Nervous about color deficiency
10-19-2009, 09:28 PM
#1
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Posts: 270
Nervous about color deficiency
Hello! I recently changed my major over to aviation. I have about 10 hours of flying under my belt. Upon reviewing the requirements to receive a 1st class medical I realized that the Ishihara test was administered. I have always done terrible on these! I'm quiet nervous about the exam on Wed.. I was wondering if I should cancel my appointment and find somebody who does an alternative test? Or should I just go in try and pass (probably fail) then attempt to find an alternative? I'm not color blind at all! Its just hard to distinguish with those damn dots. Please help!
10-19-2009, 09:40 PM
#2
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Originally Posted by brianu16
Hello! I recently changed my major over to aviation. I have about 10 hours of flying under my belt. Upon reviewing the requirements to receive a 1st class medical I realized that the Ishihara test was administered. I have always done terrible on these! I'm quiet nervous about the exam on Wed.. I was wondering if I should cancel my appointment and find somebody who does an alternative test? Or should I just go in try and pass (probably fail) then attempt to find an alternative? I'm not color blind at all! Its just hard to distinguish with those damn dots. Please help!
USMCFLYR
10-19-2009, 09:44 PM
#3
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Thanks for the quick reply! I guess my question was, assuming they use those plates, would I be making it more difficult on myself if I go in and fail? Or is it pretty much the same procedure if I fail, then go take and alternative somewhere else.. Thanks!
10-19-2009, 09:52 PM
#4
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Originally Posted by brianu16
Thanks for the quick reply! I guess my question was, assuming they use those plates, would I be making it more difficult on myself if I go in and fail? Or is it pretty much the same procedure if I fail, then go take and alternative somewhere else.. Thanks!
USMCFLYR
10-20-2009, 07:28 AM
#6
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Originally Posted by brianu16
I've read through them already! Just voicing some concern in my own thread I guess. My stomachs has turned upside down in just a few short hours. Wednesday is a long ways off 
10-07-2011, 09:08 PM
#7
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Originally Posted by USMCFLYR
I'm not 100% sure - but if all one doctor uses is the ONE test and you go in there and fail - I'm pretty sure there isn't anyway to just "forget about that test". Like I said - I worry about this everytime too and I told them and they pulled out another two different tests and I had no problem with them. Of course you could go do the test with a FSDO and not have to do the color test anymore - but I understand it is a ONE TIME shot. There are other threads on the forum that will be useful for you to read.
USMCFLYR
USMCFLYR
10-08-2011, 02:47 AM
#8
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Position: B-777 Captain
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As an X-Naval Avitor who flew Tomcats, was adversary pilot, and instructed in A-4s, I too have always had a problem with the psudochromatic plates. In fact when I joined the service the Navy did NOT consider the plates to be a valid test. They used the Farnsorth latern setup. This is basically a device that emits two sets of colorored light. You stand back about 10 feet away and the techy pushes the button on top of the device. You then read out the colors you see. Red/white, Green/ Green, Green/Red, etc, etc.
When I was initially applying to the airlines and did the A/A medical, nurse ratchet told me I was color blind. I told her that I had over 400 carrier landings and that the Navy really dosen't allow color blind people to do that. Especially at night. She nearly bit my head off. So I had to get a letter from my flight sergeon.
25 years with the airlines of which the last 22 have been with a night cargo outfit and no problems. However several years ago Fedex had an accident in Tallahassee in which one of the factors in that accident was that the co-pilot was somewhat colorblind. My understanding is that this is one reason why the FAA uses the plates and might not accept the results from the Farnsworth latern. I don't really know.
Another thing you can do is to Google colorblind charts. What I find is that I can read all the numbers, its just that sometimes it takes my brain a little longer to connects the dots to make a number.
Finally, here is what I would do. Go to an eye doc and get tested. You either are or not colorblind. This is not one of those things that your not at 26 but are after age 50. Then ask your flight doc which test they use. Again I don't know if there allowed to use the latern setup. Good Luck.
When I was initially applying to the airlines and did the A/A medical, nurse ratchet told me I was color blind. I told her that I had over 400 carrier landings and that the Navy really dosen't allow color blind people to do that. Especially at night. She nearly bit my head off. So I had to get a letter from my flight sergeon.
25 years with the airlines of which the last 22 have been with a night cargo outfit and no problems. However several years ago Fedex had an accident in Tallahassee in which one of the factors in that accident was that the co-pilot was somewhat colorblind. My understanding is that this is one reason why the FAA uses the plates and might not accept the results from the Farnsworth latern. I don't really know.
Another thing you can do is to Google colorblind charts. What I find is that I can read all the numbers, its just that sometimes it takes my brain a little longer to connects the dots to make a number.
Finally, here is what I would do. Go to an eye doc and get tested. You either are or not colorblind. This is not one of those things that your not at 26 but are after age 50. Then ask your flight doc which test they use. Again I don't know if there allowed to use the latern setup. Good Luck.
Last edited by JetJocF14; 10-08-2011 at 09:45 AM.
10-08-2011, 03:46 AM
#9
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Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
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Originally Posted by abrahamim
Hey, were/are you a aviator/NFO for the Marine Corps? I am also pursuing Marine Corps Aviation but I struggle when it comes to the color test. I can distinguish all the airport environment colors day and night but the color plates just kills me. I heard there is no leeway especially for the eye in the military when trying out for the flight. It has been my dream from ever since I was 4 and a honor to serve for my country but I just hate the fact that some plates determine if you could fly or not. Could you give me some information on this? Thanks
If you do a search for threads with 'color' in the title you'll come up with about 22 different threads associated with the problems you are questioning. There is a lot of good information already out there.
This thread in particular had another post from airwarriors which I found informative:
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/mi...ements-af.html
Look at posts 7-10.
You might hate the fact that some plates determine whether you can fly or not until you are flying on a tanker at night in IMC and maneuvering via lights
I had the same challenges and determination as you and I found a way that it worked for me. The naval services standard was FALANT. You may want to contact bunk22 who is still in and he can probably give you the most recent updates.USMCFLYR
10-08-2011, 03:50 AM
#10
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Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,837
Originally Posted by JetJocF14
As an X-Naval Avitor who flew Tomcats, was adversary pilot, and instructed in A-4s, I too have always had a problem with the psudochromatic plates. In fact when I joined the service the Navy did NOT consider the plates to be a valid test. They used the Farnsorth latern setup. This is basically a device that emits two sets of colorored light. You stand back about 10 feet away and the techy pushes the button on top of the device. You then read out the colors you see. Red/white, Green/ Green, Green/Red, etc, etc.
When I was initially applying to the airlines and did the A/A medical, nurse ratchet told me I was color blind. I told her that I had over 400 carrier landings and that the Navy really dosen't allow color blind people to do that. Especially at night. She nearly bit my head off. So I had to get a letter from my flight sergeon.
25 years with the airlines of which the last 22 have been with a night cargo outfit and no problems. However several years ago Fedex had an accident in Tallahassee in which one of the factors in that accident was that the co-pilot was colorblind. My understanding is tha this is one reason why the FAA uses the plates and might not accept the results from the Farnsworth latern. I don't really know.
Another thing you can do is to Google colorblind charts. What I find is that I can read all the numbers, its just that sometimes it takes my brain a little longer to connects the dots to make a number.
Finally, here is what I would do. Go to an eye doc and get tested. You either are or not colorblind. This is not one of those things that your not at 26 but are after age 50. Then ask your flight doc which test they use. Again I don't know if there allowed to use the latern setup. Good Luck.
When I was initially applying to the airlines and did the A/A medical, nurse ratchet told me I was color blind. I told her that I had over 400 carrier landings and that the Navy really dosen't allow color blind people to do that. Especially at night. She nearly bit my head off. So I had to get a letter from my flight sergeon.
25 years with the airlines of which the last 22 have been with a night cargo outfit and no problems. However several years ago Fedex had an accident in Tallahassee in which one of the factors in that accident was that the co-pilot was colorblind. My understanding is tha this is one reason why the FAA uses the plates and might not accept the results from the Farnsworth latern. I don't really know.
Another thing you can do is to Google colorblind charts. What I find is that I can read all the numbers, its just that sometimes it takes my brain a little longer to connects the dots to make a number.
Finally, here is what I would do. Go to an eye doc and get tested. You either are or not colorblind. This is not one of those things that your not at 26 but are after age 50. Then ask your flight doc which test they use. Again I don't know if there allowed to use the latern setup. Good Luck.
Sounds like you and I had similar battles too.
Btw - I can there are some diseases and medications that can affect your color vision and you actually CAN become color blind. I asked this question even a few years ago because I questioned the need for the yearly color vision test (or 6 months for the FAA 1st class).
USMCFLYR
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