Colour Vision for FAA medical

[More tea Vicar???]

Just wanted to know how stringent the FAA medical is for CPL/ATP pilots with regard to testing color perception.
Any info appreciated.

[3db]

I have held a class 1 for a number of years now. My doc gets out the standard card charts, the ones with numbers "hidden" in the coloured dots of the background. If you need glasses (or similar) to make the standard and they are over about 3 diopters, then you get an additional convergance and colour test. Look into a device and tell them where the lines meet the numbers. White lines on a black background for convergence, red and green lines on a white background for colour blindness. However, I am not an optican, thats my interpretation of what the tests test for.

[ 15 July 2001: Message edited by: 3db ]

[inverted flatspin]

The FAA are very practical about this and indeed about all conditions for medical certification. Here is how they deal with colour vision.

Removal of Color Vision Restriction
The newly revised standards in Part 67 specify that applicants for all classes of medical certification have "the ability to perceive those colors necessary for the safe performance of airman duties."

If the airman does not pass the color vision test administered in the aviation medical examiner's office at the time of the FAA physical examination, the following options are available to remove the restrictions from the medical certificate:

The best option for many pilots is to pass one of the FAA-approved alternative pseudoisochromatic tests. The attached sheet from the Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners lists the optional tests and requirements for satisfactory completion based upon the class of medical applied for. You can see the eye care specialist of your choice for the tests. It may take a few phone calls to locate the test you want to take. Ask the doctor to report the type of test and the results on office letterhead. Make a copy of the letter for your records and send the results to the FAA.

You will be issued an amended certificate without the night flight/color signal restriction. Accompanying the amended certificate will be a "letter of evidence" citing your successful completion of the color vision test. Keep that letter for future reference.

Some pilots may instead prefer to take the color signal light test at an FAA air traffic control tower. Successfully passing this test will also remove the night flying /color signal control restriction, but with an important change.

FAA medical certification policy has now eliminated the need for a waiver, or Statement of Demonstrated Ability (SODA) to be issued after the satisfactory completion of the signal light test. So, if you opt for the light signal test, the FAA will now issue you an unrestricted medical and the letter of evidence, but without the separate waiver certificate. Your agency medical file will still show a pathology code for color vision deficiency. For that reason, if you plan to fly for the airlines, it is still a good idea to try the first option before attempting the signal light test.

*NOTE: THE COLOR SIGNAL LIGHT TEST CAN BE TAKEN ONLY TWICE.

IF YOU FAIL THE COLOR SIGNAL LIGHT TEST, THE FAA MAY NOT ALLOW YOU TO TAKE ONE OF THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE TESTS FOR REMOVAL OF THE NIGHT FLIGHT RESTRICTION. TRY THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE COLOR PLATE TESTS FIRST!

To be prepared for the color signal light test, we suggest you visit the airport and ask the tower specialist to flash the color signals in your direction. Have someone with you who has "normal" color vision to confirm that you correctly identify the colors. The FAA Inspector's Handbook also allows the inspector to ask you to demonstrate the ability to read aeronautical charts, including colored airspace and ground terrain designations most commonly found on sectional charts. You may or may not be asked to do this in addition to the light signal test.

Call the Aeromedical Certification Division in Oklahoma City and request an authorization for the color signal light test. Indicate the FAA Flight Standards District Office you intend to visit. The FAA will issue an authorization letter to you and copy it to the FSDO. After receiving the letter, which is valid for 90 days, schedule the test with the FSDO. Avoid midday tests when the sun is directly overhead. Late afternoon or cloudy days are the best conditions to view the light signals. Some facilities will accommodate an after-hours appointment if you ask.

The Flight Standards inspector should forward the results to the FAA Aeromedical Certification Division, however, you may want to call the FAA yourself to make sure that occurs.

When you have demonstrated that you meet the color vision standards, you may upgrade your medical to a higher class without having to retake the tests.

The following is a list of the acceptable tests for the FAA and what is required to pass them.

Color Vision
(Attachment for Procedure for removal of color vision restriction)

CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS
All Classes: 14 CFR 67.103(c), 67.203(c), and 67.303(c)

***ability to perceive those colors necessary for the safe performance of airman duties.


EXAMINATION PROCEDURES

Equipment

Pseudoisochromatic plates. (American Optical Company [AOC], 1965 edition; AOC-HRR, 2nd edition; Dvorine, 2nd edition; Ishihara, 14-, 24- or 38-plate editions; or Richmond, 1983 edition, 1 5-plates).

Acceptable substitutes:

Farnsworth Lantern

Keystone Orthoscope.

Keystone Telebinocular.

LKC Technologies, Inc., APT-5 Color Vision Tester.

OPTEC 2000 Vision Tester (Model Nos. 2000PM, 2000PAME, and 2000PI).

Titmus Vision Tester.

Titmus 11 Vision Tester (Model Nos. Tll and TIIS).

Titmus 2 Vision Tester Model Nos. T2A and T2S).

Techniques

The test plates to be used for each of the approved pseudoisochromatic tests are: Test Edition Plates
AOC 1965 1/15
AOC-HRR 2nd 1/11
Dvorine 2nd 1/15
Ishihara 14-plate 1/11
Ishihara 24-plate 1/15
Ishihara 38-plate 1/21
Richmond 1983 1/15


The following conditions should be ensured when testing with pseudoisochromatic plates:

The test book should be held 30 inches from the applicant.

Plates should be illuminated by at least 20-foot candles, preferably by a Macbeth Easel Lamp or a Verilux True Color Light (F1 5T8VLX).

Three seconds should be allowed for the applicant to interpret and respond to a given plate.


Testing procedures for the Farnsworth Lantern; Keystone; LKC Technologies, Inc.; OPTEC 2000, Titmus, Titmus II, and Titmus 2 Vision Testers accompany the instruments.

The results (normal or abnormal) should be recorded.

DISPOSITION
An applicant does not meet the color vision standard if testing reveals:


All Classes

Seven or more errors on plates 1-15 of the AOC (1965 edition) pseudoisochromatic plates.

AOC-HRR (second edition): Any error in test plates 7-11. Because the first 4 plates in the test book are for demonstration only, test plate 7 is actually the eleventh plate in the book. (See instruction booklet).

Seven or more errors on plates 1-15 of Dvorine pseudoisochromatic plates (second edition, 15 plates).

Six or more errors on plates 1-11 of the concise 14-plate edition of the Ishihara pseudoisochromatic plates. Seven or more errors on plates 1-15 of the 24-plate edition of Ishihara pseudoisochromatic plates. Nine or more errors on plates 1-21 of the 38-plate edition of Ishihara pseudoisochromatic plates.

Seven or more errors on plates 1-15 of the Richmond (1983 edition) pseudoisochromatic plates.

Farnsworth Lantern test: An average of more than one error per series of nine color pairs in series 2 and 3. (See instruction booklet).

Any errors in the six plates of the Titmus Vision Tester, the Titmus II Vision Tester, the Titmus 2 Vision Tester, the OPTEC 2000 Vision Tester, the Keystone Orthoscope, or Keystone Telebinocular.

LKC Technologies, Inc., APT-5 Color Vision Tester: The letter must be correctly identified in at least two of the three presentations of each test condition. (See APT-5 screening chart for FM-related testing in instruction booklet).

Certificate Limitation
If an applicant fails to meet the color vision standard as interpreted above but is otherwise qualified, the Examiner may issue a medical certificate bearing the limitation:

NOT VALID FOR NIGHT FLYING OR BY COLOR SIGNAL CONTROL.


Special Issuance of Medical Certificates
An applicant who holds a medical certificate bearing a color vision limitation may request reevaluation or a SODA under the special issuance section of Part 67 (14 CFR 67.401). This request should be in writing and should be directed to the Aeromedical Certification Division, AAM-300. If the applicant can perform the color vision tasks, the FM will issue a medical certificate without limitation with a SODA.

Demonstrating the ability to perform color vision tasks appropriate to the certificate applied for may entail a medical flight test or a signal light test. If a signal light test or medical flight test is required, the FAA will authorize the test. The signal light test may be given at any time during flight training. The medical flight test is most often required when an airman with borderline color vision wishes to upgrade a medical certificate.


X-Chrom Lens
This lens is not acceptable to the FAA as a means for correcting a pilot's color vision deficiencies.

Yarn Test
Yarn tests are not acceptable methods of testing for the FAA medical certificate.