or weekly update.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Glasow
Age: 37
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ty
Thanks for that, I just did it. Also wanted to ask if anyone has a clue as to where I can get a charger for my scanner, I wanted to listen in to some air towers and stuff but I can't find my charger anywhere! argh! 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: EGSX
Age: 57
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you get down to 15/16 stone no reason why you can't learn in a 152. I'm 6 foot 2 inches and basically my weight varies from 15 0 to 15 stone 13lbs, depending on how lazy I feeling at the time.
I learnt in a 152 - admittedly, the school found a fairly thin instructor to teach me, but its possible. I just can't take another passenger my size with me, and I tend to fly on my tod when I rent the group 150, for safety sake - otherwise I fly 172s.
I learnt in a 152 - admittedly, the school found a fairly thin instructor to teach me, but its possible. I just can't take another passenger my size with me, and I tend to fly on my tod when I rent the group 150, for safety sake - otherwise I fly 172s.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Glasow
Age: 37
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeah man, I'm going to aim to get down to about 15, my other half is about 14 stone, so me at 15 and another at 14, would that be safe? I was also looking at a share in a plane as that seems to be quite a good idea....I really want to take up flying!
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: EGSX
Age: 57
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You'd exceed MTOW (Maximum take off weight) for both of you in a 150/152 I'm afraid. You might just manage it if you had a thimbleful of fuel, but you won't be able to go far!
The thing is, you'd probably be able to fly with full tanks, but you'd be over the quoted maximum weight. Hence no insurance, not legal blah blah blah... and I'm certainly not recommending it!
Of course, thats in a 152. There are lots of other 2 seaters out there you may well be OK in.
The thing is, you'd probably be able to fly with full tanks, but you'd be over the quoted maximum weight. Hence no insurance, not legal blah blah blah... and I'm certainly not recommending it!
Of course, thats in a 152. There are lots of other 2 seaters out there you may well be OK in.
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Fantastic to hear you plan to get your body weight down. This really is the way to go if you can make it work.
The fully gold plated outcome is to get your weight down to around 13 stone and keep it there. This will not only give you access to a much wider choice of aircraft to fly it will also drive down your risk of losing your license in the future due to medical problems.
Obesity – your BMI is 36 which puts you well into the obesity category - can result in heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Even at 15 stone your BMI is 28.5 which indicates you are seriously overweight but in a very much better position than being 19 stone.
Keeping the calories down and the exercise up is the way to go. Don’t try to get it all off at once but look for an average reduction of 2 to 3 pounds a week. To get to 15 stone plan on it taking around 30 weeks.
The fully gold plated outcome is to get your weight down to around 13 stone and keep it there. This will not only give you access to a much wider choice of aircraft to fly it will also drive down your risk of losing your license in the future due to medical problems.
Obesity – your BMI is 36 which puts you well into the obesity category - can result in heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Even at 15 stone your BMI is 28.5 which indicates you are seriously overweight but in a very much better position than being 19 stone.
Keeping the calories down and the exercise up is the way to go. Don’t try to get it all off at once but look for an average reduction of 2 to 3 pounds a week. To get to 15 stone plan on it taking around 30 weeks.
just exercising for 4 or 5 hours a day
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kent, UK
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would forget any ambitions of flying in 150/152's for now, and stick with 172 or PA28. It may still be a tight squeeze and you will be cosy with your instructor but much more feasible in a 4 seater.
Good luck, you will not regret it
Good luck, you will not regret it
