Whew.....

[cessna2351]

I guess this could go in Member Announcements but I guess it fits here too....

I've had several posts in this forum regarding color vision (male pattern) along with its effects on flying and ATC (the latter which I plan to go into). Well today I had to go to Chicago and undergo the FAAs testing to ATC applicants who fail the initial color vision exam. I'm still about two years away from finishing my degree but I had to find out now if I can go into ATC at all. Needless to say I've been nervous as hell for the past three months when I scheduled the appointment with the Great Lakes Regional Flight Surgeon.The testing consisted of three different exams.

1. Dvorine Plates. Your standard, find the number in the circle test. Since these tests are designed to fool the 8% of us males who suffer from a red/green color deficiency, I knew going in that I was going to fail this. It is a different set of plates than your regular flight surgeon uses. I did better than I thought but only got about 8 out of 15 correct...Strike 1.

2. Aviation Lights Test. Supposed to determine if an applicant can work in a tower/tracon. Man did this test kick my a$$. Being in a dark room with several bright lights (combinations of two red/green/white lights) shining at you...I seriously thought I was about to get a seizure at one point. There were about 27 correct answers of which I missed 18. I could only miss 2 and pass. Oh well no tower for me.

3. Flight Strip Test. Supposed to determine if an applicant can work in an ARTCC. I kicked the crap out of this one. No errors. basically I had to look at flight strips and say what handwriting and printing was in black and what was in red. Sounds easy but some of these were printed on those old dot matrix printers from the Nixon era which made it a tad difficult on a few but nothing major. So if I choose to become an ATCS, I am restricted to going to an ARTCC.

If I could pick I would choose a terminal facility but hey, beggars can't be choosers so I'm still happy with the results. Many have undergone this same testing and failed all three exams. I don't think I've ever felt more relieved in my life. Now I can focus on the materials in school and not worry if it was all for nothing. I still have two years left on my pilot medical so I'll worry about getting a waiver/SODA in a little while.

Definatly a big thanks to the handful of JCers who helped me through this issue.

[FlyingNole]

Glad to hear it worked out. I was pulling for ya. I hated going through that process.

[Grabo172]

[ QUOTE ]
I still have two years left on my pilot medical so I'll worry about getting a waiver/SODA in a little while.


[/ QUOTE ]

Not to burst your bubble or anything, but... I feel I have to point something out.

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§ 61.53 Prohibition on operations during medical deficiency.

(a) Operations that require a medical certificate. Except as provided for in paragraph (b) of this section, a person who holds a current medical certificate issued under part 67 of this chapter shall not act as pilot in command, or in any other capacity as a required pilot flight crewmember, while that person:

(1) Knows or has reason to know of any medical condition that would make the person unable to meet the requirements for the medical certificate necessary for the pilot operation;

(2) Is taking medication or receiving other treatment for a medical condition that results in the person being unable to meet the requirements for the medical certificate necessary for the pilot operation.
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Sorry Dude...

[cessna2351]

Yea I know its kind of a grey area. However, I currently hold an unrestricted medical. But its reasons like what you stated why I don't fly at night, or without another rated pilot. I do know for a fact that my "condition", which isn't even noticable to me, doesn't prevent from seeing all required lights during day flying in a 172. Papi/Vasi, light guns (i've checked this out) are all distinguishable to me. I would never fly in a situation where I would think my color vision would put me, or anyone else at risk. I've contemplated just getting my medical updated so I could start jumping through the FAA's medical hoops sooner than later, but figured why not wait...maybe I should? Opinions?

[applepwnz]

If you can see the lightgun just fine, why not just get an SODA?

[cessna2351]

You need to fail the medical's colorvision to apply for a SODA (something that I somehow avoided due to a lax examiner..read on), I still have two years left on my medical before it expires.

[ QUOTE ]
(1) Knows or has reason to know of any medical condition that would make the person unable to meet the requirements for the medical certificate necessary for the pilot operation;

[/ QUOTE ]

I've been thinking about this all afternoon and I really don't know what to do. I also want to be careful about what I type as this is a public internet forum. Color vision screws up alot of people on medicals. The only flying I'm doing right now is joyriding on sunny weekend afternoons, and almost always with another rated pilot. Not once has my colorvision ever been an issue while flying. If a person fails the color vision test for a medical the restriction would read something like "Not valid for night flight or by light gun signal". I would never fly by myself at night anyway.

Referring to the above, I know I have a condition which makes other people unable to meet the requirements, hell I could possibly be unable. But when I got my original 3rd class for my ppl, I ended up choosing an examiner who was very lax with color vision testing....he only showed me like 3 of the 15 plates. I must have gotten the first few right because he stopped. However, the standard says you need to get like 8/15 right. I've even had by colorvision diagnosed as the most common among males that like 8-10% of guys have.

FWIW, at my ATC color vision testing a few weeks ago (original topic of this thread) I was told that the AGL Regional Flight Surgeon people would be having a little chat with the guy. Nonetheless I have an unrestricted medical sitting in my logbook right now which is good for two more years.

I really can't tell if I'm breaking any FARs everytime I act as PIC. I'm almost tempted to call the FSDO on an anonymous basis to inquire. Any thoughts?

[Grabo172]

I would say as long as you are not ACTING PIC then fly all you want!

But if you want to be PIC, then I would start getting the paperwork through the FAA ASAP. Last thing you want is to need colorvision for some reason and not have it, end up busting a FAR or worse Yourself and then the FAA asks about it.

Until then... fly with others... and maybe look into sport pilot requirements, I'm not to familiar with them yet, but you might be able to just use your drivers liscense for the medical (I really should study up on Sport Pilot )

Once again, Sorry for putting this out, but I wouldn't want anything to happen and you get in trouble or worse...

[cessna2351]

Dude, don't be sorry. In fact, I'm glad you brought this to my attention. I now know of my condition (like every man on my mom's side of the family has it). I'm just a little worried because including my PPL, I have about 120ish hours, approximatly 70ish are PIC. The way its sounding is that I might have unknowingly broken a FAR everytime I flew PIC. However, I never learned the actual color vision testing standards (needing to get 8 out of 15 plates or whatever) until well after I had my PPL. I had assumed I just slipped by. Of course I now know I did slip by, but not in a good way.

I mean since I've never acted as a PIC during night or when using light gun signals...which is where people with a color vision deficiency are prone to mistakes....

Argh...its all semantics

I think an anonymous call to the Fizzdo might be in order.