I know an Optometrist in the UK with a Farnsworth Lantern who can do FAA colour vision tests.

If anybody wants his details please contact me by PM and I will pass them on.

Best Regards,

2close

A real color vision story... any advice?
 

Hi all!! This is my first post, so I hope to write an interesting issue here (I am going to share my story, which might also help others).

I am 37 years old. I have an FAA CPL/IR/ME and more than 750 hours (500 hours flying F27 in South America). I decided to stop flying around 10 years ago because my family had to come back to europe from S.A. Staying there alone (third world country) for a lifetime was nonsense and dangerous (in europe I am not able to fly as I will explain later and I have no green card for USA). Tough life decisions!!

I am a mild color vision defficient (deuteroanomaly), I had no problem with the FAA back into 1990 when I first started flying (passed Farnsworth lantern as stated by the FAA, no restrictions). The thing is that when I finished my FAA CPL I came back to my country (now one of europe) and did not pass my initial because I do not pass the Beyne´s Lantern color vision test. :{ .. That is when I decided to go to South America with my parents (which were living there at that moment) and ended up flying F27, but I was already shot allmost to death in europe (not yet JAR-FCL).

Well, after 10 years and now with JAR-FCL into effect I have decided to fight back. Right now I am trying to get my medical in other european country, trying to pass the initial medical with other approved lantern.

If you pass the medical in one JAA state, will it be valid and accepted by others JAA members? even when denied by one JAA state?

The reason for my post is to search for good advice, for help, and to advice others with these color vision defficiecy stuff.

Be careful with the medicals from other countries, they are not standard and what might be good for one may not be good for the other.

Colour standards are b......t, I have been in the cockpit with friends that are flying A320 glass cockpit, looking at the VASI, tower lights, etc.. and I have no problem with that.. What they say about it? Laughs!!

I recognize that I have deuteroanomaly, but we, "mild color vision defficients" are not blind people and we do not see in black and white.

Doe´s anybody knows any similar cases?
Am I too old to fight back?
Any good suggestions?
Any european country easy on color vision tests?

Sorry for my english and for the long story but I still have hopes and want to give it a try (I am not totaly happy with my actual job), some things are not fair and this is one of them. I want to fly!!

Thanks..:ouch:

I know a chap in the UK with similar condition, not sure of the details but he 'obtained' coloured contact lenses (one red one blue - I think??) and was able then to pass one of the Lantern tests ( can't remember which one) that he previously failed.

He then argued with the CAA that if he wore the contacts and carried a spare pair of similar coloured glasses (as for short-sighted/longsighted pilots) then he would be fit for a Class 1

They finally agreed. . and I believe he is the only colour-blind commercial pilot in the CAA/JAR

Worth a try. .?

:cool:

Thanks Johe2
 

I´ve heard something about that case.. but, regulations do not accept colored lenses to correct color vision, I think..
How that person convinced CAA? Did he get Class 1, no restrictions? Do you know a little bit more about it?

Thanks a lot!!

I'm not sure that story is true. The CAA would not accept someone who has to wear different colour lenses. The whole problem with them is that they affect your vision in other ways. Also its rubbish that hes the only colour-blind pilot, theres loads of us, we just have to pass the lantern test and so be classed as 'colour-safe' i.e colourblind but still able to recognise the colours that are needed to perform airmens duties etc.

Hi blinkz..

I think the same.. but if you read my story (posted 1st july) you´ll see that I am already an FAA CPL w/ some experience and maybe that person is in the same situation or maybe better, FAA ATPL for example.. I don´t know, it´s just an opinion.. maybe he has like me, an FAA 1st class and CPL but could not pass the JAA lanterns..

Thanks

Don't worry it's true, I did my PPL(H) with him in '93 and could name him but I don't think it's appropriate. .

Splitting hairs a bit on the, what-qualifies-as-colour-blind-front but. . whatever!

Hi Johe2..
Was he already a pilot?..
He didn´t pass the lantern and later he did with the colored lenses.. Was it pre-advicing the CAA?
Can you give more info about it? Was it a verbal agreement with the CAA?

This is very important for me as I am stuck with my FAA licence, not being able to pass the JAA 1st class due to my colour vision problem..

Any info will help..

Thanks

Pilot? as in PPL(H). .

Cant really give you anymore details without consulting him but I suggest you find yourself a friendly optician and experiment with coloured glasses and the lantern test you failed.

When you know you can pass it. . take it from there.

Good luck

Johe2

I know about the colored lenses and who has them and that they are very expensive too and that almost anybody with colour vision problems will pass most Ishihara cards and probably the lantern, wearing the colored lenses.. but the issue is that they are not allowed to wear for flying.

Can you give more info about CAA accepting the lenses or how your friend managed to do it.. Did he get a 1st class w/out restrictions? Can you ask? I´ll give you my e-mail if you just don´t want to post it here. I will appreciate any help..

[email protected]

Thanks

Sounds like Bo&*%$ocks to me

If this is a true case then the CAA are lying inconsistent toss£$rs
(on the other hand........)

Seriously though I have an FAA class 1, UK CPL, UK FI and was told that coloured lenses are not permitted

If your friend has found a way around this then please ask him to PM me with a few tips

Hopefully !
Discretion assured

Hi unfazed..

You mean that you are colour vision defficient also?
You have an FAA 1st class and a UK CPL?

I believe the case that johe2 wrote here is true and my case is not one to believe that, (check my first post in july 1st in this same page) but I know that european aviation authorities sometimes do whatever they want in very specific cases and you can find luckiness by reaching at the right moment with the right person, obviously if you are monochromat, they will laugh at any request for flying a glass cockpit for example.

Right now I am fighting back for 3rd time for my JAR 1st class med in order to convert my FAA CPL/IR licence, with a mild colour vision problem. I am doing all the tests available (I passed the FAA´s Farnsworth in the beginning of my carrier and who knows, might be able to pass any of the JAA´s not tried yet) and coloured lenses it is an option.. even though they are not allowed..

This is what I call B!%%$h#T.. I´ve got it from the FAA but not from the JAA!!??

P.D Sorry for my english..

FAA/JAR,

Being CVD does not bar you from holding a JAA CPL / IR.

The JAA Class 1 Medical will have deviations placed on it restricting you to:

Daytime flight only

NPT (No Public Transport) which means no passenger carriage

But you can do other work, such as instructing, crop spraying (in the UK??) or banner towing.

But you would not be able to fly remunerated passenger transport aircraft.

I am not sure, though, how it would relate to freight work.

Best Regards,

2close

FAA FIT / JAA UNFIT

Yes I have a problem with white & green and have a FAA Class 1 after passing tower light signal test in Florida (Statement Of Demonstrated Ability) however UK/CAA have placed the restrictions that 2close mentions on my license.

Take my advice - do not bang your head against a brick wall like I have for the past 10+ years. If one state will allow you to fly for a career and another one won't then it is a no brainer - stick with the one that will allow you your dream. Especially if their aircraft make up 70 % of the worlds fleet.

Would love to fly professionally in JAA land but will have to wait until a more progressive and enlightened era begins

Don't ever stop dreaming but look for path of least resistance in ordwer to stay sane (important thing is to keep flying and don't let the ba@$%3rds get you down). remember where there is a will there is a way !

Hi Unfazed.. you are very right about that in your message..

We are on the same path (read my story posted in this same forum the 1st of july.. "a real color vision story..any advice?")..

I am in the same road as you are.. the difference is that I´ve got my FAA 1st in USA w/out a waiver or SODA (as per the FAA told me in a official letter, I passed the Farnsworth lantern, no restrictions)..

I am not american and I have no green card and I am already established in europe (bornplace) so I have to fight for my JAA with tooth and nails.. Right now I am appealing in my country (denied 1st med more than 10 years ago, but now JAR-FCL are into effect).. I will let you know the outcomes and the strategy, I might get an answer next week (I have no hopes anyway but, never knows)..

Have you tried all the lanterns as per JAR-FCL (Beyne, Holmes-Wright, Spectrolux)?

I might get knocked once again, and I might end up going to tribunals (which I will).. we have to fight for our dreams!!

:ouch: :ok:

CAA Vision. .!
 

Stumbled across this on another thread and thought it might be of some use here. .

:hmm:

FAA FIT / JAR UNFIT

I have tried both the Specrolux & Holmes lantern unfortunately without success

Good luck with fighting for a change of attitude or rules

My advice to go FAA route was based on you staying in Europe and flying N Reg aircraft so no requirement for a green card. Most business people realise that N Reg is a better business proposition which also enables less restricted operations. Most biz jets are N reg for that reason.

Just a thought !

I believe that the JAA states and the FAA are now entering into discussions to reach a common standard across all authorities.

I also believe that London City University is conducting tests into a new computer based process for identifying CVD pilots and that they may also be involved in the dicussions.

If they do reach a common standard, where this will lead is anyone's guess at the moment. How it will affect those who have previously passed FAA but failed JAA (or vice versa) and whether grandfather rights would be applicable or whether CVD pilots would need to retake any new standard test is also a question that needs to be raised.

I would have thought that it has to be put forward for consultation prior to implementation so it may be worth keeping an eye on the CAA web-site.

Best Regards,

2close

2close - Thanks for the latest info. It's great to hear that the men in suits are still "talking" but as Churchill would have said "action this day !"

I hope that decisions are made after factual research and testing using CVD pilots (anything less will not be credible) e.g. Go fly and see what problems if any are encvountered in the real environment of an aircraft (what workarounds are possible etc).

By the way are you affected by colour vision yourself, You seem well briefed on official status so I wonder if you are a symphatetic and well briefed "mole on the inside" ?;)

I know that City University has been entrusted by the CAA to develop a new "CVD test", it will consist of some kind of simulator for testing how CVD´s pilots develop their "tasks". This is what they personally told me.. it sounds more reasonable but... will JAR-FCL 3.225 will change? less strict?

I think they have to finish the simulator sometime around this year.. but anyway I think that it will take very long until "standarization"..

Keep the faith but keep fighting..:ouch: :ok: