Sky Is No Limit for Deaf Pilot - with Audio Description [AD]

Read more about Sheila Xu ’14 on Slice of MIT: bit.ly/3wuqH9x
View the video without audio description: • Sky Is No Limit for De...
Sheila Xu ’14 never imagined she could become a pilot, but she says MIT put her on that path. Born deaf to hearing parents, Xu first learned American Sign Language and connected with the Deaf community as an undergraduate. These experiences inspired her to want to open doors for more people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
#pilot #deafcommunity #aerospace #massachusettsinstituteoftechnology #alumni

[@vsznry]

Inspirational. I have a paralyzed left hand & was wondering id I'd be able to fly.
With one broken wing, It seems hopeless. But technology seems better.
Worried about needing to adjust trim while handling the yoke.

[@roberre164]

How do you communicate and talk to ATC and traffic?

[@mitalumni]

Deaf pilots do have some limitations on their licenses. Their licenses are not valid for radio, meaning they cannot land at a towered airport except in emergencies. According to Sheila, "each tower has their own procedure, and so, it's important for us to reach out ahead of time and clear up that communication before we land, which is different than people who can fly whenever they need to."