Do I weigh too much for flight training?

[-]

NuttPunch@reddit

You'll have a significantly easier time if you can get to 220-230 range.

[-]

DatBeigeBoy@reddit

For the sake of your instructor, slim it down, my guy. No offense.

[-]

dusty8385@reddit

I used to fly a 152 with my instructor. We were both 180 lb and it was really all that plane could handle.

In my experience, you don't want to be dealing with partially filling the tank every time you go fly, It may depend on where you fly but it took forever to get ours filled and then they would screw it up and overfill it even if you told him to only partially fill it.

It would turn into a giant waste of time. I imagine you could fly in a 172, You may have to find yourself a very light flight instructor.

[-]

onnob@reddit

To lose weight, go on a low-carb, keto, or carnivore diet. Stay away from seed oils, alcohol, and processed foods (including fried foods), and you will be at a normal BMI/weight fast. Fat does not make you gain weight; carbohydrates do!

[-]

KITTYONFYRE@reddit

none of that shit is to blame, eating more calories than you burn is what makes you gain weight

avoiding seed oils is a meme with zero evidence behind it

[-]

Chumley303@reddit

Nah. Im also a well fed dude, find a school with a cessna 182 and that should be good

[-]

Tossindo_desde_covid@reddit

I’m 6’1 and I weighed 310 when I started flying. Seatbelts barely fit and were uncomfortable. Sometimes the control stick wouldn’t be able to move much without squishing into my thighs. I still was able to continue my flight training. But eventually it clicked for me that I wanted to fly for a career; and that career would be severely limited unless I lost some weight.

I’ve now lost almost 100lbs and it makes a huge difference. I can move the rudder pedals without getting out of breath. My resting heart rate is back to normal and I don’t have sleep apnea nor am I at risk anymore for hypertension.

As someone who has been where you are now, I can say there are only upsides to getting your weight down. Get a calorie tracking app and log everything you eat. You’ll lose weight if you burn more calories than you eat. You’ll have to get comfortable with being a little uncomfortable at times because you will be hungry at first. But your body will adjust and you will be way more comfortable in the plane. But if I can do it, I know you can too.

[-]

anaqvi786@reddit

Obesity itself isn’t a disqualifying factor. You may have to be on a special issuance however if you have Sleep Apnea (one of the easiest special issuances you can get), or any co-morbidities like diabetes or high blood pressure.

The FAA allows Ozempic and it’s a pretty easy issuance for an AME that doesn’t even require a special issuance, you can be on a full medical. If your insurance covers it, get on it. By the time you finish training you’ll be at a normal BMI and it won’t be as much of a concern.

[-]

Inner_Trade_6131@reddit

Don’t lose weight for Flight Training lose weight bc it is healthy. All love man we all start somewhere

[-]

BigFatAbacus@reddit

145 kg is quite heavy depending on what you want to fly.

I'm 112kg at the moment.

So far I'm too heavy for a microlight (flex wing) and been told to lose 10kg in order to continue.

We were okay for lesson one because it didn't have a full tank of fuel but if it did then the two of us would have pushed it slightly.

For a glider? Way too heavy. 90kg.

[-]

Ouchies81@reddit

If not for flight training, do it for yourself. Lose some pounds, your love ones and friends will get to enjoy you longer.

We're rooting for you!

[-]

Saltyspaceballs@reddit

This is the answer. Do it and live a better life for it.

Also you need a medical and that weight will come with a whole host of risks that your doctor may see.

6’1” 220lbs here and sitting in a 152 is impractical with another person

[-]

Buttcheekeater@reddit

Lose some weight g.

[-]

burnheartmusic@reddit

What are your goals? Airlines’s? If so and you’ll be going to CFI after commercial, spin training may be hard to come by. In a plane where the WB is ok, range of motion of controls may be difficult. You may have to carry less fuel if your instructor isn’t small which is not good and can be a hassle on every flight.

You really need to lose the weight, I would suggest to under 250. In CA I had a hard time finding any soon training that would take over 230lbs. I’m 220 but several said they only had planes for 217

[-]

e140driver@reddit

It’s workable, but will limit things more often that not, and substantially at times. Not to beat a dead horse, but you should lose the weight, consider this motivation.

[-]

Sailass@reddit

I did my training in a c172n at 340 6'1"

The c172 is VERY forgiving on the W/B.

Buying a plane was a motivation to shed the weight, for sure.

[-]

SirKillalot@reddit

Be aware that the new 172s weigh a lot more empty and have bigger fuel tanks than the N model. If you see a place with a bunch of shiny 172SPs then you may need to check with them on what their policy is for fueling them between flights.

It's awkward to show up to a rental plane and find out you can't fly because somebody topped it off the night before, and with the 172N that's pretty rare with 2 people but with some 172SPs it's definitely a possibility.

[-]

throwaway5757_@reddit

I had a CFI that was probably more than your weight. He couldn’t fly with certain people as a result. I’d recommend losing weight so that you can fly with a wider range of people and for the health benefits. Sleep apnea, diabetes, uncontrollable blood pressure, are all medically disqualifying conditions that are related to obesity, to name a few

[-]

countingthedays@reddit

all medically disqualifying conditions that are related to obesity

Yep, just wrote a paper on this for a class I'm taking. Obesity is not a disqualifying factor, but it sure as hell does predispose you to a number of other problems.

[-]

countingthedays@reddit

Also if you drop 100 pounds, you could really improve your climb rate.

[-]

SpaceMarine33@reddit

Loose some weight brother, be a better healthier you and save up some money to start some flight training in like 6 months. Your body will thank you and you’ll feel so much better

[-]

Flavortown42069@reddit

My CFI was 320lbs, I’m 200lbs. With full fuel in a C172S we were close to MTOW/foward CG but never exceeded it.

[-]

ChrisPayton252@reddit

You’ll be fine in most cases, I had the same worry! I’m 6’0 260lbs and I was worried but as long as you’re in a 172 or Piper Archer, you should fit just fine.

[-]

falcopilot@reddit

I am not an AME or any sort of medical professional...

You're not going to be able to fly in a two seater, for sure, but there are options training aircraft (172 or A quick google shows the FAA recommended grounding anyone with a BMI over 40 and a neck measurement over 17", not for "obesity" but because at that point, Obstructive Sleep Apena (OSA) is almost always present, and that is a concern.

So... a little backwards math says if you can get down under 310, your BMI will be < 40. That checks the box, and all the AME really should care about is that you fit in the standard. (I got so worked up over the BP requirement that I barely squeaked it with a 145/90, the limits being 155/95... as soon as I got home I was my normal 120/70).

I would do a consult with the AME before you even sign up for a medical. Yeah, you're going to pay them for an hour to talk about it, but it's a lot better than showing up and failing.

[-]

protobrink3@reddit

Depends on the school, you’d be fine for most places albeit depending how far you wanna take training, spin training will be difficult. There is a school near me that requires people to be under 300. Go for it, but i’d say getting under 300 will help in all aspects.

[-]

DBond2062@reddit

Where is that? Everyone around me wants 200 to 240.

[-]

protobrink3@reddit

PM me

[-]

t_dog581@reddit

If you lose 100lb, you can bring 100lb more gas.

[-]

Burgershot621@reddit

No, but loosing some makes everything a little easier. Especially if you need to do spin training at some point.

[-]

imlooking4agirl@reddit

My PPL DPE was 275lbs lol

[-]

x4457@reddit

Started flight training at about your weight, got down to 220 at one point, now back somewhere in the middle. You’re going to be just fine in anything bigger than a 152 but definitely use it as motivation to lose the weight.

[-]

aRealTattoo@reddit

There’s plenty of guys around 220lbs in aviation tbh. The biggest issue is 100% space in the cabin on the PPL stage.

I used mainly 150’s and occasional 152/172, but man those 150’s were cozy (they are small) even for me at 160lbs…

[-]

makgross@reddit

W&B is fine in a fixed-gear four seater. There might be other limitations such as controls range of motion, seat belts, and those 200-lb-rated Cessna steps (use a stepstool or small stepladder for fueling and testing stall warning).

[-]

countingthedays@reddit

What’s your long term goal? I think your comment about being able to maintain a medical is smart. You will make your own life easier if you drop some weight.

[-]

cazzipropri@reddit

Practical limits start to kick in around 250, only because when you fly with an examiner or CFI of equal weight, you start to exceed the envelope with full fuel.

[-]

bottomfeeder52@reddit

look up zach coen on instagram or tiktok. he has affordable meal prep recipes. this isn’t specifically aviation related per say but people, especially pilots who have a shitty sleep schedule and no routine need to prioritize taking care of their physical health. that includes being an active participant in their nutritional choices. that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a beer or burger; but that shouldn’t be the most common choice

[-]

acegard@reddit

I am 6'1" and 315lb. It's cozy in a 172 or Arrow, but not awful. I get very in tune with weight & balance and are taking off at max gross pretty much every time. I can still be a good pilot while being a large pilot, but it definitely limits the capabilites of the aircraft that I fly. And as I look ahead to CFI, the options for an aircraft approved for intentional spins in my area that can carry me are limited.

[-]

acegard@reddit

As an addition, I've never experienced any poor treatment or vocal judgement or anything for being overweight. I'm always up front and realistic about what I can do with my weight in the aircraft. I'm trying to slim down, but you probably know it's not easy.

[-]

bhalter80@reddit

You'll fit fine in a 172S or Archer

[-]

rFlyingTower@reddit

This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:

I’ve been wanting to pursue flying for a while, but I’ve been holding off on contacting flight schools for a few years because I am a lot heavier than I used to be. Currently at 320 lbs. I’m a tall guy, about 6’2”, so i’m not really that wide and I know I can fit side by side with an instructor, but I’ve gone through A&P school so I know that W&B might be a concern.

What are your opinions? Any personal experience? I don’t want to show up for a discovery flight and get embarrassed when they turn me away.

Please downvote this comment until it collapses.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. If you have any questions, please contact the mods of this subreddit.