Colour vision test previously passed but...

[lar]

Hi

I have flown for 25 years, I have a CPL MEIR and I have passed a 1st class medical several times with no problems. I strongly suspect I have a colour problem and I think I have been very lucky passing some of these tests.

I am now at a point in my life where I want to get my ATPL and fly seriously. Therefore I have been considering taking a Light Gun Test and get a Letter of Evidence once and for all but what will the FAA say or do if I admit to being color "defective" now after all these years? I will have to fail a medical and that would seem a bit strange I think?

L

[My Flight Surgeon]

The FAA will not issue a Letter of Evidence or authorize a signal light gun test for a Letter of Evidence unless you have FAILED the color vision test on an FAA medical examination.

[clearsky76]

Lar,

If you have questionable color vision, how have you passed that portion of the physical all of these times? I guess my other quesiton would be: If you HAVE been able to pass the standard color vision test in the past, you shouldn't have a problem passing the signal light gun test. . . But be careful - The signal light gun test is pretty final. I don't know everything about it, but I'm sure the Flight Surgeon can give you some more info if needed.

Good luck!

[Captain_Bob]

Originally Posted by lar

what will the FAA say or do if I admit to being color "defective" now after all these years? I will have to fail a medical and that would seem a bit strange I think?

L

I'm curious as to the outcome of that scenario as well... would the FAA go back to the AME that previously passed him? Would that AME get in trouble or get audited?

If I recall, color blindness isn't something you acquire over the years... it's something you either have... or don't.

So that's an interesting dilemma.

Doc, have you had anyone in your office in a scenario similar to this? If not... how would you or another AME handle it? Give the guy a full 1st class Medical just to purposely fail him on the color vision test... then do a FALANT to get the LOE?

What if the applicant chose the FALANT as the color vision test for the medical and he passed... are you saying that no LOE can be issued because he hasn't "failed" a color vision test?

Interesting issue indeed... especially after so many years have passed.

Bob

[My Flight Surgeon]

First off, there are medical conditions and drugs that can affect color vision.

Second, I have had several pilots show up for a Farnsworth lantern test because they had passed a color vision test somewhere and subsequent medical examiners assumed the pilot was not color blind and just put passed on the medical. I actually had this happen recently where a fellow passed the Farnsworth lantern in the military and when he went to get an FA medical, the examiner assumed he was OK since he was a military pilot. He then later failed the color plates at an employment exam and had to get a Farnsworth done.

Interestingly enough, the military does not require re-testing after passing the initial test.

You are correct, until there is a FAIL entered for color vision in the FAA system, they will not issue a LOE.

[lar]

Hi

I understand that I have to fail the test. In my post I wrote: "I will have to fail a medical and that would seem a bit strange I think?".

The question is - how will the medic and the FAA react if I suddenly fail a test 25 years after my first medical and several renewals. Or maybe you did answer this by stating that this can be due to several reasons?

I am sick and tired of worrying about this at every exam and if I decide to go for a second carreer and get and ATPL and a heavy typerating I want to make sure that it does collapse after 6 months...

I also heard about SODAs based on experience???

[lar]

And why the f... do we not use red, blue and white instead of red, green and white with 8% of the male population being red/green deficient?

[jpoe]

Originally Posted by lar

And why the f... do we not use red, blue and white instead of red, green and white with 8% of the male population being red/green deficient?

As someone who is currently not permitted to fly at night due to restriction, I must say it is incredibly frustrating to be able to spot the damn blue in those taxi-way lights from miles away, and meanwhile not be able to fly because of the green/amber/white...

[Captain_Bob]

Originally Posted by lar

And why the f... do we not use red, blue and white instead of red, green and white with 8% of the male population being red/green deficient?

Universally... Red means stop... Green means go... That's my guess.

[My Flight Surgeon]

They don't do SODA's for color vision anymore.

Get a Farnsworth so you know you can pass it and quit worrying until you fail. It will be a good insurance policy for you.