I just got an email from a friend in Texas. They brought their son up to start in Flight school in Logan this summer. I guess he just went in for his medical and they said he is colorblind. Is he totally washed up? Also, I heard they used to put colorblind pilots in planes because they could see camouflaged stuff on the ground, Is that BS?

Jerry

I could get him in touch with the medical examiner I go to in Brigham City for a second opinion if he wanted. PM me if you want his number. He can get the real deal tailwheel training in BMC too.....

I just got an email from a friend in Texas. They brought their son up to start in Flight school in Logan this summer. I guess he just went in for his medical and they said he is colorblind. Is he totally washed up? Also, I heard they used to put colorblind pilots in planes because they could see camouflaged stuff on the ground, Is that BS?

Jerry

Hello Backcountry Pilots,

No he is not washed up! Within 30 days of the denial of the medical due to color blindness the applicant should follow the procedure outlined in FAR 67.409. This will result in the requirement to perform a light signal gun test at the local FSDO, (FAA Flight Standards District Office). Upon successful completion of the test the applicant is issued a “SODA” Statement of Demonstrated Ability, and a new medical.

The pilot is not required to carry the new SODA on his or her person, but will show it to the medical examiner for future medical examinations. In addition, the restriction “Not Valid for flight during daylight hours by color signal” will be placed on the new medical certificate.
Hope this information helps. Color blindness should not hinder most civilian flying careers, however it will disqualify him as military pilot applicant.

Good luck,

James
Spokane

It is difficult to believe that he got to that age without knowing he had a vision problem. I would take him to an Opthamologist and have it checked out.

flyer

Last time I took an FAA flight physical the pages in that doctor's color vision book were real faded. So bad I could barely make out the numbers and trace the squigglies. It must have been a very old book left out in the sun. That was my last flight physical. I fly under sport pilot rules now.

Guys, Thanks for the info and I have forwarded it on.

When I was in my 30's I was doing the test for a CDL License. The Doctor told me I got "most of them". I was shocked and asked him what colors I couldn't see. He said, "the ones that don't matter". I always wondered what I couldn't see but my kids always bugged me about greens and blues. They look like two different colors to me and I see them in color.

When I did my pilot physical I was worried about it. The same Doctor did the test and I asked him how I did and he said "fine". I left it at that. I passed the next physical with a different Doctor so who knows?

Jerry

I have also had the color problem. After 600+ hours an AME decided I was color blind and the FAA restricted me to daytime only flight until we sorted it all out. I passed on a alternative color test, the AOPA web site has several pages about this issue.

Medical issues are tough, in my case the FAA would not even talk to me - except via snail mail. AOPA medical people ran the gauntlet and helped me get it fixed.

In the end, I did get a waiver which used to be good for life, but the FAA changed the rules and now we are back to testing color vision at every medical again. So your friend can expect this to be a recurring theme.

Until the rules change again.

Here is a test:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWyrp3hu4KE

The comments are pretty funny too

PS, If your colorblind, DON'T SAY IT HERE! You never know who's listening

It is a shame, but unscrupulous (& motivated) individuals have been known to memorize the numbers on those tests and pass the tests........

Really, just what I've heard......

lc

"It is difficult to believe that he got to that age without knowing he had a vision problem..."

When I first heard about the colour blindness test I felt the same way - you'd have to know by middle age, right? However, the guy who runs my flying school says its not uncommon by any means for people to only learn they're colour blind as a result of the flying medical.