color blind to an extent help

 Greetings Josh

I don't see the numbers in most of those circles ether, especially in the blue/green spectrum. I have a Commercial certificate and an instrument  rating. 

If your AME is a pilot it makes it a little easier if you can show that you can read a sectional chart and identify all of the airspace. Reading charts is the best test for practical purposes when it comes to color blindness. I have had no trouble passing first and second class medicals.

~Jon

Thank you that is a reassuring answer to know that you cant see the blue/green spectrum either. And you have a commercial certificate. I plan on within the next few months to continue my training and work on my privates then move on to instument and commercial. The AME i will be using is also a pilot here in charleston so that will be great I personally have not spoken with him however my dad used him and it was a rather pleasant experience for him, so we will be using him as long as he is doing it. I did have someone at a flyin event I went to tell me that i should go for my sport certificate first get that then go for my private certificate but being as how I havnt talked to an CFI in a while i havnt asked about that Is it possible to get a sport rating while still using my 172 or will i have to rent a sport plane for that purpose?

Thanks again,

Josh

Hey Josh.  I'm not color blind, but two of my sons have a problem with the numbers.  Our AME has three bottles on the shelf, one red, one green, and one white.  If you can tell him those colors, you pass.  Also, with a Sport Pilot License, you won't be able to fly the 172.  Get your Private Certificate and then you can fly both.

Hello Josh,

I am also color blind and had to take a special practical test. I went to the airport along with an AME and he had the tower use the light gun, I was able to identify the colors as the tower shown the light at us.

The AME then issued the "statement of demonstrated ability"  FAA Form 8500 this was some years back but I am pretty somewhere along you will have to demonstrate that you in fact can recogonize the colors.

Good Luck

Howdy, Josh

I have the same problem, my friend.

Actually yours and my conditions are not COLOR BLINDNESS, it is COLOR DEFICIENCY. If you are color blind you can not tell the difference between the red and the green light on a traffic signal and that does not seem the case with your vision.

This color deficiency is recorded on your airmens medical card and it will automatically prohibit you from flying at night. To me that does not make any difference, because I don't do any night flying anyway. However, my medical examiner told me that this restriction is easily removed by showing up at one of your local control towers and requesting a colored light gun test. You will stand somewhere on the field, stay in touch with your cell phone and they will aim the gun at you, flashing red or green and you just identify the correct color. They will certify the test and remove the color deficiency restriction.

Hope this was of help to you, Happy Flying!

Haiko

Hey Josh,

I was also labeled "color blind"  many years ago which then, restricted me to day time flying only.  In 2001, I got back into flying and when they handed me the book with the dots, I told the AME what the eye doctor told me, I am "COLOR DEFICIENT"....in particuliar, I am yellow deficient.  I can see and distinguish all colors in the rainbow, but, yellow just a little weak.  Explain to the AME that you're NOT colored blind and ask for a practical test.  Today, I can fly at night.

Blue Skies !! and Best Wishes

Chip Platt

Hi Josh,

As a Young Eagle pilot and Chapter Coordinator, I'm delighted to see a young person learning to fly! Don't ever stop, as you'll find that it is one of your bigger accomplishments in life.

I've been flying 30 years with the same problem. My dad figured it out when I was helping put up the Christmas lights and I handed him the wrong color bulb. I have the most common deficiency, red/green. Bright colors are no problem, like stop signs and trees. But, a dull, dark green, brown, blue or purple all look about the same. I HATE those colored dot tests. I just can't believe there are numbers in there. I was taken out on the ramp at a towered airport, and the inspector had arranged with the tower to shoot the light gun at us. I identified the colors OK, so was given a SODA- Statement of Demonstrated Ability. That means not being limited to daylight. (I was flying tonight, in fact.) For a Sport Pilot, no big deal, since you're not allowed to fly at night. But, it sure is cool!

I've being doing some flying lately in a Light Sport called a Falcon LS. A verrrry nice plane. (That's what I was flying tonight.)  I'm also looking into being a CFI-LS so I can teach in it. Even though a 172 flies by the same rules of physics as an LSA, when it's time for you to solo, you wouldn't be allowed to do it, as a 172 is over 1320 pounds, the limit for an LSA. As I read FAR 61.313, you could get 15 of your 20 required hours in a 172. You would eventually have to transition to a LSA to solo, do at least 5 hours on your own, and take a checkride. Since you already have 20 hours, you might be able to transition to an LSA quickly and get finished up. But, do consider finishing the Private, too. It's quite a bit more work, but learning the additional skills is fun. You'll fly at night, in a control-tower environment, and in simulated instrument conditions. This allows you more priviliges, and gives you more confidence. If you go the Sport Pilot route, I would suggest continuing to fly with a CFI (as opposed to an instructor with a Light Sport rating) if you do intend to someday finish your Private training.

Good luck and blue skies!

Chris St.Germain
Young Eagles Coordinator
EAA Chapter 91

Josh

I have the same problem, a mild case of color blindness.  Years ago when I started flying lessons, my instructor sent me to a flight surgeon to get my student pilots/medical certificate.  The new and young AME failed me, much to my chagrin.  My flight instructor then sent me to an optomatrist or opthamoligist (can't remember which) who tested me thoroughly with something better than the standard Ishihara color blindness test cards.  He told me I had a mild case and sent the results to the FAA in Ok City.  A few weeks later they sent me my certificate with no explanation, so I guess they figured it was not any big deal.  I have never needed a waiver for it either.

John

Josh,

Keep up the good work on getting your private ticket.  As long as you've already started on it with your 172, it just makes sense to continue with it until you're finished. You'll be glad you did in the long run.

I have the same color deficency you have. When I started flying in 1976 I tried for the first yeart to fly in just daylight hours. I found that too restrictive when it came to making cross-country trips. Seemed like I was getting delayed by something (weather primarily) too often which then left me pushing the envelope to get in before night-fall. As a result I went and got the demonstrated ability waiver. I have always been very happy I did, primarily because it is not even a question when I get my medical renewed, just show the AME the waiver and forget the color dot charts.  Additionally, if sometime in the future the FAA decided to tighten up the rules on color deficency, having the waiver would likely be grand-fathered into the new rules. This happened once four or five years ago. Getting the waiver is a simple thing to do, and really worth it.

Jerry

Thank you all for the help It really makes me feel alot better to know that this is really nothing to worry about now. Have a great day all and enjoy your holidays It will be a while before i get back online i weighed my choices internet for 2 months or flight lessons i choose the latter. thanks yall,

Josh

Josh,

I second all of the above. I have the red/green deficiency same as many have mentioned here. I struggled with the dots for several years. A kind AME convinced me to take the practical test and it was one of the best suggestions ever. All that is required is that you can distinguish aviation red, green and white.

When the FAA discovered that I was a commercial pilot, I had to do the test all over again (tower light gun) from the air. That was a sinch. Flashing red - green followed by steady green for landing and a white light once on the ground or some similar common sense sequence.

I have an ATP and retired after 30 years with a major carrier.