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FAA Color Vision Standards to change yet again within next 180 days

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FAA Color Vision Standards to change yet again within next 180 days

Old 01-19-2009, 05:41 AM
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Default FAA Color Vision Standards to change yet again within next 180 days

Got the following message from a Doctor that I talk to over on the AOPA forums:

"Dan, you should be aware that in the next 180 days FAA is going to revamp the acceptable volor vision tests and tighten it significantly. They are going to tighten the standards for operational waiver, as well, in response to the TLH 2002 727 accident which involved a high hour Ex Navy P3 skipper flying a Fed Ex 727 into the trees. He had passed the Farnsworth Lantern repeatedly in his navy days.

Whatever the rules are when you renew, they will be different. The intent of the FAA response to this accident is to tighten and make both the screening tests accepted and the waiver process tougher. And you can only use information from the preceeding 90 days.

Look for February's Twin and Turbine for my take on the situation."


Catch 22 is I passed the titmus test, and can pass the shorter version of the Ishihara test... I wanted to take the Medical Flight Test/OCVT just so I wouldn't have to worry about it anymore. I am a borderline normal color vision / mild deutranomoly apparently... But since I don't have "failed color vision" and the restrictions that come along with it on my medical then I can't get authorized to take the MFT/OCVT. I planned on going to ATP/finishing degree with UVU within the next few months. Should I wait 6 months to see what happens or should I not delay this any further? (As I have for 2 years b/c of this uncertainty.)


Anyone heard of this and/or have and details on it?



Not relevant but here was my take on the situation:

Read the accident report, and everything in it (aside from the doctors attacking the F/O's color vision) suggests that either there was MVFR near the runway, condensation on the PAPI lights (which were turned on only by keying the mic along with the runway lights and can take 30 minutes or more to burn off the condensation) and fatigue. Both of the other pilots report seeing the PAPI "Clear as day" and reporting that they appeared to be on glide path. Condensation can cause the lights on a PAPI to be indistinguishable... There were also low clouds and mist recorded on the weather report... No argument that the F/O was color-deficient, and that the FALANT may not be as reliable... but was this the cause of the accident? I think not. Hypoxia could have been a cause too since it can deteriorate ones vision at cabin altitudes as low as 5000 feet. He smoked a pack of cigarettes a day as well. Supposedly this can also affect red-green differentiation even in those with "normal" color vision.


For anyone that wants to read the report go to http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/2004/AAR0402.pdf and you will see exactly what I am talking about...


Also note this:

"During the post accident investigation, he admitted that he had gotten “help” and
used alternate strategies to “game” the FALANT in order to “pass” it."

No kidding...

So if they stop accepting the falant, they are basing it on someone that was a good navy pilot who happened to cheat and get help on the test. Simply unfair and unjust.

Last edited by Dan64456; 01-19-2009 at 06:14 AM.
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Old 01-19-2009, 08:32 AM
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I certainly hope the FAA gets their program together and devises a reasonable solution to this...and sticks with it, so people can plan their careers.

There is no way to know the right answer on this. I SUSPECT that if the FAA makes a significant change to the rules which disqualifies folks, then there will be a backlash, political involvement, and a grandfather process established for those who had previously held medicals.

If I were in your shoes, and were committed to flying I would:

1) Get all of my ratings as quickly as possible.

2) Get a first class medical and then DO NOT let it lapse for any reason until this is all over with. Don't even let it go to a second class.

I'm pretty sure they will end up having to grandfather those who were current when the rule changed.
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Old 01-19-2009, 08:37 AM
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Well that’s the thing, back in July 2008, the FAA sent me an erroneous letter stating that the FALANT was no longer accepted and they can't remove my restriction. They were supposed to send me a LOE and an amended medical because this was before the rules changed. They purposely sent me that false letter to hold me up in the system so they wouldn’t have to give me an LOE because they knew the rules were about to change. I wonder if I can take them to court for that since my FALANT was passed before the new OCVT/MFT rules came into play.
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Old 01-19-2009, 08:43 AM
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Originally Posted by Dan64456 View Post
Well that’s the thing, back in July 2008, the FAA sent me an erroneous letter stating that the FALANT was no longer accepted and they can't remove my restriction. They were supposed to send me a LOE and an amended medical because this was before the rules changed. They purposely sent me that false letter to hold me up in the system so they wouldn’t have to give me an LOE because they knew the rules were about to change. I wonder if I can take them to court for that since my FALANT was passed before the new OCVT/MFT rules came into play.
If they end up regulating a bunch of people out of the profession, someone should setup a web site to get people together for political action and a class-action lawsuit.
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Old 01-19-2009, 10:02 AM
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funny you say that I was just telling my friends yesterday that if I can't go forward and become a professional pilot then I will either take up optometry and become an AME as well or go to law school and practice aviation law and fight the FAA in any way I can when it comes to these unfair discriminations... good motivation to go thru all of that schooling... lol

Last edited by Dan64456; 01-19-2009 at 10:27 AM.
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Old 01-20-2009, 07:08 PM
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dan64456:
Got the following message from a Doctor that I talk to over on the AOPA forums
I follow that forum too. It's the best place to ask the questions you've asked here.


rickair7777:
I'm pretty sure they will end up having to grandfather those who were current when the rule changed
That's what Dr. Chien says on the AOPA forum. If you already have an SI, you'll be grandfathered. You don't, so you are sort of in limbo. A little.


rickair7777:
If they end up regulating a bunch of people out of the profession, someone should setup a web site to get people together for political action and a class-action lawsuit.
dan64456:
funny you say that I was just telling my friends yesterday that if I can't go forward and become a professional pilot then I will either take up optometry and become an AME as well or go to law school and practice aviation law
Opt for law school. Make a fortune from pilots trying to fight seniority lists and FAA decisions. DON'T work on a contingency basis - bill hours and take most of your money up front. You'll get rich quick. You'll probably never win a case, but that never seems to matter.

Political action? As soon as the FAA quotes medical statistics and accident data to the general public, your congressmen will run for cover. You have no chance.

Find a good certification doc (Chien can hook you up) and get on this problem that way. No disrespect intended, but ranting here is a waste of time. Remember, you haven't failed anything yet. Don't fret. Consult with an expert. There are no experts here - and that includes me. Best wishes and good luck. I think everything will turn out fine for you.
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Old 01-20-2009, 09:58 PM
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The FAA is on a witch hunt. There will be a lot of color deficient people suddenly out of a job if this stuff goes through....just got to keep fighting it.
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Old 01-21-2009, 04:17 AM
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There will be a lot of color deficient people suddenly out of a job if this stuff goes through
Again, everybody I know who knows anything about this says people with existing SI's will be grandfathered. It does seem that more people who haven't yet applied for a medical will be denied on color vision grounds. We'll just have to wait for the details. If what I hear is right, nobody's going to lose their medical, although "borderline" folks like Dan might have some cause for concern.
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Old 01-27-2009, 05:47 AM
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Here's the deal... I just went to another AME last night for another opinion on color vision. He has a keystone telebinoclar, and the 24 plate ishihara test.

The keysone I passed perfectly. I had to look hard to get the numbers, but I got them all correct.

To pass this ishihara test, according to the FAA, I had to get 9 or more correct of plates 1 - 15. I got 11 correct. 1 or 2 may have been a good guess, but some of the plates were the same ones as on the other one I've taken before and had no problem with. I'm thinking the bright white fluorescent lighting in the office may have made it slightly harder for me.

He said that he's not there to fail me and if it were a borderline case, he'd side with the pilot in most judgment calls. But I passed anyway.

Do you think I will have a problem under the new rules? Will they stop accepting the keystone?
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Old 02-24-2009, 05:39 AM
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Originally Posted by rotorhead1026 View Post
dan64456:


I follow that forum too. It's the best place to ask the questions you've asked here.


rickair7777:


That's what Dr. Chien says on the AOPA forum. If you already have an SI, you'll be grandfathered. You don't, so you are sort of in limbo. A little.


rickair7777:


dan64456:


Opt for law school. Make a fortune from pilots trying to fight seniority lists and FAA decisions. DON'T work on a contingency basis - bill hours and take most of your money up front. You'll get rich quick. You'll probably never win a case, but that never seems to matter.

Political action? As soon as the FAA quotes medical statistics and accident data to the general public, your congressmen will run for cover. You have no chance.

Find a good certification doc (Chien can hook you up) and get on this problem that way. No disrespect intended, but ranting here is a waste of time. Remember, you haven't failed anything yet. Don't fret. Consult with an expert. There are no experts here - and that includes me. Best wishes and good luck. I think everything will turn out fine for you.


What is an "SI"? I do have an unrestricted first class medical by the way. It expires late this summer...
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