justind0805
Well-Known Member
Trying to get some insight on a particular situation I am facing.
I am currently flight instructing in the Austin, TX area. I started flying back in 2006, when I took my first medical exam and passed with flying colors. I got my PPL in 2006 and flew off and on throughout college. I graduated college in 2009 where I was now going to finish all of my flight training and get the show on the road, so I did the smart thing and renewed my medical just to make SURE I was not going to waste all of my money and then later find out I would not be able to continue my aviation career. Well, it went great and I walked away with a brand new medical and my new goal of becoming a flight instructor.
I went through all of the training (Instrument, CMEL, CSEL, MEI, CFI, and CFII) and now have been flight instructing for about 7 months now. YAH!
Here comes the bad news. Last week I went to renew my FIRST class medical and everything went great until the AME brought out the Color Plates. I was totally shocked that I could not make out the exact numbers! The AME was concerned as well since this was my third medical in my lifetime.
It turns out he passed me with no limitations, BUT it is only good for 12 months. He told me that I really need to go get the light gun test with the FSDO so I wouldn't have to test my color vision again. So I have been reading up on all of my options and CANNOT figure out the best route to take.
After research I have found out I would have to take the light gun test and also a Flight Test!? jeeeze. Do I think I can pass it? of course. But there is always that chance that I might miss one signal or mess up one light on the Approach lights or Runways lights or even if he asks the tower to give us a light gun test from the air!? Not good, I really don't want to put my aviation career in jeopardy like that! I have also read about some alternate tests I could do with an optometrist right before my visit with an AME every year and he wont even test the color vision. If so, what is the process and where do I find the forms for the optometrist to fill out?
After all of the hard work and determination I find this situation mind-blowing. If anyone out there has any advise it would be extremely, and I repeat, EXTREMELY appreciated.
Thanks
I am currently flight instructing in the Austin, TX area. I started flying back in 2006, when I took my first medical exam and passed with flying colors. I got my PPL in 2006 and flew off and on throughout college. I graduated college in 2009 where I was now going to finish all of my flight training and get the show on the road, so I did the smart thing and renewed my medical just to make SURE I was not going to waste all of my money and then later find out I would not be able to continue my aviation career. Well, it went great and I walked away with a brand new medical and my new goal of becoming a flight instructor.
I went through all of the training (Instrument, CMEL, CSEL, MEI, CFI, and CFII) and now have been flight instructing for about 7 months now. YAH!
Here comes the bad news. Last week I went to renew my FIRST class medical and everything went great until the AME brought out the Color Plates. I was totally shocked that I could not make out the exact numbers! The AME was concerned as well since this was my third medical in my lifetime.
It turns out he passed me with no limitations, BUT it is only good for 12 months. He told me that I really need to go get the light gun test with the FSDO so I wouldn't have to test my color vision again. So I have been reading up on all of my options and CANNOT figure out the best route to take.
After research I have found out I would have to take the light gun test and also a Flight Test!? jeeeze. Do I think I can pass it? of course. But there is always that chance that I might miss one signal or mess up one light on the Approach lights or Runways lights or even if he asks the tower to give us a light gun test from the air!? Not good, I really don't want to put my aviation career in jeopardy like that! I have also read about some alternate tests I could do with an optometrist right before my visit with an AME every year and he wont even test the color vision. If so, what is the process and where do I find the forms for the optometrist to fill out?
After all of the hard work and determination I find this situation mind-blowing. If anyone out there has any advise it would be extremely, and I repeat, EXTREMELY appreciated.
Thanks