PPL Color Blindness restrictions

[bean_ian]

Hi,
I’m currently in the process of getting my PPL. I have passed the theory and in April I am heading over to Florida to do my hours and the skills test. However I have a red green colour deficiency which means I am restricted to VFR day flying only. My question is: Are any other restrictions imposed on colour blind pilots by the CAA? In Ireland the IAA allow to only to fly in Irish airspace and only in Irish reg aircraft if you are colour blind. Does the CAA have any similar restrictions?
Regards
Ian

[Twiddle]

I think the other restriction on the license is something along the lines of ATC with Radio only (i.e., if they have an ATC with flags'n'lights then it's a no go) - and if you've ever seen one of those then.....answers on a postcard!!

[Twiddle]

Also, by the same definition, you may fly knowing that there's one less thing that can fail in your aircraft as you're completely immune to radio failure!!!!

[bean_ian]

Yeah i think your right there. Living in Ireland my main concern is not being able to fly Irish reg AC with a CAA PPL with colour restriction. I think the airspace restriction has been extended to include all JAA Member states

[giloc]

The CAA policy on defective colour vision for Class 2 medicals appears to be as follows:

"You will be tested for normal colour vision with Ishihara Test Plates. If you fail these you can still gain a Class 2 certificate, but it will be limited to flying by day only (previously you would also have been restricted to VFR flying in JAA airspace, but this has now been dropped, and the limitation is standard ICAO). This limitation can be removed if you pass an approved colour lantern test. If you wish to take a lantern test you should contact the CAA Medical Division, Gatwick, to get details of the nearest lantern to you."

[IO540]

The colour vision policy is largely bogus

http://www.aopa.com.au/infocentre/topicdocuments/colourvision.pdf

[giloc]

The colour vision policy is largely bogus
This better referenced and more objective study draws many of the same conclusions, and highlights the appalling inconsistencies in colour vision testing across the JAA member states. It includes the startling result that almost 30% of the test subjects in the study with normal colour vision 'failed' the JAR Ishihara plate test, and almost all of these went on to fail one or more of the secondary tests!

http://www.city.ac.uk/avrc/members/j.l.barbur/JAR_colour_study.pdf

[IO540]

Thank you for that URL Giloc, I will have a read.

I think the Isihara test is largely meaningless. Most of the people who fail it are able to identify each of the colours that appears in it. They just can't make out the pattern of the number or whatever.

The lantern test is much better; you are looking at actual coloured lights.

The FAA also adds the option of demonstrated ability, where identifying real tower lights will get you a pass.

Under JAA things are a lot more rigid, with the demonstrated ability route usually being blocked for the initial medical but they do allow it on some renewals. The JAA audiogram is one example where "anything goes" on a renewal; unsuprising as so many experienced pilots are pretty deaf.

The CPL/ATPL route (where any ICAO Class 1 will take you straight in to the JAA renewal limits, so long as you have a CPL or ATPL) is going to be of interest to some people, but it is a lot of work.

I also don't think colour vision is relevant to flying. Not once one can fly a plane. The situations where colour identification is critical are exceedingly few and it's really only on tower lights (which is irrelevant unless flying non-radio) or spotting lights at night to see which way the other plane is going (very rare).

[hooligan88b]

As you're going to the US I would suggest you might want to book a 'demonstrated ability light test' with the nearest FAA district office - http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/field_offices/fsdo/ if you pass, this will enable you to get an FAA Class one medical (assuming you've no other problems!) (you can do the medical any time before or after). It was free when I did it!

[east_sider]

If you want loads of detail on CVD then there's a long thread in the Professional Pilot Training forum:

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=229604

I've posted quite a bit on this as I've been really looking into it all. Most of the discussion is about Class 1 but as far as I can tell the Class 2 colour is effectively the same as Class 1. IE if you fail the ishihara plates then you will be issued with a class 2 restricted to daytime VFR only (you can't do a night rating). To get this restriction removed you have to pass a lantern test, which is what you would be given during a Class 1 anyway...

Good luck to all. CVD sucks :* :*

[unfazed]

New CAA CV Test starting next year (Task based)

See link http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/09/01/Navigation/177/208737/UK+review+of+electronic+colour+blindness+test+set+to+be+inte rnational+standard+as+pilot+vision.html


Hopefully more task related :)

[Mike Cross]

I used to be in the Army many years ago and wanted to transfer to the Army Air Corps. They wouldn't accept me as the Ishihara test showed a red/green deficiency.

A year or two later I resigned and did my PPL. I told the AME about the problem and he sent me for a Giles Archer Lantern Test and also for a different test (can't remember the name but it involved matching blocks of colour like a paint chart).

The conclusion was that the problem was bu@@er all to do with my colour vision, simply a difficulty in seeing the pattern in the Ishihara test. I was told I could have a Class 1 if I wanted. That was in 1974 and I've had no issues on that subject since.

Hope this helps, give the lantern test a go, nothing to lose except the cost of doing it.

Mike

[east_sider]

I volunteered to take part in the City Uni patient trial of the new PAPI type colour tests and have just been along today. Full write up on the CVD thread in the Professional Pilot forum, linked to above.

[unfazed]

Eastsider

(you can't do a night rating). Not now ! but when I gained my UK night rating it was based on my FAA medical. So I have a CAA night rating and therefore am eligible to gain an IR although due to later medical restriction (when I goy a UK medical) I cannot fly in UK at night.

Now where is the logic in that ?

Yes I did get the impression that left arm and right were very out of touch and that policy was being made on the hoof with illogical inconsistencies. :\

[IO540]

I would strongly advise every private pilot doing an FAA Class 1, while they are young and in good health. Never know what grandfather privileges that might give you.

[Bluebeard]

Always amuses me this one. Am colour blind having long since failed an Ishihara. Not a huge problem as I don't have a strong desire to go night flying (not in a single anyway!). But it is a bit of a farce - seeing all those big planes flying over at night I can very clearly differentiate 'twixt left and right nav lights.

[IO540]

As has been stated in this thread, and supported by the references given, the Isihara Plates are a big waste of time. Only the very best CV subjects pass them. Failing them means very close to nothing; the Lantern test is the only way to do this.