It used to be that to get into the Air Force, you need perrfect vision. But once in and your vision gets worse ( within certain limits of course) , glasses are ok. It would be kind of a waste of money and time spent on training you to then dump you when your vision gets a bit worse over time.
Nowadays, you only need 7/10 to get in without glasses.
Maybe it also helps when the machine you’re riding in can shoot at anything before they can get close enough to be visible to the naked eye.
PS not a Belgian pilot but a Lockheed Martin test pilot.
I don’t think rules are as strict nowadays since you don’t even need to see your ennemy most of the time. The radar/computers do all the work for you, you just need to press the button to fire.
Could these perhaps just be eye protection glasses that are made to fit within a visit/other headgear?
Versoepeling van de aanwervingsregels bij defensie
Note that this may not be an operational pilot but one of the test pilots (pilots who have to qualify a plane after maintenance or procurement but who don’t fly operational missions).
When I was in KLM flight school they said anywhere between -5 and +5 is fine. Perhaps it’s not a military pilot?
Why is there a Dwarf flying a plane?
A Belgian military pilot needs to have a 10/10 vision when they enter the army.
If vision decreases a little, but pilot had still 10/10 with correction, it’s fine.
The reason for setting a higher requirement au the entrance is that they lower the risk to lose too much eye sight. Training a fighter pilot costs a lot. It’s millions to become a patrol leader. They really need to lower the risks as much as possible.
13 comments
“Yes all our pilots have 20/20 vision.” 😬
It used to be that to get into the Air Force, you need perrfect vision. But once in and your vision gets worse ( within certain limits of course) , glasses are ok. It would be kind of a waste of money and time spent on training you to then dump you when your vision gets a bit worse over time.
Nowadays, you only need 7/10 to get in without glasses.
Maybe it also helps when the machine you’re riding in can shoot at anything before they can get close enough to be visible to the naked eye.
PS not a Belgian pilot but a Lockheed Martin test pilot.
I don’t think rules are as strict nowadays since you don’t even need to see your ennemy most of the time. The radar/computers do all the work for you, you just need to press the button to fire.
Could these perhaps just be eye protection glasses that are made to fit within a visit/other headgear?
Versoepeling van de aanwervingsregels bij defensie
https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2023/09/06/defensie-zoekt-ruim-4-000-nieuwe-militairen-en-ander-personeel-i/
Apparently this man isn’t a Belgian pilot but to answer your question: it has changed [last year.](https://beldefnews.mil.be/flexibelere-medische-criteria-voor-toekomstige-kandidaat-piloten/#:~:text=Kandidaat%2Dpiloten%20moeten%20per%20oog,in%20lijn%20met%20onze%20partnerlanden)
Note that this may not be an operational pilot but one of the test pilots (pilots who have to qualify a plane after maintenance or procurement but who don’t fly operational missions).
When I was in KLM flight school they said anywhere between -5 and +5 is fine. Perhaps it’s not a military pilot?
Why is there a Dwarf flying a plane?
A Belgian military pilot needs to have a 10/10 vision when they enter the army.
If vision decreases a little, but pilot had still 10/10 with correction, it’s fine.
The reason for setting a higher requirement au the entrance is that they lower the risk to lose too much eye sight. Training a fighter pilot costs a lot. It’s millions to become a patrol leader. They really need to lower the risks as much as possible.
Belgium has F-35’s???? What did i miss?