China’s military eases physical requirements for pilots based on new cockpits

China’s military has eased stringent physical requirements for pilots, based on the improved cockpits of the People’s Liberation Army’s newest warplanes.

Changes to height, weight and limb length requirements are among several revisions made to the physical selection criteria for pilots, military mouthpiece PLA Daily reported on Monday.

The report did not include the full revised set of criteria but said the changes had taken into account factors such as aircraft upgrades, advances in medical technology, and physical and mental changes in the population.

“Given changes to the position of the control stick and the increased adjustable angle of the seat in new fighter jets, the requirements for arm length and lower limb length have been appropriately lowered,” the report said.

China’s fifth-generation fighter jets including the J-20 and the J-35 have a sidestick configuration, as used by the F-16, F-35s and Dassault Rafale.

That configuration puts the control stick to the side – rather than at the centre – of the cockpit to improve ergonomics, since pilots no longer need to extend their arms to steer the centre yoke.

  

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