CaptainTeezy

Has anyone gotten a letter of evidence using the FALANT test lately? I have put in a request and it has been almost 10 weeks now since they have responded...I called the people in Oklahoma City 3 times and they keep telling me it is still under review. Thanks all.

MJP8251

Do you need a letter of evidence for a FALANT? I cant pass the plate test but have a current med with no restrictions and I took the falant. I am concerned however because my Doc is a military flight surgeon and now that I'm retired from the Navy, I have to find a civilian Doc that will give a Falant. According to my FS, he said the Falant is a perfectly acceptable color vision test. My understanding is that if one is not available you can ask for a statement of demonstrated ability (SODA) after going to an airport and proving to a fed you can tell the light gun colors from the tower and then you never have to take another color vision test. I hope this is true or my new flying job may be over at my next physical!

rickair7777

There several aviation medicine consulting firms available. They are staffed by ex-AME's who no longer have an obligation to report to the FAA, so your confidentiality is assured.

I have used these guys, others folks can recomend some others:

"http://www.aviationmedicine.com"

USMCFLYR

MJP -

This is all true.

USMCFLYR

MoonShot

Research all alternatives before you do this. I did this several years ago and it was fine, but from what I have been told this is a one and done deal. If you don't pass, you'll never get the night/color signal restriction removed. There are serveral other tests out there that allow you to retake different tests until you have an acceptable pass. Also, I've talked to my AME and they are leaning towards the Letter of Competence vs. the SODA. They might be able to issue it at the FSDO if you do the light gun test. When I did it, I had got the SODA from the FAA and filed paperwork later to get the LOC vs. the SODA. Good luck.

Nightsky

For those with SODA's - are you required to inform your employer or prospective employer of it - or just your medical?

ny311

I've heard of Welcome to Pilot Medical Solutions - Confidential FAA Medical Certification / Aviation Medicine ... don't know how good it is though, as far as I know they help you "speed up" the process and will even give you a list of doctors with the FALaNt in your area

orange2dope

The FAA just changed their policy on July 24th that the FALANT test will no longer be accepted for a letter of evidence. The FALANT test is still accepted, however you must take it at every medical exam, which may be a problem years down the road. Your only option at this point for a LOE is to take the light gun test as well as a medical flight test (MFT), but be aware that you get one or two tries for life. This new policy is outrageously discriminative! The FAA has no justification of this new policy, other than the fact that color vision was the LAST contributing factor in the NTSB report of the FedEx accident, which started this whole issue. If you really look at the facts and research this accident, it is total BS and the FAA is only doing this because they want to look good on paper, and color vision is the easiest issue for them to attack! I wish people would come together and challenge this instead of just sitting back and waiting to see what happens next.

RKIKZZA

I did the light gun test 9 years ago and it is good for the rest of my life. It never expires. I take in my SODA paper to the medical examiner and I don't even have to look at the plate test. You don't have to tell an employer. Your medical has no restrictions. You're not colored blind, you simply took another test.

Navajo31

This is true. I have a SODA issued in 1994 that I drag out to every class I physical I take. It is not noted on the medical certificate itself.

In order to get a Class I SODA, you need to do three things:
- read VFR sectional charts
- correctly identify light gun signals from the tower
- fly with a FSDO inspector and satisfy him/her that you can recognize different colors (Mine mission was to find a red barn. Not a problem in rural Michigan.)

I go 0 for 16 every 6 months on the test, but they keep making me take it!

OBTW: New medical certificate regs now require I carry a copy of the SODA along with my medical and license. (I don't plan on providing it to anyone unless specifically asked for it.)