View Full Version : Why commercial airline pilots now are allowed to........
babyboeing400
30th Apr 2006, 07:08
allowed to wear corrective lenses while flying but the old-time aviation authorities requires pilots to have perfect vision?:confused: it baffles me anytime...
vapilot2004
30th Apr 2006, 07:16
By statute, corrective lenses were OK - however your vision must be corrected to near 20/20. Anything below required a rare vision waiver. (US laws)
babyboeing400
30th Apr 2006, 07:28
sorry for my ignorance..then where did the:confused: 'pilots must have perfect vision' notion come from??
vapilot2004
30th Apr 2006, 09:11
Sorry BB400, I may have oversimplified my answer - - there was an uncorrected vision limitation pre-1980s (or so) for a Class 1 medical.
This is no longer a requirement.
There (are?) were limitations on USN and USAF fighter pilots having 20/20 vision - that rule had changed my career path for the better :ok:
Cheers
TopBunk
30th Apr 2006, 13:50
20/20 vision being perfect vision is a commonly held belief.
It is wrong (I believe:p )
20/20 vision mean that you can se at 20 feet what the average person can see at 20 feet. [= 6/6 in metres].
So 20/15 is better than 20/20 ie. you can see at 20 ft what Mr Average sees at 15 ft.
John Boeman
30th Apr 2006, 17:20
TopBunk - quite right.
See here: http://science.howstuffworks.com/question126.htm
I seem to remember my Doc telling me that it was the third line from the bottom of the chart that was 20/20. (Not certain about that).