Q: Hello! I am a sophomore in high school and I have a slight red/green color deficiency problem. I subscribe to AOPA Flight Training magazine and I hope to become a career pilot in the future. There’s one possible problem. I’m afraid that I might fail the FAA color vision tests. I saw an ad recently about a doctor who has been doing color vision correction work for more than 30 years and has a 100-percent success rate for people who need to take the color vision plate tests. Would the FAA let me wear glasses with color vision filters while flying (or contacts)? —Jacob from Fresno
A: Jacob, one of the very neat features of being an AOPA member is the wealth of resources available. One of the best sources of answers to medical issues is AOPA’s own medical department run by Gary Crump. I relayed your concerns to Gary and he has the following to say:
“No joy on the color vision filters or contact lenses. The FAA doesn’t allow any of those ‘corrective’ procedures for color vision. Things got pretty sticky on color vision standards following the NTSB report on the FedEx 727 that landed short a few years ago. The first officer’s color vision deficiency was determined to be a contributing causal factor, and the FAA was ‘encouraged’ to tighten up the color vision testing requirements.
“As a result, if an applicant fails the color plate chart test
during the medical examination, one of the allowed alternative tests can be taken. If that test is passed, the FAA will remove the color signal restriction from the medical certificate. If the test isn’t passed, the next step is the more complicated Operational Color Vision Test, and that is done with an FAA inspector. If you can pass that two-part test, the inspector issues a letter of evidence that also removes the night flying/color signal control restriction.”
Additional information on medical certification and other topics is available to AOPA members on the association’s Web site.
Color vision is a very complicated subject. Check it out carefully with an eye doctor who specializes in color vision issues, and don’t give up just yet.
Send us your career question and we’ll answer the best ones here. Sorry, but we are not able to provide individual responses.
Wayne Phillips is an airline transport pilot with Boeing 737 and Falcon 20 type ratings. He is a B-737 instructor and operates the Airline Training Orientation Program at the Continental Airlines Pilot Training Center. He is also a speaker for the AOPA Air Safety Foundation.
Related Articles
