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Will an airline hire a pilot with diplopia (Double Vision)?
Just this question. Will a commercial airline hire a pilot with diagnosed diplopia, otherwise known as double vision and/or convergence disorder. I passed the FAA First Class Medical but they didn't test for that. I believe it is surgically correctable, but there are risks, and I'm not sure I'd want to go through with that. I don't really want to spend a whole bunch more money than I already have on flight training, only to find out that my condition officially or unoficially disqualifies me from getting the job that I want to get. How does it work when you apply for a job as an airline pilot? Does the company that interviews you request to see all of your medical records and ask you about any conditions that you have? I figure they would instead of just relying on the First Class Medical to verify that you are in fine health. I know not everyone here is a doctor, but can anyone answer my questions, refer me to someone who can, or advise me on any course of action here?Any responses will be much appreciated. Thank You.
Jim 'Wash Out' Pfaffenbach: I just got kicked out of the unit. My flight status has been withdrawn. I'm through, Dead Meat!
Pete 'Dead Meat' Thompson: What happened?
Jim 'Wash Out' Pfaffenbach: It's my eyes. I've got walleye-vision.
Pete 'Dead Meat' Thompson: Isn't there something that can be done?
Jim 'Wash Out' Pfaffenbach: Well, there's a delicate corneal inversion procedure... a multi-opti-pupil-optomy. But, in order to keep from damaging the eye sockets, they've got to go in through the rectum. Ain't no man going to take that route with me!
Jim 'Wash Out' Pfaffenbach: I just got kicked out of the unit. My flight status has been withdrawn. I'm through, Dead Meat!
Pete 'Dead Meat' Thompson: What happened?
Jim 'Wash Out' Pfaffenbach: It's my eyes. I've got walleye-vision.
Pete 'Dead Meat' Thompson: Isn't there something that can be done?
Jim 'Wash Out' Pfaffenbach: Well, there's a delicate corneal inversion procedure... a multi-opti-pupil-optomy. But, in order to keep from damaging the eye sockets, they've got to go in through the rectum. Ain't no man going to take that route with me!
hahahahaha that's the first thing I thought of when I saw what the thread was about.
On a serious note, it is scary that you are trying to cheat your way in to a medical. If not now, this will eventually catch up with you financially and legally.
First of all, I didn't cheat my way through the medical. The guy asked me to tell him what I saw, and I looked at the stuff as best I could and told him. Flying had actually been OK for me in terms of the vision problem. I can make things one when I need to and it hasn't impaired the flying. I'm simply asking if someone can answer or refer me to the right place where I can find the official standards of the FAA and commercial airlines on hiring someone with diplopia. For example, what standared does that person have to meet? Is it automatically disqualifying? What if you get it surgically repaired, is it then OK to get hired? Beyond the FAA Medical, will airlines want to do their own medical testing and do their own research and inquiries into your medical record. I looked up the standards for a Class I medical in the FAR/AIM and I wasn't satisfied with what I found, because it did not specifically say anything about diplopia. ( or if it did, I did not understand the language used ) I have heard that diplopia may or may not be disqualifying and that is on a case by case basis at the discretion of the FAA. I was just wondering if anyone would be able to give me an unequivocally correct answer to this question, or if any such standard exists. If not, what would be the next course of action. Go to see an FAA medical examiner and discuss it with him? Go to see my own private eye doctor and discuss it with him? If you can help me with any of this, please feel free to respond. Thank You.
The quick answer is maybe. Not all airlines have a medical exam and simply ask for a current 1st or 2nd class medical. I've never been asked about my medical history during an interview, and I've never asked during any interview I've conducted.
With all that said, the bigger question is why would you want to put passengers in potential danger by flying with a known condition? I realize you must have a love for flying, but your passengers also have a love for many things and shouldn't be unknowingly in danger.
Chperplt,
Thanks alot for the reply. It's not that I want to put anyone in danger, but was simply wondering what the protocol for such a thing was. I am working on my private now and simply want to know if I should spend more money to get licenses for a job I may not be able to obtain. I either fly with a cfi as the PIC or solo so the only passenger whose safety I can account for is myself. I think that I might have been misunderstood here, with people thinking that I am intending to sneak myself into a position and withholding information from other people. I just wanted to know the standards and protocols so that I can plan my course of action (possible correctable surgery).
Chperplt,
Thanks alot for the reply. It's not that I want to put anyone in danger, but was simply wondering what the protocol for such a thing was. I am working on my private now and simply want to know if I should spend more money to get licenses for a job I may not be able to obtain. I either fly with a cfi as the PIC or solo so the only passenger whose safety I can account for is myself. I think that I might have been misunderstood here, with people thinking that I am intending to sneak myself into a position and withholding information from other people. I just wanted to know the standards and protocols so that I can plan my course of action (possible correctable surgery).
Your best bet is to contact a company such as the one I linked to. They're the experts on all things FAA Medical, without actually having to speak to the FAA.
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Will an airline hire a pilot with diplopia (Double Vision)?
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