EK medical Color vision

[Rick1407]

I'm an B737 in North america and im thinking about applying EK in the future, but i have a color vision problem and with this problem i'm not able to pass the ishirara test.... But i have had success using the farnsworth lantern test, and now i hold an unrestricted medical class 1 in my contry. I wonder if i will be accepted in EK, or Qtar or even in Etihad with this vision problem. What are the color vision requirements at the screening test and the periodical exams?

[BDD]

Hi Rick,

My buddy could not get past the ishirara test, but they gave him the
farnsworth lantern test and passed. This is with Qatar Airways.

Hope that helps.

[Emma Royds]

The GCAA in the UAE use the Ishihara test as the primary method of testing for colour blindness. However failing that does not automatically prevent you from holding a medical and you would be subject to further testing, which you would have to pass.

GCAA CAR Part II Chapter V has all the infrmation if you wish to check yourself. The document is available online.

[Xulu]

I cannot pass the Ishihara test. I got my original Class 1 through the lantern test as well.

EK does not accept the lantern test however.

During the initial medical in Dubai (final day of interview) I took the new type of colour test at the EK clinic.

I can't recall the name of the test but you watch coloured dots on the screen against a changing background.

The dots move towards a corner - You then press the corresponding button to indicate which way the dot moved.

This covers me for life with the GCAA, though frustratingly they still make me try the Ishihara test each medical renewal.

Edit: it's called a CAD test

[Rick1407]

Thank you guys for the information, and do you know any place were i can do this CAD test ? I saw on the youtube that they have an simulator of this test, and is just a demonstration, do you know if you have to see the block at any time ? Or you can miss ?

[Xulu]

I just did mine in Dubai with the EK doctors during assessment. They have a machine right there. Free of charge.

The test is very hard, the doctor himself said although he can read the entire Ishihara chart he cannot get some of the dots.

I personally missed a lot, so I thought I must have failed. It's a long extensive test which determines in detail your exact colour deficiency. In the end I was mid-scale deficient and had passed.

Good luck

[Rick1407]

Thanks a lot for that information, its very important to know about this things... E do you do this test every year ? I wish i can have your contact so that i could ask you a few more questions.... If you dont mind...

[reac]

Rick1407,

EK use the CAD test, it is also becoming the standard colour vision assessment amongst other aviation authorities like EASA.

It is basically a 'blob' of large pixels moving towards the edge of the screen against a background of other alternating large pixels. You have a keypad to indicate where the 'blob' leaves the screen. The test repeats every couple of seconds. The system alternates the colour spectrums to to test red/green yellow/blue vision. To find your 'level' of deficiency you won't be able to see the 'blob' for approximately half the tests. You get a nice graph at the end that shows exactly how your colour vision performs.

I did the lantern test for my initial CAA medical, I did the CAD test at a University in London who designed the test for the CAA (EASA). You can see on youtube approximately what it is like, however the actual test is done with a carefully calibrated screen. As part of the Universities research I also did all the other available colour tests, the Ishihara is the only one I can't pass fully.

Once you have done the CAD test with EK you don't have to do it again. Your medical will be endorsed 'Colour Safe' in the limitations. As has been said before EK seem to still love giving you the Ishihara test every year even though you tell them you can't do it!!

Good luck.

[Rick1407]

Thats nice... I think i gonna spend a few days in Longon And see how i perfom this test before do the application?EK let us fly airplanes like A380 even with this "color safe" on the observations ?