Color Vision Restrictions at the Airlines
 

Here's my scenario:

I would be taking a 1st class OCVT (Operational Color Vision Test) and MFT (Medical Flight Test) this coming spring with the FAA to renew my 1st class medical and continue my pursuit of airline flying (I'm a 22 year old 530hr CFII who only needs the 1000 hours). The 1st class color vision test contains several parts, as I've hinted at.

1) The local FSDO (IND, in my case) takes you out to the local airport with a tower, and has the tower shine the light gun at you, randomly changing the colors. Your job is to correctly identify the color shown.

2) There is a brief session of identifying colors on sectional charts.

3) MFT - the medical flight test requires you to differentiate and identify various colors both inside and outside of the airplane while in flight.

Worst case scenario, if you do not pass the light gun test during daylight hours, you can take it again at night. I know I could pass it at night. I'm 99.9% sure I can pass it during the daytime, too; as I have done a light gun test before, for my 3rd class about 4 years ago.

If I don't pass it during the daytime, but do at night, I would have a restriction on my medical reading "NOT VALID FOR FLIGHT DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS UNDER LIGHT GUN SIGNAL CONTROL" or something to that effect.

Here's the actual question: Would this be disqualifying to a regional airline such as Republic, Compass, SkyWest, ExpressJet, etc? This could obviously be an employer-specific question but a friend recommended I try this forum as well. Thanks for any and all help.

-Brady

I took the OCVT and MFT a few years ago and passed. It was not difficult at all. Just like the job aid, I can not see the plates at all during normal FAA medical test. I do not know the answer to if it is disqualifying for airlines; but I would lean towards yes. Why are you taking it in the Spring? Why don't you just schedule it and get it out of the way?


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Did you try all of the alternate test first? Also before you go up with the FAA, have an instructor take you up in the pattern one day, and have the tower show you the signals.

I did take the alternate tests - as many as I could, almost all of them. Some of them are no longer available. Thanks for the input guys.

I took all the alternative tests at a medical examiner in PHX that offers them, but could not see any plates or consistently see the lantern tests.


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I did the OCVT at the FSDO with the light gun test administered in the parking lot. I did the MFT at my home airport at the time during daylight hours only. Other inspectors could make it more thorough, but just according to the job aid.


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If you don't mind me asking, which AME was it? Thanks!

Www.myflightsurgeon.com don't know his name but that is their site.


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OK, kinda figured as much. How was your experience...like would you reccommend them?

So far I've been able to pass my Ishihara plates, but I've had some trouble. My story which I've related before, is that if it weren't for the Ishihara plates, I would have never known my eyes were any different than "normal." So I've always wanted to talk to a specialist to get some intelligence about what is going on and what I may do in the future. The absolute lack of knowledge or availability of alternate tests besides the stupid ishiharas is maddening! Especially when some form of color deficiency/difference from "normal" affects 1 in about 10 men.

Color Vision Restrictions at the Airlines
 

He was fine, would have been better experience had I been able to pass one of the alternate tests, but I left kind of frustrated. I remember making some remark of how I'd just go pass somewhere else because 90% of other AMEs don't care about the color vision test, and they or the nurses just have you identify red and green lines on the eye chart or point to stuff in the office which is completely contrary to regulations. I had to tell the assistant on another future medical visit directly that I can't pass the plates and please give me a restriction so I can go do the OCVT/MFT.


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