changes coming in FAA colorblindness test??

L

lmcm2cats

New Member
Has anyone heard about new, revised testing by the FAA for colorblindness? Will the standards be stricter? Concern is for a college student studying ATC with a red/green condition who has already passed one of the tests. Would he be grandfathered in? Or could these new tests make his 4 years of study to be an ATC worthless?:confused:
 
OH CRAP!!!!

Just did a google search for color blindness test and found out I am indeed red-green color blind. Can I still fly?!?!?
 
lmcm2cats said:
Has anyone heard about new, revised testing by the FAA for colorblindness? Will the standards be stricter? Concern is for a college student studying ATC with a red/green condition who has already passed one of the tests. Would he be grandfathered in? Or could these new tests make his 4 years of study to be an ATC worthless?:confused:
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Where did you hear about this new testing?
 
I don't know where you got information on new testing for color-blindness. There are no NPRM's that I can find that deal with this. Also there has been nothing in the Federal Air Surgeon's correspondence regarding changes. The following are the tests the FAA allows. I don't know of any other tests out there that have been validated.

All Classes of Medical Examination
  1. <LI type=1>Seven or more errors on plates 1-15 of the AOC (1965 edition) pseudoisochromatic plates. <LI type=1>AOC-HRR (second edition): Any error in test plates 7-11. Because the first 4 plates in the test book are for demonstration only, test plate 7 is actually the eleventh plate in the book. <LI type=1>Seven or more errors on plates 1-15 of Dvorine pseudoisochromatic plates (second edition, 15 plates.) <LI type=1>Six or more errors on plates 1-11 of the concise 14-plate edition of the Ishihara pseudoisochromatic plates. Seven or more errors on plates 1-15 of the 24-plate edition of Ishihara pseudoisochromatic plates. Nine or more errors on plates 1-21 of the 38-plate edition of Ishihara pseudoisochromatic plates. <LI type=1>Seven or more errors on plates 1-15 of the Richmond (1983 edition) pseudoisochromatic plates. <LI type=1>Farnsworth Lantern test: An average of more than one error per series of nine color pairs in series 2 and 3. <LI type=1>Any errors in the six plates of the Titmus Vision Tester, the Titmus II Vision Tester, the Titmus 2 Vision Tester, the OPTEC 2000 Vision Tester, the OPTEC 900 Vision Tester the Keystone Orthoscope, or Keystone Telebinocular.
  2. LKC Technologies, Inc., APT-5 Color Vision Tester. The letter must be correctly identified in at least two of the three presentations of each test condition.
 
777forever said:
Where did you hear about this new testing?
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This has been a topic lately on a few ATC websites - atccti.com - in particular. A couple applicants were told this within the last week regarding their initial medical test for an ATC position. Apparently, they are going to begin administering a new test for ATC applicants as the 'strip test' and possibly even the farnsworth are not up to par for the new URETS system/monitors.

Previously they allowed ATC applicants 3 different tests: the Dvorine, a 'modified' Farnworth lantern in which 27 pairs of lights are shown, as opposed to the pilot test in which 9 are shown, and lastly a 'strip test' in which the applicant must identify specific colors/ink in a dark room. Recently applicants were told that the strip test was no longer valid and the farnsworth may be called in to question as well. This is straight from the Flight Surgeons they went to for the ATC medical. Will it carry over to the pilot side? Doesn't seem that way - seems to be ATC specific.
 
Just take the farnsworth lantern test and be done with it....I now have a letter from the FAA, no SODA or waiver, and every time I go for a medical, I show the letter and I don't have to do the stupid dot test.
 
ABP52380 said:
This has been a topic lately on a few ATC websites - atccti.com - in particular. A couple applicants were told this within the last week regarding their initial medical test for an ATC position. Apparently, they are going to begin administering a new test for ATC applicants as the 'strip test' and possibly even the farnsworth are not up to par for the new URETS system/monitors.

Previously they allowed ATC applicants 3 different tests: the Dvorine, a 'modified' Farnworth lantern in which 27 pairs of lights are shown, as opposed to the pilot test in which 9 are shown, and lastly a 'strip test' in which the applicant must identify specific colors/ink in a dark room. Recently applicants were told that the strip test was no longer valid and the farnsworth may be called in to question as well. This is straight from the Flight Surgeons they went to for the ATC medical. Will it carry over to the pilot side? Doesn't seem that way - seems to be ATC specific.
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This is correct. For those of you familiar with my story you should realize this is a kick in the gut. I have to wait for them to develop new testing and then be administered that testing, to once again find out if i'm eligible. I'm really starting to debate if its all worth it...

lmcm2cats is referring strictly to the ATC medical. This has nothing to do with flying. If anybody hears anything more about this PLEASE let me know.
 
FlyingNole said:
Just take the farnsworth lantern test and be done with it....I now have a letter from the FAA, no SODA or waiver, and every time I go for a medical, I show the letter and I don't have to do the stupid dot test.
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I already asked this to the RFS. The FAA doesn't except a SODA or any waiver for flying for ATC medicals...they are completely seperate medicals.
 
Sorry, I wasn't clear about the question being related to ATC.

Is there any place I can write to to find about this possible change?? Being a junior in college and discovering your career may not be within reach is very upsetting.
 
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