Originally Posted by
SpyGlass
Just a quick note on the color plates. When I was applying for a 1st class for the first time a few years ago, I failed the color vision test "couldn't see the numbers". Because of this I went to a optometrist to get a second opinion. Took the same test and passed with flying colors. The difference was that the AME's plates must have been 30 years old. They looked soooo faded compared to the optometrist's (exact same) plates, huge difference! Have since changed AME's and never had a problem with this test since. So in my experience, make sure those plates are bright and bold not old and faded.
Yea I had something similar happen to me as well... Also note that Ishihara plates are very light sensitive. FAA recommends lights with a high color temp, like over 6000K I believe with a CRI of over 90... They have specific model numbers... But I actually find them much easier to pass under incandescent lighting, which have low temp, but 100% CRI...