Color Vision Letter of Evidence - Status

JustWantToFly said:
Hi All,

Since the new FAA policy went in effect in July regarding the Color Vision Letter of Evidence, has anyone successfully obtained a first class certificate LOE? If yes, how tough was it? If no, how realistic is it for someone to obtain one?

I'm a little concerned about the actual medical flight test requirements. As a civilian, I'm trying to get the medical certificate issues out of the way before investing in flight school. With that said, does that mean I have to rent a pilot and a plane to fly me and the examiner to complete the tests? If that's the case, does anyone know how much that'll cost?

Thanks in advance!
MT
Click to expand...

Hi. I did the medical flight test before it was required nationally. My explanation of it is here:

http://forums.jetcareers.com/936634-post8.html

I did not find it difficult. But I suppose the level of difficulty depends on each individual taking the test. I am not sure how the FAA would address a situation where the person who wants to take the test is not a pilot.
 
JustWantToFly said:
Hi All,

Since the new FAA policy went in effect in July regarding the Color Vision Letter of Evidence, has anyone successfully obtained a first class certificate LOE? If yes, how tough was it? If no, how realistic is it for someone to obtain one?

I'm a little concerned about the actual medical flight test requirements. As a civilian, I'm trying to get the medical certificate issues out of the way before investing in flight school. With that said, does that mean I have to rent a pilot and a plane to fly me and the examiner to complete the tests? If that's the case, does anyone know how much that'll cost?

Thanks in advance!
MT
Click to expand...

I too am contemplating the same thing....

I got an LOE about 8 years ago for passing the Farnsworth but now I'm wondering if I should just go and take this medical flight test, just to get it over with. I'm still young enough that if I have to, I can make a career change as unfortunate as that may be. I say this because of so much scrutiny that has been placed upon the Farnsworth test as of late.

If they were to revoke grandfathered in LOE's for people who have taken the Farnsworth test, I imagine that would be a significant amount of aviators that will have to make some serious life choices.

Could they do this? Will they do it? What are the chances? I guess anything is possible which makes the whole situation very uncomfortable!

Thoughts?
 
If you have a LOE, DO NOT go through the process again. The old LOE is still valid.

If you go through the new process and FAIL, you can never get an medical without a restriction, even if you can pass the Farnsworth lantern.:(
 
If I take a color vision test at a regular eye doctor and pass, can I take a letter stating what test i passed to my appointment with my AME and not take the color vision portion during my flight physical?
 
An optometrist can complete the 8500-7. The AME is still responsible for the accuracy of the reports and is supposed to do the color vision test.
 
My Flight Surgeon said:
An optometrist can complete the 8500-7. The AME is still responsible for the accuracy of the reports and is supposed to do the color vision test.
Click to expand...


Is that something new? I went to a College of Optometry for my FALANT test and had the professor write the letter stating my passing result to the FAA which got the restriction on my 3rd class removed...(Just this past summer) You're saying we can't do it that way anymore?
 
So what this is about is the removal of a Color Vision restriction...As far as taking the alternate with the optometrist (8500-7) or AME at the medical that is all the same? This is just regarding the removal of a restriction correct..?
 
My Flight Surgeon said:
Effective July 24, 2008 the color vision cannot be reomoved by submitting a Falant result. Beginning that date, the way to remove a color vision restriction is the take a OCVT (operational color vision test) with an FAA Safety Inspector. The final document outlining the process is here: http://fsims.faa.gov/wdocs/8900.1/v05%20airman%20cert/chapter%2008/05_008_001rev1.htm
Click to expand...

What about passing the test with an optometrist before going to the AME... (Assuming you aren't removing any restrictions, just renewing... thats what I meant...) Having them fill out the form, and bringing that with you to the AME... (Considering the AME you use doesn't have the falant or whatever..)
 
This is what the Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners says: "
Exam Techniques and Criteria for Qualification

The Examiner must personally conduct the physical examination. This section provides guidance for completion of Items 21-58 of the Application for Airman Medical Certificate or Airman Medical and Student Pilot Certificate, FAA Form 8500-8."

I interpret that to mean the AME must perform the color vision test. The primary purpose of the 8500-7 is to determine whether or not an airman meets the requirements of Part 67.401. It is not a tool to convey examination information to an AME from an eye specialist.
 
Well since that's an interpretation... I'll call the FAA tomorrow and ask them... (Altho even they give me wrong answers about their own outfit sometimes... and they call me color blind! ) lol. I'll post the answer to my question here...
 
Re: 8500-7

I called Oklahoma City and they said that you can take the 8500-7 to an optometrist and get your vision and color vision stats recorded and then bypass an tests with the AME. So go to an optometrist have them fill out the 8500-7 and ask them to make color vision stats (using an FAA approved test of course) in the remarks section and then take that to the AME. The AME will forward this to the FAA with his 8500-8.
 
Just remember the 8500-7 is only good for the current medical, when you renew your medical you need to go through the same process again. UNLESS you do the following:

the way to remove a color vision restriction is the take a OCVT (operational color vision test) with an FAA Safety Inspector. The final document outlining the process is here: http://fsims.faa.gov/wdocs/8900.1.

So even if you do the farnsworth lantern test and pass, you will have no restriction on your medical but have to do the medical each time.
 
Yup, just called the FAA in OK today, and the girl said that you can have the optometrist write a letter of your passing results, and you just bring that with you to the AME who will then omit you from his or her color vision test method... Either that or the form mentioned above would work too...
 
Re: 8500-7

I called the FAA and here is what they had to say...

*If you go to the AME and FAIL the color vision test YOU CAN STILL TAKE AN ALTERNATE TEST with a normal optometrist to get the limitation removed.

*You can also go to a normal optometrist with the 8500-7 form and have an optometrist fill that out along with attatching PASSING color vision results from an APPROVED FAA color vision test and then take that to the AME ahead of time and you will bypass the vision test and color vision test.

*You can take a MEDICAL FLIGHT TEST after you fail an FAA approved test. If you take this test fail you will be done flying at night FOR LIFE!

The only thing that has really changed is that you can no longer get a letter of evidence UNLESS YOU TAKE THE MEDICAL FLIGHT TEST and pass.
 
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