ANOTHER color vision question

[jrh]

I recently spoke to an AME about pilots with color vision deficiencies and he brought up a point that I've never heard from any other AME before.

He pointed out that the reg about color vision, 67.103(c), require the pilot to have the "ability to perceive those colors necessary for the safe performance of airman duties."

The regs do *not* say the pilot must pass an Ishahara test, or Keystone test, or whatever. They don't specify how the color vision must be tested. He essentially said if a pilot has no trouble reading a sectional chart, getting light gun signals, following a VASI, etc. there's no reason to deny a medical. On his medical exams, even if the pilot does not pass the color vision test in the "by the book" way of a formal color vision test, he can still issue a medical if they are close enough that he can tell they won't have a problem while flying.

Is this legal? I completely understand what he's saying, but it seems very unorthodox and I've never heard it before. What are your thoughts on this practice?

[Dugie8]

The colour vision thing is a joke, most males that are colour blind are red/green colour "deficient", that doesn't mean you can't see red or green, it means you have trouble with the shades between red and green (browns mostly). Take a look at an Ishihar plate, lots of yellows and browns, not a whole lot of stop sign reds or grass greens.

I don't know about your AME's thinking, it seems a little too cavalier, without reading the AME guid though I have no idea what is required of the colour vision test.

[My Flight Surgeon]

Originally Posted by jrh

I recently spoke to an AME about pilots with color vision deficiencies and he brought up a point that I've never heard from any other AME before.

He pointed out that the reg about color vision, 67.103(c), require the pilot to have the "ability to perceive those colors necessary for the safe performance of airman duties."

The regs do *not* say the pilot must pass an Ishahara test, or Keystone test, or whatever. They don't specify how the color vision must be tested. He essentially said if a pilot has no trouble reading a sectional chart, getting light gun signals, following a VASI, etc. there's no reason to deny a medical. On his medical exams, even if the pilot does not pass the color vision test in the "by the book" way of a formal color vision test, he can still issue a medical if they are close enough that he can tell they won't have a problem while flying.

Is this legal? I completely understand what he's saying, but it seems very unorthodox and I've never heard it before. What are your thoughts on this practice?

That is his unofficial (and unaccepted by the FAA) view of the regulation. The FAA does specify how to do the test and what tests are acceptable.
http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/...ech/item52/et/

and

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/...ch/item52/amd/

Now, they are looking at tighter standards for ATC presonnel because of the computerized displays with more color shades that must be interpreted.

[jrh]

Originally Posted by My Flight Surgeon

That is his unofficial (and unaccepted by the FAA) view of the regulation.

That's what I suspected. Thanks for the quick answer!