Driving licence age limit vs pilot license age limit

[Pawelk198604]

It does not concern me because I'm 28 years old and I can not afford either the car, or even more for a light aircraft or glider.

In Poland to get a driver's license, it was enough to have 16 years. in other European countries was similar.

Since the 90s the limit has been increased and now to do the driving license must be 18 years old, probably only the UK has lower age limit, 17 years old. I once read on one web portal about cars that the U.S. is in this respect ware more normal, because in America, depending on the State can do a driving course from 15-16 years of age.

The funny thing is that, in accordance with the guidelines of the Polish Civil Aviation Authority in Poland for a glider pilot license PPL (G) ypu can get it when you have 15 years of life, but you can perform solo flight as student-pilot at 14, is not it strange?

[Dodgey]

What about powered flying? Gliders aren't exactually powerful machines that can speed along at around 200 kph into something. There is a lot more education and training that goes into becoming a pilot compared to getting a drivers license (only confirmed in Austalia needs clarification for other countrys).

That's my point of view anyway, I could very well be wrong.

[EdFred]

In the US the age to drive varies from state to state - some as early as 14 with certain restrictions. Some states also have levels of licenses until you are a certain age, or have a certain requirements until you get a full license.

In aviation you can be 14 years old and solo a glider or a balloon - and 16 when you get your private pilot certificate. For all other aircraft you can solo at 16, and get your private pilot certificate at 17.

There is also no specific time requirement for student solo flight in a glider or balloon - or even powered aircraft. If the instructor (I am a flight instructor) feels you are ready after only 5 hours of training, then you could fly solo with only that amount of time. Sometimes it may take 20 or 30 hours before I feel a student is ready to fly solo. Minimum time for a private certificate is higher (minimum of 40 hours - 35 if done through a certain training program).

Edited June 4, 2014 by EdFred

[Elthy]

While a gliderplane can be very dangerous if it hits something i can understand why you can be younger to fly one than to drive a car. People who make a glider licence under 18 are enthusiasts who care way more about what they are doing than people who drive cars just to get somewhere...

[TechnicalK3rbal]

Where I live in the U.S., you can get a drivers listened at 18, but a pilots liscence at 15.

Edit:spelling.

Edit2: that was a while ago, may not be current.

Edited June 4, 2014 by TechnicalK3rbal

[EdFred]

Where I live in the U.S., you can get a drivers listened at 18, but a pilots listened at 15.

This is incorrect. As I stated earlier, you have to be 16 to get your certificate (license) for gliders and balloons, 17 for all other categories of aircraft. You may solo at a younger age.

14CFR§61.103 Eligibility requirements: General.

To be eligible for a private pilot certificate, a person must:

(a) Be at least 17 years of age for a rating in other than a glider or balloon.

( Be at least 16 years of age for a rating in a glider or balloon.

14CFR§61.83 Eligibility requirements for student pilots.

To be eligible for a student pilot certificate, an applicant must:

(a) Be at least 16 years of age for other than the operation of a glider or balloon.

( Be at least 14 years of age for the operation of a glider or balloon.

[cantab]

Probably because it's percieved as a problem that young people will drive recklessly and have crashes. There's been campaigning in Britain, where the driving age is 17 I think, to impose extra restrictions on young drivers, things like no driving with a load of equally-young passengers or no night driving.

The same problem is not percieved in relation to private pilots, most likely because flying isn't common.

[Pawelk198604]

I'm very interested in aviation, last time I checked you need to do to get a license for a glider. I was surprised that it can be done from 15 years of age, driving license requires to be over 18 years

I have 28 years so this not concern me, but i was surprised. If I had the money I would go for a glider pilot training. Just do not know if the doctor from the (UrzÄ…d Lotnictwa Cywilnego(ULC))) Polish Office of Civil Aviation(Government Agency that's run all the aviation stuff in Poland) to give me medical certification. And apparently you can not lie to doctors from ULC , because if someone did that, is posiblity of criminal liability as this is trated the same as perjury in our Polish court, in accordance with Article 233 of the Polish Penal Code(which carries up to 3 years in prison) , of course, someone would have to prove it

[the_bT]

I would guess it is because flying in a light plane is usually not done to get somewhere but because flying is fun. A lot of accidents with young drivers happen when they go or come from spending free time and are in "lets make this fun" mode. That does not happen with planes. Same with drink driving, you just don't just get into a situation where it would be convenient to just say: "Whatever, I will fly home anyways. I feel totally fine." Also the traffic density is lower and where there is a lot traffic there is also a control tower telling you what to do. Lastly, there are a lot of things other then traffic you need to avoid crashing into in a car, where in a plane there is only one, the ground.

Plenty of reasons to give a pilots license at least for gliders to people 1 or 2 years before they are eligible for a drivers license.

[EdFred]

I would guess it is because flying in a light plane is usually not done to get somewhere but because flying is fun. A lot of accidents with young drivers happen when they go or come from spending free time and are in "lets make this fun" mode. That does not happen with planes. Same with drink driving, you just don't just get into a situation where it would be convenient to just say: "Whatever, I will fly home anyways. I feel totally fine." Also the traffic density is lower and where there is a lot traffic there is also a control tower telling you what to do. Lastly, there are a lot of things other then traffic you need to avoid crashing into in a car, where in a plane there is only one, the ground.

Plenty of reasons to give a pilots license at least for gliders to people 1 or 2 years before they are eligible for a drivers license.

This is a common misconception - at least here in the US. Most of the airports do not have control towers, and most training - especially gliders - is done away from class B/C/D airspace. The rest of the post is pretty much spot on though - flying is something that takes a bit of maturity and dedication, and most anyone pursuing it isn't going to be reckless. Although that doesn't stop people with more money than brains in doing stupid pilot tricks.

[Pawelk198604]

I would guess it is because flying in a light plane is usually not done to get somewhere but because flying is fun. A lot of accidents with young drivers happen when they go or come from spending free time and are in "lets make this fun" mode. That does not happen with planes. Same with drink driving, you just don't just get into a situation where it would be convenient to just say: "Whatever, I will fly home anyways. I feel totally fine." Also the traffic density is lower and where there is a lot traffic there is also a control tower telling you what to do. Lastly, there are a lot of things other then traffic you need to avoid crashing into in a car, where in a plane there is only one, the ground.

Plenty of reasons to give a pilots license at least for gliders to people 1 or 2 years before they are eligible for a drivers license.

I would like to fly even a glider, but I do not finish the course, do not even have money to enroll in a course driving license, I am a humble student living on a scholarship.

Although if I could afford it I'd go for gliding course, just that it costs 10,000 zlotys, the rate driving license is cheaper costs in 1000 zł, but a lot of people goes to the test several times, my friend seemed to him five times when he was 24 years old, 19 year old grandson, my neighbor seemed to him four times before he passed. My neighbor said that it was for this that the instructor was a woman. She my neighbor, who is his grandma told me, that he told her, that is probably because he unintentionally made puppy eyes to the instructor:D The neighbor told me that because he still had some of childish charm:D who saved him from trouble many times. Bottom line many adults Poles not have driving license, because driving license school industry is RACKET in Poland, they fail you even if you made all perfect, they told that is for safety but that is ****. The real reason the make money on those who re-enroll to driving course.

As for pilot license i wondering how serve is punishment if you lie about you health state to doctor in medical examination. In Poland is treated as lying under oath with can be punished up to 3 years in prison, how it look in UK,USA, Australia or Germany?

I wonder if I happen hypertension pressure spikes as the 155/100 do not happen often., Although I usually elevated blood pressure and pulse a little faster than other people. whether it disqualify me from flying?

Did say all to the doctor pilots or retain some of the facts for themselves:D

[KerikBalm]

These require no liscence at all in the US

[Xorth Tanovar]

License, no; but you need to be aware of FAR 103 regulations. Same as my PPC.

Still, 10 hours' instruction here and you're free as a bird.... what is it like in Poland regarding Ultralight/Microlight aircraft?

[TheCanadianVendingMachine]

In Canada, you can get your Student Pilots license at 14, and then your full one at 16. Well, as long as you have your hours. But Student Drivers is 14, and drivers is 16 as well