Colour Vision
 

Hi, I have nearly finished my PPL, and would like to carry on to a commercial level, but i am slightly colour blind which i only found out about when i went for my medical. (This alarmed me as i am a Graphic Designer and work with colour every day!)

Anyway i went to Gatwick for a Lantern Test, and failed. I have been told there are other tests which i can do. Does anybody know about these tests?

Is there anybody else in the same position trying to get an unrestricted Class 1 Medical?

Re: Colour Vision
 

Hi Tim,

I also failed the Lantern test at Gatwick 9 years ago when I was 18, and have since been tracking as much progress on the developement of medical science and medical licence reviews as possible, to cotinue with my ambition as a commercial pilot.

I also investigated a rumour that colour deficiency would not restrict you from gaining a CPL in Australia, which is true allegedly. However, using that licence in the UK (and other countries no doubt) would not be possible.

I last spoke to the CAA medical board in September of this year, to ask if there were any current or future projects that will focus on the validity of the current license restrictions concerning this, and their response was no.

For the time being, it looks as though a "colour deficient" pilot within the UK can do no more than make flying a hobby, in IMC at best.

Reading of interest to you:

http://www.aviationmedicine.com/colo...n.htm#aviation

Keep looking and don't give up!

You can get an ATPL in Australia and be colour deficient.
There are many ways to skin a cat. One way would be to go to Australia and get that licence. Get a job (no, it's not that easy but it's better than waiting) and build hours. Then it's possible to prove to the CAA that you have operated an aircraft safely for X amount of hours. It simply strengthens your case.
Australia changed their colour vision policy after a doctor there gathered evidence and took them to court. He successfully proved that the blanket "no colour defectives" was wrong.
If you want to know more, look up Dr Arthur Pape. He's the guy that did it.
Good luck

Thanks for your comments guys.

I have recently had a letter back from the CAA saying that there is another lantern test, the Beyne's Lantern test which is available at Gatwick.

Does anybody know anything about this particular test?

Tim,

I've been in touch with City University, who had this to say:

"The Beyne test has several different conditions but is basically single lights of five different colours. For each of these you have to name the colour you see. They potentially could all have different outcomes which is partly why we are looking into the testing methods and are in the process of developing a new, fairer, computerised test which is more applicable to aviation.

The CAA have commissioned us to carry out a task analysis on the colours used in aviation and where and what they are used for; from this we will assess how realistic and fair the current colour vision requirements are. Our new test will be able to define the colour sensitivity of people so making the application of any new requirements easier, more consisitent and fairer. We are about half way through a three year study and then have to convince at least the rest of JAA of the benefit of applying our results to new standards. It could therefore be a while until any new requirements are brought in.

However, in the mean time we have to validify our new colour vision test, so if you, and anybody you know, might be willing to do the test for us this could ultimately help the outcome. We can be flexible, to a certain extent, with the appointment days and times."

To arrange a test, contact details are below. It costs around £35.

Dr Theresa-Jane Squire
0207 040 0240 or [email protected]

I shall certainly offer City University my time and support. I hope you can to!

Phil

Phil,

Thanks for your post

I will definately be giving them a call!

Tim

Just bringing this to the top again.

I have just returned from City University where I spent a couple of hours doing Dr Squire's various colour tests including her new computer based test being developed to try and remove any subjectivity from the pass fail issue.

Dr Squire's is, as Phil Smith said, doing some research for the CAA who are now begining to think the existing tests may be too hard and may not reflect the requirements of current aviation. She is interested in testing for the purposes of her research both colour defective and normal colour vison pilots and is especially keen to hear from anyone flying commercialy with any type of colour defects.

In order to fully develope their new colour testing computer programme, they have all the traditional colour testing lanterns known to mankind which she will use to validate their own computer test.

In addition to the colour tests she is interested to hear what views pilots have on the colour question, for example if (like me) you are colour defective in some way, how and to what exent does this impact on your actual flying and what if any compensatory actions do you take to overcome the defect. Is colour really that important in aviation?

I found it totally fascinating and learnt a lot about the extent of my colour defectivness, something no one has really been able to explain before and so it was well worth a visit just for that. It may also help future wannabes if the tests are changed to be less difficult or more relevant.

If you are interested in taking part, I recommend that you conatct Dr Squire on the e mail address in Phil's earlier post, preferably within the next couple of weeks as one of the lanterns they have on loan has to go back to Switzerland!

I`m going to do the city university tests tomorrow..i`ll try and write up a comprehensive report about it as soon as I get back,try and let you know more about it.

Following my colour vision examination at City University, I received a letter from the CAA yesterday wishing me well for the future, whilst informing me that I failed to meet the current medical standard for colour vision. The letter also reminded me (like I needed it) of the comprehensive list of restrictions to my licence.

Not a suprising result for me admittedly, but still immensely frustrating.

I sincerely hope my small contribution towards City University's project works to the advantage of all colour defectives, in reducing the CAA's discriminatory medical standards.

Does anyone know (or have a copy of) what the specific aviation tasks/scenario's are, that the CAA deem as unattainable to colour defectives?

I've heard the arguments, but I've never seen a CAA/JAA paper identifying them.

Thank you.

I`ll write more tomorrow,but all the signs are that the CAA is being cornered,thats why the city university has been commisioned to do this work.

Apparently ,they are getting feedback from British Airways and British Midland on the 757 and A320..asking crews how much colour vision affects things...and how the current tests relate to aviation..answer is they don`t.

Even ICAO have said buck up your ideas,your tests don`t prove anything.This is their only way out of IMMEDIATE court action.

I say Immediate,as when the JAA (which cannot enforce anything,only its..contracting authorities can) becomes the EASA (which can enforce and rule over the contracting authorities) that means we`ll..not only trhe Brits,but all other europeans who have the same problem will be under the same umbrella..you got to see that again they`ll be cornered!! The discrimination / diability in the workplace act will be good enough grounds to take the EASA to court,and if we all donate some cash to a top lawyer (which i`d happily do) we could get all this changed.

I am certainly saving for my training,as it WILL change one way or another.Don`t get too disheartened..there is light at the end of the tunnel.

ETOPS I know.....................but what colour is it ?? :cool:

Before you get uptight, read some of my posts on this subject from a long while back.

Like you, I believe, and hope, the standard does become so, and that it will change evetnually. The new City test is quite different but not yet set for pass/fail decisions.

Anyone else got any more news?

G

As other posters have previously mentioned, this is a very interesting initiative on the part of the CAA and City University. I went along and sat the tests with Dr Squire a couple of weeks ago. The current system of lantern testing produces nothing more than a pass/fail result within the testing capabilities of the lantern being used; it doesn't quantify the 'degree' of someones colour deficiency, which is what the computerised test being developed by City University is designed to achieve.

When I took the tests there I started with the new computerised test first. It essentially identifies the thresholds of your sensitivity to the various colours and finishes by producing a graph showing where those thresholds are. I was told that the results indicated I was slightly weak in my sensitivity to green which is what I have always known.

I then took the whole range of other colour vision tests available including nagel anomoloscope, Beyne and Holmes Wright lanterns. As previously, I failed the Holmes Wright and based on these tests Dr Squire assessed my green dificiency as moderate to severe - in contrast to the computerised test.

Dr Squire indicated that they hope to enter discussion with the JAA around mid 2003 in the hope of getting the new test adopted as the standard, which if adopted would certainly make the test more objective and effectively result in a relaxing of the rules.

Like someone else earlier mentioned, I received the standard letter from the CAA this week thanking me for taking part in the research and confirming that I was still colour unsafe and restricted to day flights only. A call to the CAA optometrist yesterday to point out that I had always had an unrestricted class 3/2 and had in fact had a night rating for the last 15 years, elicited a promise to correct that adminstrative error. He then went on to say that the CAA will now issue a restricted class one for the purposes of instructing, for people with colour vision that does not meet the current standard. He also said to basically 'watch this space' during the course of next year for developments and feel free to come along for a retest if and when a new standard is adopted.

Personally, I thought about doing some instructing in a few years time, but I'm not sure I could face going round in circles in a C150 all day. However if a new standard is going to come in over the next couple of years, getting a restricted class one now to enable a start at hours building via the instructor route might be a viable option for those that are aiming at an airline seat.

G'day guys,

I've been following your conversation with interest as i am a commercial pilot working full time in Oz flying day/night/IMC and I'm a colour defective.

I've been in touch with Dr Squire to discuss my case with her and I will try to come out to England to assist in her study.

When I was 16 I tried out for the airforce only to be told that I was colour blind!! Couldn't believe it at the time. Anyway, I settled for an airline ground job. I became friends with a few pilots who advised I should get myself rechecked as the importance of colour vision in flying had declined. This advice came from a senior qantas captain, someone who would really know!

I set about getting a civilian medical and at first it seemd I would not be able to fly, same old colour tests. Then I was put up for an aviation light signal test. It's done at an airport with a control tower. i passed.

I now a 1000 hour plus CPL. And have never had trouble with colour in the job.

Good luck guys and don't give up.

TCASALERT,

GOOD TO HEAR OF YOUR SUCCESS!

CAN YOU BE MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT THE SIGNAL TEST YOU YOU TOOK?

HOW MANY COLOURS, ETC,ETC.

DO YOU KNOW TO WHAT DEGREE YOU ARE COLOUR DEFECTIVE?

REGARDS,
TAHIDA.

Anyone wanting to get a flavour of the new City test described above can do so at

www.city.ac.uk/avrc/colourtest.html

You can also download a demo - mega big though !!

G

G'day guys,

The Aviation Light Signals Test is a test conducted in Australia, America and a few other countries for the issue of a class one medical valid for ATPL operations.

The test involves meeting with an approved testing officer from the authority at an airport with a control tower. You are then escorted to a position on the field 300 meters from the tower and instructed to write down what coloured light signals you see. You are shown a combination of red, green and white. You are then taken to a position 500 meters fromt the tower and the exercise is repeated. You need to get them all correct to obtain a pass.

Cheers lads.

Studi,

I haven't done the Spectrolux but are you saying that both of the lights are the same colour? So always green over green, red over red, white over white etc.

If so this will be slightly different from the tower testing as they show you one at a time albeit from two distances.

G

I passed the Farnsworth Lantern test for my Aus ATPL and
Class 1. Unfortunately was not able to pass the Holmes Wright and was knocked back by the CAA for a Class 1.

I was wondering if any one has or knows of anyone who has been successful in convincing the CAA that they met the colour vision standard by virtue of experience gained in a foriegn country at ATPL level (6000hrs inc 1000hrs turbine). And if so who would you have to argue your case to?

Cheers

Halifax:D

G'day guys,

I've been in touch with Dr Squire again and I'm in the process of organising time off work to come out to England and try for a CAA class one medical. When I'm out, I'll have a crack at the spectrolux aswell which may mean a trip to Switzerland. I'm hoping to be out early in the new year.

Halifax, if you read the previous posts, there is now another lantern test used for class one issue. Give it a go.

Studi, I may want to contact you again before I come over, can I get your email.

See you boys.