Student with medical restriction

js0305

js0305

Well-Known Member
I have a student who failed the color vision test and now has the "no night flight or reference to color signals" restriction on the medical.

I am trying to continue training while we schedule an alternate test (at his request). I soloed him at a non towered airport but need to get this restriction taken care of before the required solo towered airport takeoff & landings.

I have done light gun signals with him and he always gets them correct. Any suggestions on alternate tests? Also, any other CFI's run into a similar problem?
 
There's a "sticky" on this over in the Ask A Flight Surgeon section called "Color Vision Testing." If that doesn't answer your question maybe a question posted directly to the doc would help?

(as you can tell, I personally have no idea :) )
 
I had that restriction when I started, and I took the light gun test and passed it just fine. I know that things have changed since then though, so definitely check out the medical forum.
 
js0305 said:
I have a student who failed the color vision test and now has the "no night flight or reference to color signals" restriction on the medical.

I am trying to continue training while we schedule an alternate test (at his request). I soloed him at a non towered airport but need to get this restriction taken care of before the required solo towered airport takeoff & landings.

I have done light gun signals with him and he always gets them correct. Any suggestions on alternate tests? Also, any other CFI's run into a similar problem?
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I may be being stupid, but as long as his radios are working, why can't he solo at a towered airport? You have radios; you don't have to have light gun. If he has a radio failure, you have a plan in place for him to leave the Class D (or C) and go to an E or G airport.

Is there something wrong with that plan?
 
msmspilot said:
I may be being stupid, but as long as his radios are working, why can't he solo at a towered airport? You have radios; you don't have to have light gun.
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As long as the radios are working, what exactly is the problem? Like I would remember what any tower signal other than green meant anyway ;)
 
msmspilot said:
I may be being stupid, but as long as his radios are working, why can't he solo at a towered airport?
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I thought the same would be OK, however Fort Worth FSDO informed me that he could not solo at a towered airport. I should check with some other supervisors though because it seems legit.

You only use the signals for landing, and you had radio contact when you entered the Class D, if the radio's fail you shouldn't need anything to leave Delta.

Also why don't they just give you a restriction to fly with a handheld instead of the stupid light signal restriction?
 
If thas the case (not being allowed to fly at a towered airport) then you guy can't even get a private pilots license.

61.109 (a)(5)solo time(iii) Three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower.

I think the FSDO is mis-interpreting the regs. Seems to me that if you have an operable radio, go in and do it. How else have the thousands of pilots before this guy with night/color restrictions gotten pilots licenses? By breaking regs? I doubt it. I would call the FSDO back and ask them that very question. Because if thats the case, there are thousnads of certificates out there that need to be revoked.
 
mshunter said:
If thas the case (not being allowed to fly at a towered airport) then you guy can't even get a private pilots license.

61.109 (a)(5)solo time(iii) Three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower.

I think the FSDO is mis-interpreting the regs. Seems to me that if you have an operable radio, go in and do it. How else have the thousands of pilots before this guy with night/color restrictions gotten pilots licenses? By breaking regs? I doubt it. I would call the FSDO back and ask them that very question. Because if thats the case, there are thousnads of certificates out there that need to be revoked.
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I'm pretty sure the FSDO is misinterpreting the regs as well. But, it is possible to get a private pilot's license without the control tower experience. There are exemptions for deaf pilot's allowing them the fly, but not into controlled airspace. I'm unsure what the process is but I know it's possible.
 
gomntwins said:
I'm pretty sure the FSDO is misinterpreting the regs as well. But, it is possible to get a private pilot's license without the control tower experience. There are exemptions for deaf pilot's allowing them the fly, but not into controlled airspace. I'm unsure what the process is but I know it's possible.
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Yeah, but I think you see my point.
 
mshunter said:
Yeah, but I think you see my point.
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Oh yeah, I see your point, and also think a student with that restriction can solo at a controlled field. My only point is, even if the FSDO is correct (which I highly doubt), a person can still obtain a private pilot's license.
 
gomntwins said:
My only point is, even if the FSDO is correct (which I highly doubt), a person can still obtain a private pilot's license.
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And these are the ladies and gentlemen that issue violations! Anyone else see the irony in this. Makes me sick to think that some yayhoo at one FSDO will violate you for something that another FSDO would not even consider a violation. I wonder if they will ever all get on the same page....
 
I appreciate the input! I found a place to do the FALANT (about 300NM away) so I am going to schedule his dual solo there, do the test (hopefully he passes) and fly home at night to kill all three solo's in one shot.

If he does not pass I am going to talk to some different supervisors to see if he can finish the private certificate with the restriction. (He is in business and just wants the PPL for personal achievement, not looking to make a career out of it)

I just hate the idea of going to the FSDO for the waiver where its one and done IIRC.?.
 
js0305 said:
I appreciate the input! I found a place to do the FALANT (about 300NM away) so I am going to schedule his dual solo there, do the test (hopefully he passes) and fly home at night to kill all three solo's in one shot.

If he does not pass I am going to talk to some different supervisors to see if he can finish the private certificate with the restriction. (He is in business and just wants the PPL for personal achievement, not looking to make a career out of it)

I just hate the idea of going to the FSDO for the waiver where its one and done IIRC.?.
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Dual solo, huh? The FW FSDO is notorious for getting it wrong.
 
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