Physical, mental, technical, collective: what sets a fighter pilot apart, from selection screening to in-flight reflexes and squadron discipline.
The physical requirements that determine flight safety
The profession of fighter pilot begins with a biological reality. A modern aircraft is unforgiving to unprepared bodies. Physical assessments exist for one simple reason: to reduce risk, both in training and in operation. Cardiovascular endurance, core strength, mobility, recovery, and tolerance to exertion are among the fundamentals. In a cockpit, apparent immobility is deceptive. The arms, shoulders, and especially the abdominal muscles work continuously, as maintaining an aggressive trajectory requires constant micro-adjustments.
The most well-known constraint remains that of G-forces. During tight maneuvers, a pilot can experience up to 9 Gs in certain training profiles. At 9 Gs, the apparent weight of the body is multiplied by nine. A 75 kg pilot then undergoes a load equivalent to 675 kg on their body, mainly on the tissues, cardiovascular system, and cerebral perfusion. The goal is not to “be strong” in the sense of bodybuilding, but to be able to maintain vision, coordination, and awareness of the environment despite acceleration.
Two tools structure this ability. First, the anti-G suit, which compresses the lower body to limit the flow of blood to the legs. Second, the AGSM (Anti-G Straining Maneuver), which combines muscle contraction and controlled breathing to maintain blood pressure in the brain. These techniques must be learned, repeated, and perfected, as G-force tolerance depends as much on training as on individual physiology.
The other physical constraint, less spectacular but very real, concerns the senses. Visual acuity is subject to strict standards. In France, regulations stipulate a minimum distance vision of 8/10 in each eye (correction allowed), with conditions on uncorrected vision, dioptric difference, and the absence of specific disorders. This is not a whim. In tactical flight, visual recognition, reading terrain, and quickly identifying traffic or a ground point are all matters of seconds.
The mental qualities that transform information into action
The cockpit of a fighter jet is an environment where quick decisions must be made. What distinguishes a good pilot is not only their ability to “hold up” physically, but their ability to process useful information, ignore noise, and act at the right moment.
The first pillar is sustained concentration. A pilot’s attention is not a fixed spotlight. It is a constant scan: instruments, horizon, radio, sensors, fuel, airspace, teammate’s trajectory. The major risk is not ignorance, it is overload. Advanced training therefore focuses on prioritization: what threatens safety immediately, what threatens the mission, what can wait.
The central concept, often cited but rarely well explained, is situational awareness. It consists of three levels: perceiving (what is happening), understanding (what it means), and anticipating (what will happen). A pilot who “sees everything” but does not understand the opponent’s intention is already behind.
Decision-making is based on simple models. The best known is the OODA loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act), attributed to Colonel John Boyd. Its appeal is pragmatic: it reminds us that speed is not only that of the aircraft, but also that of the decision-making cycle. Observe quickly, orient yourself correctly, decide without unnecessary hesitation, act immediately, then observe again. In aerial combat, the one who shortens their cycle often sets the tempo.
Stress is not the enemy. The enemy is uncontrolled stress. The armed forces teach methods of physiological and cognitive regulation. Cardiac coherence, for example, works through breathing and heart rate variability. There are also structured approaches, such as Techniques for Optimizing Potential, originally designed for military use, with pillars such as breathing, mental imagery, internal dialogue, and relaxation. The benefit here is clear: remaining effective when the pressure mounts, maintaining clarity of thought, and avoiding emotional decisions.
Finally, resilience is not just a slogan. It is built through analysis and repetition. Debriefings are used to identify mistakes without sugarcoating them. Pilots learn to correct themselves quickly, because pride is a dangerous luxury in combat aviation.
The technical skills that make a pilot a conductor
The modern fighter jet is a platform of systems. Pilots no longer just “fly” an aircraft. They manage sensors, communications, weapons, and operating procedures, while remaining responsible for the flight path and safety.
Control management illustrates this evolution. The HOTAS (Hands On Throttle And Stick) concept combines essential controls on the throttle and stick. The idea is simple: reduce handling time, limit errors, keep hands on the main controls, and free up the brain for tactics.
Mastering onboard systems also requires an understanding of aircraft architecture. An aircraft such as the F-35, for example, incorporates an AN/APG-81 AESA radar, an AN/AAQ-40 electro-optical targeting system, and an AN/AAQ-37 infrared detection system, designed to provide a coherent view of the environment. Even without being an electronics specialist, the pilot must understand what each sensor “sees,” what it does not see, and how the modes interact.
Navigation remains a key skill. We often talk about GPS, but a tactical pilot must be able to manage complex trajectories, reporting points, altitude constraints, and restricted areas, sometimes with degraded sensors. Training combines visual navigation, instrument navigation, and low-altitude tactical navigation, because the logic of an operational mission is nothing like a civilian flight.
The use of weapons requires technical knowledge and procedural discipline. Each type of ammunition has its own firing envelope, constraints, risks of friendly fire, and rules of engagement.
Here again, the key skill is not rote memorization. It is the ability to apply a precise procedure under heavy workload.
The collective dimension, often underestimated by the general public
The fantasy of the lone pilot does not stand up well to reality. Air operations are a collective effort, structured around units, procedures, and a common language.
A pilot’s life takes place in a squadron. Trust is built through precise briefings, rehearsals, and demanding debriefings. In air support, for example, coordination with ground units requires radio discipline and a shared understanding of the situation. An error in phrasing or a doubt about a position can have immediate consequences.
Communication must be brief and standardized. There is no “discussion” on the radio. We transmit. We confirm. We repeat critical elements. This discipline is as much a social quality as it is a technical one, because it requires accepting rules and reducing ego in favor of safety.
Finally, leadership is not an innate character trait. It is developed. In a patrol, a leader is not the one who “speaks loudly.” It is the one who structures the decision, maintains mental flexibility, and protects the whole. This skill becomes central over the course of a career, as the pilot moves from execution to mission command.
Selection and training in France: a long and deliberate filter
The French program is based on identified pathways, including the EOPN program and the program for officer cadets from the Air Force Academy. The selection process combines medical examinations, psychometric tests, and flight evaluations. The medical examinations are more than just a health check. They assess aptitude for specific environments, including exposure to acceleration, sensory constraints, and, in some cases, aptitude for safety devices such as ejection seats.
Initial training begins at Salon-de-Provence, on Air Base 701, and relies in particular on the Cirrus SR20 for the first phases of military piloting. Progression then involves consolidation and specialization stages. For fighter pilots, advanced training takes place in Cognac on Pilatus PC-21 aircraft, at a dedicated school, with a focus on increasing complexity: procedures, tactics, mission management, and preparation for conversion to fighter aircraft.
This is a long process. It is deliberately demanding. And it is based on a simple idea: it is better to eliminate a candidate who is not up to the task early on, rather than discovering this late, once costs have been incurred and risks increased.
What candidates most often underestimate
Many candidates focus on “visible” performance: sports, motivation, passion. This is necessary, but not sufficient. Three points are often misunderstood.
First, consistency. Performance in hunting is built up over weeks and months. The body must keep up. Sleep must be protected. Recovery becomes a skill, not a luxury.
Next, humility of method. The best profiles are not those who think they “know.” They are those who accept the procedure, reframing, criticism, and repetition.
Finally, a culture of safety. Hunting is a world where overconfidence is a threat. A good hunter knows when to say “stop,” knows how to simplify when the pressure mounts, and knows how to get back to basics. This maturity is not spectacular, but it makes all the difference in the long run.
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