COLORBLIND PILOTS YOUR RESTRICTION REMOVED!!
Posted by Existing-Dot997@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 11 comments
So for some context, I had my first class medical with the night flying restriction due to me not being able to pass the ishihara wagonner digital color vision tests (which many of us slightly color deficient people cannot). I’ve been going through hoops with the FAA for 2 years now trying to get an OCVT and MFT which are the practical tests where the tower shows you light gun signals. As per FAA they no longer offer those tests anymore like they used to do. So if you fail the wagonner test your only options are the RCCT (Rabin contrast cone test) or the CAD (Colour Assessment and Diagnosis Test). I only took the RCCT but had to drive to a specific optometrist that has the RCCT because it is a fairly rare test and you will have to ask around. For my folks in the Midwest and Saint Louis area, the clinic I specifically went to was Helfrich Family Eye Care in Belleville IL. But since this is not an AME office you will have to take the results and send it to your AME to then upload those results to the FAA. I hope this can help any of the other colorblind pilots out there to free them from the night restriction on their medical!
SmithKenichi@reddit
Wow that's trash that they're not offering OCVT anymore. I always eeked out Ishihara until I didn't have to anymore, but was never worried if I failed one because I know I can identify those signal lights clear as day. I also know for a fact that I 100% cannot pass Rabin. A lot of people who can see color just fine in an aviation context are going to be weeded by this.
Existing-Dot997@reddit (OP)
Yeah I think phasing out the OCVT is completely fkn backwards, what shows that you can see color better than in a practical sense like the light gun signals… not like some standardized test that may not even reflect your color vision in an aviation standpoint
garbagekr@reddit
What part of the wagonner do you fail? I have the same issue and am wondering if it’s worth a trip to SF from LA to give this other one a shot
Existing-Dot997@reddit (OP)
Red/green I failed which is the common theme for most people. I’d say it’s worth it for sure just to at least give yourself another chance, the night limitation fkn sucks
flyingron@reddit
Note that if you can't pass any of the computer color vision tests, you can still apply to the Federal Air Surgeon for reconsideration. I've heard of people getting approved without being submitted for the MFT.
Existing-Dot997@reddit (OP)
I’ve been calling and emailing and doing everything in my power in the last 2 years to the Federal Air Surgeon to no avail, man those people gotta have some crazy luck!
flyingron@reddit
Your AME needs to call.
grumpyoldman10@reddit
I had a really hard time with the Wagoner test also. I downloaded it on my computer at home. I found it to be extremely subjective, there was a huge difference between using my computer at home with the recommended settings for the FAA exam and using the computer in the doctors office which was an old laptop. I only had three seconds to get it set up properly, but I eventually realized I could angle the display to get the best contrast levels so when I went in for my exam, I purposefully failed the first exam but used those questions to get the display set up properly.
I did develop the idea that I an extremely small amount of color blindness. I was able to improve my score by doing repeated testing at home.
Existing-Dot997@reddit (OP)
Yeah it really is about the setup! I went to my AME and they had it perfectly setup I genuinely just couldn’t pass it. I’d say it’s twice as hard as the RCCT which I passed first try.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
So for some context, I had my first class medical with the night flying restriction due to me not being able to pass the ishihara wagonner digital color vision tests (which many of us slightly color deficient people cannot). I’ve been going through hoops with the FAA for 2 years now trying to get an OCVT and MFT which are the practical tests where the tower shows you light gun signals. As per FAA they no longer offer those tests anymore like they used to do. So if you fail the wagonner test your only options are the RCCT (Rabin contrast cone test) or the CAD (Colour Assessment and Diagnosis Test). I only took the RCCT but had to drive to a specific optometrist that has the RCCT because it is a fairly rare test and you will have to ask around. For my folks in the Midwest and Saint Louis area, the clinic I specifically went to was Helfrich Family Eye Care in Belleville IL. But since this is not an AME office you will have to take the results and send it to your AME to then upload those results to the FAA. I hope this can help any of the other colorblind pilots out there to free them from the night restriction on their medical!
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Hi, I'm a bot and it looks like you're asking a question about medical issues: color vision.
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