You can still become a pilot no matter if you are Deaf.

Did anyone tell you that Deaf people can’t be pilot? They are wrong. Don’t let them stop you from dreaming to be a great pilot. I researched and found many answers because I wanted to be a pilot someday. Just wanted to share this with you in case you wish to be flying an airplane too. Be sure to click the links so you can get more informations. Tell others that Deaf people can be flying the airplanes. Happy reading- Bug

                                                            

Q. If I am deaf, can I obtain a pilot certificate?

A. Yes, an individual who is deaf can obtain a pilot certificate in one of the five categories of aircraft: airplane, rotorcraft, glider, powered-lift, or lighter-than-air.

Q. What are the grades of pilot certificates?

A. There are five grades of pilot certificates that are available: student pilot, recreational pilot, private pilot, commercial pilot, and airline transport pilot.

Q. What types of certificates can a deaf pilot obtain?

A. A deaf pilot can obtain a student pilot certificate, recreational pilot certificate, private pilot certificate, and, on a limited basis, a commercial pilot certificate; for example, agricultural aircraft operations, banner towing operations, or any operation which does not require radio communication. With new interface technology for in cockpit receipt of weather information and digital communication, additional pilot certificates may be available to deaf pilots in the future.

Q. What are the differences in the certificates?

A. A student pilot certificate is designed for the initial instructional period of flying. The student pilot is limited to flying with the flight instructor or solo after appropriate instructor endorsements (Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) sections 61.87 and 61.89). A recreational pilot certificate limits the holder to specific categories and classes of aircraft, the number of passengers which may be carried, the distance that may be flown from the departure point, flight into controlled airports, and other limitations (14 CFR section 61.101). A private pilot certificate permits the pilot to carry passengers and provides for limited business use of an airplane (14 CFR section 61.113). A commercial pilot certificate permits the pilot to conduct certain types of operations for compensation and hire (14 CFR section 61.133).

Q. Are there limitations placed on a deaf pilot’s certificate?

A. Yes. A deaf pilot’s certificate will include the limitation, “Not Valid for Flights Requiring the Use of Radio” (14 CFR section 61.13).

Q. How do I choose a flight school and flight instructor? A. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has a book available on choosing your flight instructor and flight school. The International Deaf Pilots Association (IDPA) has information regarding flight instructors who know how to sign. Generally speaking, you should visit the location to observe the professionalism of the school. You will need to discuss your particular degree of hearing impairment with the flight instructor and establish how to communicate best with each other. Have the flight instructor you select contact the IDPA for additional advice and assistance.Q. When is a medical examination required?A. All student pilots must obtain at least a third class airman medical certificate from an FAA Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) before the first solo flight, except for gliders and balloons, which do not require a medical certificate.Q. Are there special medical requirements for the deaf pilot?

A. Yes, a deaf pilot is required to submit the results of a hearing exam to the medical examiner or the FAA in order to satisfy the medical exam. He or she must also take a Special Medical Flight Test in the later stages of flight instruction to demonstrate the following: 1) recognition of engine power loss or engine failure by a change in vibration and by instrument scan; 2) recognition of approaching stall by aerodynamic buffet and visual cues; and 3) recognition of retractable gear emergencies by observation of gear warning lights (if applicable). Upon the successful completion of the Special Medical Flight Test, the FAA will issue a second-class or third-class medical certificate and a Statement of Demonstrated Ability (SODA). This can be done at a Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) of choice.

Q. Are there limitations placed on a deaf pilot’s medical certificate and SODA?

A. Yes, Both the medical certificate and the SODA will have the limitation “Not valid for flying where radio use is required.” Additional limitations may be placed on the medical certificate and SODA by the Aeromedical Certification Division as appropriate to the class of medical certificate.

Q. What are the hourly requirements in becoming a pilot?

A. 14 CFR part 61 (Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors) prescribes the hourly requirements for the issuance of pilot certificates and ratings. A person applying for a private pilot certificate in airplanes, helicopters, and gyro-planes must log at least 40 hours of flight time, of which at least 20 hours are flight training from an authorized instructor and 10 hours of solo flight training in the appropriate areas of operation; three hours of cross country; three hours at night, three hours of instrument time; and other requirements specific to the category and class rating sought. Private pilots in gliders and lighter-than-air aircraft must have logged from an authorized instructor a similar number of hours and/ or training flights, which include both cross country and solo according to category and class rating sought. Though the regulations require a minimum of 40 hours flight time, in the U. S. the average number of hours for persons without a hearing impairment completing the private pilot certification requirements is approximately 75 hours.

Q. Are there any tests required to become a student pilot?

A. No. To obtain a student pilot certificate you must pass the medical exam discussed earlier. (Before the first solo, you must pass a written exam administered by your flight instructor (14 CFR section 61.87). To obtain a higher certificate you must pass a knowledge and practical test. The knowledge test is administered by computer and is good for a period of two years. The practical test examines your flying skills and ability against a published standard during an examination flight with a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) in the category and class of aircraft in which you are getting your pilot certificate. Part of the practical test is an oral examination administered by the DPE.

Q. How do I prepare for the knowledge exam?

A. An instructional kit is available at most flight schools to help prepare the knowledge exam. Video tapes are also available (with closed captioning) to assist student pilots studying for the exam. Many flight schools also conduct ground instruction in a regular classroom scenario, but you would have to advise the flight school that it would have to locate and arrange for interpreters under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The IDPA or local deaf advocate organizations would be able to assist the flight school in locating interpreters. Again, check with your local FSDO for flight schools in your area.

Q. Do I need an interpreter for the computer based knowledge exam?

A. No, it is simply a multiple choice exam administered by computer.

Q. Where are the knowledge exams given?

A. Computer testing centers are located in most major metropolitan areas. For a current listing of those in your area, contact your local FSDO. The exams are given at your convenience.

Q. To obtain a private pilot certificate, is there a requirement for operations at a controlled airport?

A. Yes, a requirement of the private pilot certificate is to perform three takeoff and landings at a controlled airport to demonstrate your ability to communicate with the tower.

Q. How does a deaf pilot complete this requirement for a private pilot certificate?

A. The student and instructor need to work with the local airport personnel. Light gun signals are available for aircraft that do not have radios or in case of a radio failure. With prior permission, a deaf pilot can communicate with the tower by the use of the light gun signals.

Q. How does a deaf pilot determine the traffic direction at an airport?

A. An aircraft without radio communications remains out of the airport area and observes the traffic landing and departing. Additionally, the pilot looks for the wind sock or segmented circle, where available, to determine wind direction or direction of landing. The pilot enters the traffic pattern as recommended in the Aeronautical Information Manual and by regulation (14 CFR part 91, subpart B).

Q. How does a deaf pilot obtain a weather briefing?

A. The Direct User Access Terminal System (DUATS) is available at most general aviation airports or on personal computers to provide weather information to pilots. A deaf pilot can also use a Relay Service to access a Flight Service Station briefer at 1-800-WXBRIEF (1-800-992-7433).

Q. How does a deaf pilot complete the practical test’s oral and flight portions?

A. The practical test is completed using a detailed written “plan of action” as described in the appropriate Practical Test Standards (PTS). This plan of action will include all required Tasks in each Area of Operation and should not differ significantly from the process followed by the instructor and the applicant in preparing for the practical test.

For additional information please contact any of the following sources.

International Deaf Pilots Association
Clyde Smith, President
RR 1 Box 99
E-1 Gravel Springs Road
Jacksonville, IL 62650
217-243-0065 (Voice/ TTY)
217-243-0066 (Fax)
e-mail clymar@csj.net

Federal Aviation Administration
General Aviation and Commercial Division
Certification Branch, AFS-840
800 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20591
202-267-8196

Federal Aviation Administration
Aeromedical Certification Division
FAA Aeronautical Center
PO Box 25082
Oklahoma City, OK 73125
405-954-4821

Federal Aviation Administration
Office of Aerospace Medicine-AAM
800 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20591
202-267-3835

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
421 Aviation Way
Frederick, MD 21701
301-695-2137
301-695-2375 (Fax)

 http://www.aviationwise.org/student_pilot/deaf_student_pilot.htm

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Another one from ( http://www.deafpilots.com/fly-ins/2005/deafpilotsfaq.html )

How can you fly if you cannot hear on the radio?

Airports (and airspace) can be of two kinds: controlled or uncontrolled. Pilots operating at controlled airports or in controlled airspace are required to be in radio contact with Air Traffic Control (ATC). At uncontrolled airports, however, pilots are only encouraged, but not required, to use their radio to directly advise other pilots in the area of their positions and intentions. Thus, deaf pilots are able to fly into and out of uncontrolled airports without using the radio. (Uncontrolled airports are also called nontowered airports.)

What kind of limitations are placed on your pilot certificate?

When issuing a pilot certificate to an otherwise qualified deaf person, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposes a limitation: Not Valid for Flights Requiring the Use of Radio.

Isn’t that a big limitation?

No. You may be surprised to learn that of more than 13,000 airports in the United States, less than 700 have control towers. All the other 12,300 airports are uncontrolled and accessible to deaf pilots.

If a deaf pilot wants to fly into a controlled airport, he or she can bring along a qualified co-pilot or flight instructor who can handle the necessary radio communications with ATC. Sometimes, special arrangements for a “no-radio arrival” (or departure), using light signals, can be made with the control tower in advance.

How do you know about other planes in the air?

Under Visual Flying Rules (VFR), under which most general aviation flights are conducted, you are responsible for seeing and avoiding other airplanes, and remaining well clear of clouds. As you learn to fly, you will develop a skill for spotting airplanes and adjusting your route of flight as necessary.

If you have a hearing person on board, you can ask that person to monitor the local traffic frequency and pass on position reports made by other aircraft.

If you have a transponder on board, you can turn it on, which causes your plane’s position and altitude to appear on ATC’s radar screens. Then, ATC can inform other aircraft in the area of your whereabouts.

When you land at an uncontrolled airport, how do you know when it is okay to land? What about the other planes landing and taking off?

Again, Visual Flying Rules apply. Each uncontrolled airport has a standard traffic route that you enter at a specific location. By following a sequence of legs along this route, you have several opportunities to see and avoid other aircraft, both in the air, and on the ground, and when there are no aircraft in front of you, you can land.

How do you know which runway to use?

If the airport is deserted, you can fly overhead and look at the windsock next to the runway. The windsock indicates the direction of the wind, and you maneuver to land into the wind on the “active” runway. If there are other airplanes operating at the airport, you can just follow the flow of traffic towards the active runway.

Someone told me that even at uncontrolled airports, there are pilots talking on the radio. What’s the story with that?

Pilots operating at uncontrolled airports are encouraged to transmit their position and intentions on a “CTAF”: Common Traffic Advisory Frequency. However, using the CTAF is not required. There may be several reasons why a pilot may not be using the CTAF: the pilot may be flying an antique airplane that does not have an electrical system to power a radio; the pilot may be on another frequency; the radios may be broken; or the pilot is deaf.

If you have intelligible speech, you can try transmitting your own position reports, thereby advising other pilots operating in the vicinity. A visual radio meter can be built and used so that you know when someone is talking on the radio, and therefore avoid “stepping” on other pilots’ transmissions.

If you have a hearing person on board, you can ask that person to monitor the CTAF and pass on position reports made by other aircraft.

What do you do if you make an emergency landing, or if your plane crashes, and you can’t call on the radio for help?

If you are making a long-distance flight over sparsely populated areas, you can file a flight plan before your departure. Under Visual Flying Rules, the only purpose of your flight plan is to activate search and rescue operations if you fail to appear at your destination within thirty minutes of your estimated arrival time. You can also set your aircraft’s transponder to a special code that alerts ATC to an emergency.

What is the process of getting a medical certificate, if you are deaf?

Every person wanting to become a pilot must submit to a physical examination and apply for a medical certificate. This examination is done locally, by an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). The AME, upon finding that you are deaf, will defer your application for a medical certificate to the FAA Aeromedical Certification Branch in Oklahoma City for further review.

After 6-8 weeks, you will receive a letter asking you to arrange for a special medical flight test with a local FAA flight examiner. During this medical flight test, you will be asked to demonstrate recognition of imminent stalls and engine failure. If you pass this test, you will receive a “SODA”: Statement of Demonstrated Ability. Once you have this SODA, you can then take the regular private pilot flight test. (Sometimes, the medical flight test and the regular flight test are conducted at the same time.)

How do you talk to your instructor while learning to fly?

You must work out in advance whatever communication method suits you best. Your instructor could write notes on a small clipboard and pass them to you as you fly. You could teach your instructor a few signs, or agree on some gestures for common flight tasks. Your instructor can point to each of the six instruments to indicate what corrections you need to make during your flying lessons. You can schedule additional ground time to go over the lesson plan in detail before flying. Demonstrations by the instructor are a key part of the training, and you can learn by watching a maneuver, and then attempting to do it yourself, under your instructor’s watchful eye.

Is it hard to learn to fly?

Flying is a matter of developing skill, and judgment. The operation of the plane’s controls is quite simple; it is the safe, precise, and consistent performance of a wide variety of flying maneuvers that takes practice and many hours to master. Judgment is developed by experiencing a variety of flying conditions, learning the extent of your skills, and discussing various “go or no-go” scenarios with your instructor and flying friends.

Can you solo?

Yes. As a student pilot, your instructor must give permission for you to fly solo. Once you have your private pilot certificate, you are free to fly solo any time, as long as you operate within the limitations of your certificate.

Isn’t flying dangerous?

As with cars, boats, trains, buses, and other modes of transportation, there is always an element of risk. As the Supreme Court ruled in 1972, “safe” doesn’t mean “risk-free.” You can actively manage the degree of risk by flying only in good weather conditions, remaining alert for other aircraft, keeping your airplane fueled and in good mechanical condition, and repeatedly practicing emergency procedures. To learn more about aviation accident trends and factors, see the AOPA Air Safety Foundation Nall Reports.

Those indulging in dark humor point out, “You are more likely to get killed driving to the airport than flying.” This is supported by the 1998 Statistical Abstract of the United States, which shows the motor vehicle accident rate as 16.5 per 100,000 population, and the air accident rate as 0.3 per 100,000 population.

Isn’t it expensive to fly?

Yes! The cost of obtaining a private pilot certificate can range from $3,500 to $7,000, depending on where you live and how long it takes for you to learn. Training airplanes rent for $50-$75 per hour, and instructors charge $25-$45 per hour. The average student pilot practices for about 70 hours, 20 of which are solo, before taking the flight test. Note that the hourly charge for rental airplanes only applies when the engine is running, not for the entire time of your reservation.

To put things into perspective, other people spend as much or more money on golf course memberships, sports-utility vehicles, pleasure boating, or mobile homes. Choosing to fly and to absorb the associated costs has to be a priority that you make in your life.

My opinion? It’s worth every penny!

In this day and age, isn’t there some digital technology that will let you “talk” to Air Traffic Control and fly in instrument conditions?

There are a number of research efforts underway to move towards digital, non-voice, communications. The idea is that all air traffic control instructions, traffic advisories, and weather information will be digitally transmitted to the cockpit. The most promising projects include aeronautical datalink and ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance broadcast). These technologies are currently being tested in commercial jets, and will likely make their way into general aviation aircraft within the next decade.

How can I meet other deaf pilots?

Join the Deaf Pilots Association. DPA represents deaf pilots’ interests with the Federal Aviation Administration, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association, and the National Association of Flight Instructors. Each year, DPA sponsors a week-long fly-in, to which DPA members and their families come from all over the world to enjoy the fellowship of flight as well as to discuss mutual concerns. A web site about DPA is available at www.deafpilots.org.

To join, write to:

Jeff Willoughby
DPA Membership Secretary
11a Stevenson Drive
Jacksonville, IL 62650

Is there a brochure?

The DPA and FAA have published a joint brochure, called “To Fly: An Initial Guide for Deaf Pilots and Their Instructors.” You can get this brochure online (in PDF format) at http://www.faa.gov/avr/afs/Idpa.pdf.

Information about the special medical flight test can be found in the FAA’s General Aviation Operations Inspector’s Handbook, excerpted at http://www.faa.gov/avr/afs/faa/8700/8700_vol2/2_027_00.pdf.

http://www.deafpilots.com/fly-ins/2005/deafpilotsfaq.html