My name is Sufiyan Oma. I am Sudanese and living in Oman.
Sadly, I have a flat foot, so will it affect my chances to be a pilot?
Thanks
Sufiyan
Hi Sufiyan,
Flat feet will not affect your chances to be a pilot as long as you can walk without any pain. I have a friend who is a pilot with flat feet. He has been flying for a long time and has no problem controlling the rudder or stopping the plane by depressing the brakes with his feet.
For your information, there are many people (almost 25% of Americans) who have flat feet but they do not complain of flat feet problems. However, there are certain flat feet complications that can cause pain in the foot, knee and the hip.
As long as these problems are not chronic and affect your normal movement, I don’t see how it can prevent you from becoming a pilot.
Please consult a doctor or podiatrist (foot doctor) for further assurance.
PS. To check for any latest updates or postings, you can follow my new Twitter at @CaptKHLim
