Medical Exam by the Airline?
 

Does anyone know if airlines do their own specific medical testing?

(Especially for color vision?)

I emailed Republic Airways and they told me that their only medical requirement is that you possess a "First Class Medical Cert."

Thanks

I have never had anything other than a drug test at ASA. 1st class medical is required of course.

Many majors and even some regionals... use to have inhouse medical evals before hiring. AE use to use the AA medical facility at DFW. Not sure if any still do in house testing.

I have heard that Eagle dropped the all-day medical exam, they were the only regional still doing an exam that I know of.

Several majors do an exam, but most are just verifying that you meet FAA 1st. class medical standards. Many majors do not do an exam, notably SWA.

If you have trouble with the color vision, and can only pass with the help of a "sympathetic" AME, you would probably get denied at an airline medical... I suspect they are not going to bend over backwards to accommodate applicants.

Doesn't Compass still do some kind of medical thing?

Eagle has a pee test and hearing test.... thats all.

Luckily no airline gives a Mental health test!

1st Question - "Do you want to be an airline pilot, start at low pay, no pension, sit on reserve, and have a chance of being furloughed any time the industry has a slight downturn?"

Answer - "Yes"

Exam Conclusion - "The candidate is mentally challenged."

I have a slightly abnormal colorvision, I couldn't pass the Ishira color vision plates they used in e office at my first medical. I went to an eye doctor and did a different color vision test and passed it (the FAA accepts like 15 different types and some are more/less discriminating than others), mailed that stuff to the FAA and I got a nice letter from them saying 'take this letter to all future medicals and this will serve as proof of your colorvision' (I'm paraphrasing).

Do that and take that letter to your airline medical. I have a slight color blindness to shades of green (according to the doctor)...didn't know about it for 20 years...and still don't notice it (Red buttons look red, Yellow buttons look yellow)

Most of those test are not given under the proper conditions. ie old plates and/or bad lighting. I have the same problem but easily pass when under the proper test conditions.

I have a waiver for my color vision but my medical says first class with no limitations and thats all I show at interviews. So unless someone asks at an interview don't tell them you have a waiver. I've seen job postings that require you not to have a waiver, so just be carefull what you show them until they ask.

Actually, Delta makes you take the MMPI, then you go interview with a shrink.

A lot of majors make you take a mental evalution, the MMPI seems to be most popular.

I pass the FAA standards without any "help"... I don't ace the ishihara test, but I meet the FAA's standards... For instance: On the 14 plate edition ishihara test, the included documentation states that 10 or more correct on plates 1 to 11 is normal color vision, 7 or less correct is abnormal, 8 or 9 requires further testing. I fall into the 8 or 9 category on that test...
(And yes, the proper testing conditions DO help. Fluorescent lights make it much harder.) It's supposed to be a macbeth lamp, or natural daylight or something...

Heres the thing tho, the FAA says that "an applicant does not meet the color vision standard if the testing reveals: 6 or more errors on plates 1 to 11 on the 14 plate concise edition." In other words you need 6 or more correct to pass according to the FAA. Apparently they allow a mild degree of deficiency and if you can get 6 or more right, then your case is most likely mild...

So as long as they adhere to the FAA standards and didn't adopt their own, then I should be ok... Are they allowed to adopt their own when it comes to inherited things like that?

I've had AME assistant's fail me for not getting all of them correct before. So I started bringing the sheet with me as backup incase they fail me because they don't know the standards, seems like many of them don't.

It may be illegal for them to deny hiring you if you are able to hold the required medical.

Thats totally right...but then again when was the last time an airline told you why they didn't hire you?

(You being the variable word, not meaning you personally of course)

I understand. If I remember correctly from my friends Delta interview, you only did the medical if you passed the interview and they were done on separate days (not back to back either). I think NWA was the same way.

So if you pass the interview, and a week later are sent to the doctor...then they rescind the job offer, you may be able to make a case.

I think the way to works is they need to offer "conditional employment" in order to do a pre-employment medical or even a pre-employment drug test. (that is how it was explained to me at a job interview by the HR rep).

I may be totally wrong...and if I am someone will certainly correct me.

This is not true, although the trend has headed in this direction over the last decade or so.

Several majors have been able to defend having their own, more rigorous, standards in court. Usually the pilot claims Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for things like wearing glasses and color vision. But the airlines have gotten those thrown out on the basis that the need to wear glasses or marginal color vision is NOT a disability...the definition of a disability is a condition which impairs everyday living, and wearing glasses does not count. If you had a bad leg and walk with a cane, the airline WOULD have to hire you per ADA, as long as you can hold a medical.

The good news is that many airlines seem to be tired of spending money on these lawsuits, so most arre getting more tolerant.

Alright here is what I know.
Under the 1996 HIPPA Act, it is illegal for a company to know your medical history for the purpose of a job. Now many do have medicals, but how they have been administered has changed.
Previously airlines had access to the results and questioners that you answered during this exam. Now all they get is a yes or no from the medical professionals.
All of that stuff (color vision, irregular heart beat, etc is dealt with with the doctors or DO's that perform the exam) Now if you have a wavier, it is not on your medical as you are qualified with no restrictions due to the waiver from the letter. During the interview and your are not under a special issuance letter ( On your medical, in the restrictions box will state that it is not valid after six or 12 months depending on what it is for. Companies know this and look for that. It is a dead giveaway that you are under an SI) you do not need to disclose this. When you take your test with the health facility and do not pass, whip out this letter. It has been sufficient for plenty of people. I know of five people that had issues at DAL the last round and all of them had wavers and none of them disclosed anything except to the dr. There letters were more than sufficient.
This law really protects you. IMHO it is one of the best things that Clinton did.

Pay attention to this ^^^^. I've got one too. Golden ticket. 5,500 hours later and no problems.

Confirmed!

For those with slight green weakness, which test have you done that you get correct more often ? I always only used those plates and man they suck . Hit or miss. I always wanted to try some others .

My quote above worked for my Compass medical, also I take a BP med and passed no problem. Just bring the things for your first class medical.

Farnsworth panel D-15 (not sure if the FAA still accepts it). Took mine at Kellogg Eye institute, tech wrote up results and mailed them to the FAA.

I did my alternate test at the FSDO with the light gun signals (don't know if this is an accepted test anymore). Anyways, I have a Letter of Evidence and just show that to the AME at each medical.

When I did my medical for Delta and it came to the color test, I just showed the Doc my letter and that sufficed.

Interestingly enough, my new AME has new plates and has me take them "just for fun" and I get about 4-5 out of 6. Easier than the old plates but I'm glad to have the LOE so that I don't have to rely on passing the plate test each year.

How long ago was this that you did this ?

Light signal test was probably 10 or more years ago.

D-15 is no longer accepted.