Color Blindness

[dahhcon]

I have partial red/green color blindness. How much will that affect obtaining my first class medical? Is there anyway of getting around it? And, how much of a possiblity is it fo the examiner to give me a night restriction?

[My Flight Surgeon]

First, it depends on how much color deficit you have. If you cannot pass the color plates (Ishihara, Keystone vision tester, Titmus vision tester, Dvorine plates) and he does not have a Farnsworth Lantern (FALANT) you will be issued a restriction for night flying and flying with signal light guns.

If this occurs, you can take a FALANT (see http://www.myflightsurgeon.com ) and if you pass request a letter of evidence for color vision from the FAA.

Your final course of action is to request a light gun test from the FAA. If you do this, you get only 2 tries in a lifetime.

The color vision standards are the same for all 3 classes of medical certificate.

[dahhcon]

If I don't pass the plate test and I do pass the FALANT test, is the letter of evidence ever expire?

[My Flight Surgeon]

No. The letter of evidence is forever. It is issued by the FAA, not the AME.

There are very few FALANTs in the country. We will have one at Network JC on Sunday, October 21 in Las Vegas.

[cloudman]

I also had this problem a few years ago as I was working on my commercial license. Did receive a restricted – with no night flight – Class II medical.

It took one calendar year of correspondence with the FAA. Ended up taking a signal gun light test at a local airport with a FSDO representative. No problem!

Suggest you contact a local towered airport and ask if you can practice with them shooting the light gun. I took my hand held held and got about one hundred yards away and practiced once a week at different times/weather conditions while I waited for the FAA.

I received a “SODA” letter and corrected Class II. I gave a copy to my doctor and I carry one as well.

[MirageCM]

When is the next Latern test after Vegas?

[My Flight Surgeon]

We do them every day of the week in Phoenix. Just call me or go to my website http://www.myflightsurgeon.com and click on the appointments link. You can schedule it there or call Patty at 602-368-5633.

[MirageCM]

How much does the FALANT test cost?

[My Flight Surgeon]

Originally Posted by MirageCM

How much does the FALANT test cost?

$50.00. Providing you pass, it takes several weeks to get your letter from the FAA and you are good to go.

We are located about 5 miles from SkyHarbor Airport ~ cheep cab ride and the gourmet coffee awaits you

[MirageCM]

Well if that time comes, hopefully not, i'll be coming out there. Thanks for the help.

[My Flight Surgeon]

Our pleasure, and best of luck