Old 07-29-2014, 10:52 AM
  #7  
Dan64456
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Joined APC: Apr 2007
Posts: 456
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Color vision testing would be my question. The FAA allows 15+ different tests and any one is allowed to get a first class medical.. (Although this is going to change soon..)
The ones they are going to allow in the future will most likely be:
Richmond HHR 4th Ed
Waggoner HHR, PIPIC
AOC HHR 2nd Ed
Dvoirine 2nd Ed
Ishihara 38,24,14
Optec 900 (Newer version of the Farnsworth Lantern)

Keep in mind the FAA allows a different amount of errors than the manual of the test, so tell your AME to look it up on the FAA's site if they fail you...
https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...ch/item52/amd/

Some of these they are going to also screen with supplemental plates to detect yellow-blue deficiencies (often caused from health problems or chemical burns, not as much congenital like red green deficiencies).. So they are going to remove the tests that only have 6 or so plates because they have been known to fail people who shouldn't fail (false positive), and also are subject to memorization.

They are probably going to give you one chance on each instead of several on any in the future, and if you can't pass, they will refer you to the CAD test like they use in Europe.. (Colour Assessment and Diagnosis test).. which is more precise and the cut score was matched with a PAPI test and some other tasks. It's a computer based test with a moving colored square on a dynamic background.. It can determine just how color deficient you are, where the paper ones usually cannot.

And of course if you can't pass that, they will give you the OCVT/MFT (Real world test.. chart reading, light gun, flight test with a DPE). If you pass that you get a Letter of Evidence and are good to go in the future. (practice the light gun and sectional COLD if you are going to go this route.. just call the tower for a trial run.. only one chance)

I'm pretty sure an airline can't deny you on what the FAA says you are legally qualified to do.. but the new standards are coming and might screw a lot of people. Either way it would be interesting to see what the airlines do if this happens.. There is a legal battle in Australia right now with CASA and some color deficient airline pilots.. Colour Vision Defective Pilots Association (CVDPA) for more info.. It's even on their national news.

So if any airline does include color vision testing as part of their medical, try to ask what type of test and what standards they are following and post here..

Thx all!
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