Does anybody know what the uncorrected vision requirements are for various expat jobs such as Cathay, Emirates and the Indian/Chinese companies?

I have excellent corrected vision but unfortunately my uncorrected vision without glasses is not good. I am myopic (near sighted) requiring a prescription of about -6.5...

My first choice would be to do a JAA conversion and work in Europe but I have basically given up on that idea because I doubt that I can get a JAA 1st class due to the strict uncorrected vision requirements. My understanding is that there is a very small chance that I might be able to get a 1st class through the UK CAA by getting a waiver for the initial uncorrected cut off of -5.0 as long as I could pass the recurrent 1st class cut off of -7.0 but I'm not counting on that.

Since it looks like Europe is out of the question I am hoping to go to Cathay, Emirates or perhaps one of the new Indian or Chinese carriers. I would sincerely appreciate any input from expat pilots knowledgeable about this subject.

Also, does anybody know of any corporate/fractionals in Europe that fly N registered aircraft so that I could be based in Europe but fly on my FAA ATP and Medical? I doubt there are many but it's worth a shot...

Here in the USA having bad uncorrected vision is not an issue with most companies (I think UAL might still have a limit?) but it seems that in the rest of the world it can still be a big problem. I would hate to get through all the interviews at Cathay, Emirates etc. and be rejected at the medical examination...

Thanks for your input!

Wolf,
With such poor vision, how did you bag the sheep? Skills,cunning, and hard work;luck that produced results.
Lasix and/or Ortho K may do wonders
Regards

Do your research before going to the Lasik/R-K route; in some countries surgical vision correction is an instant disqualification.

Very witty indeed...





I'm not planning on going with surgery for this reason. If I ever did, it would be PRK and not LASIK. I have excellent vision with glasses or contacts and for now I am not willing to accept the risk associated with these procedures no matter how small.

Still hoping to get some first hand knowledge from pilots familiar with the regulations in the Mideast, Asia, Indian subcontinent etc.


Thanks.

can't help you on ALL the countries you've listed, but I know you should cross Japan off the list. Their vision reqs are listed (on a secondhand source) for a contract position with JAL on wasinc.net...of course that might be COMPANY policy as opposed to country regs.

India you might be aight. I've heard ur FAA 1st class is usually good enough if you're getting validated, as opposed to converting (in which case you would have to have a full out DGCA medical). Call some Indians...they're at every flight school in America working on their CPLs. At least it feels like that.

China=a huge question mark. Best bet to find out would be talking to recruiters for CFI jobs with Shenzen Flight Academy or PAIFA (pan am international flight academy)..both are in China, so if you talked to their recruiters they surely know what the reqs are for vision, since you'd have to convert to instruct there anyways.

Flying in Europe is almost impossible for an American...it's way easier to meet and marry a euro chick, or get 500-1000 TPIC on an ATR, A320, 737, CRJ, or Do328 prop or jet...once you have that there are opportunities that will sponsor you for a permit.

Also, Switzerland is hiring ATC controllers...and it pays megabucks (90,000 swiss francs = 6 figures USD).

L77STFD . . .just about the funniest thing I have read in a long while.

As for the eyes, I hate to say it but the Japanese carriers will not hire you if you have had Lasik, sorry.

With the vision, even corrected, you are likely to have a tough go at it with the Asian carriers as they are pretty picky. You might want to inquire with some Chinese expat employers as to your hire-ability with Lasik; Jade Cargo or any of the Shenzen group come to mind.

Good luck with it eh.

Do you know anywhere one can actually look up the JCAB medical requirements? I've heard from many places it's an astronaut physical, but I've yet to find an actual rundown of all the things they're looking for.

Try Bruce ay Hawaiin Aviation; good guy and easy to talk to. He'll set you straight.

They do have a number of requirements, including a BMI max so weight issues would also be of a concern. The Lasik stipulation was included in some paper from AJX so might just be an All Nippon thing.