IFR rating and colorblindness

[Randy Wentzel]

Hi everyone!

I'm a colorblind 100+ hour PP, and am interested in picking up my
instrument rating. I am nearly positive that my colorblindness is severe
enough that I won't be able to get my night-flying restriction waived by
passing a signal gun test. I've had my local tower point the gun at our
plane and cycle through the colors, and I was able to correctly identify
only about 1/2 the colors.

I'm already content with the prospect of being a day-time IFR pilot, but
am worried that perhaps that the FAA feels differently. Are there
restrictions in regards to getting the instrument rating when one is
colorblind?

Thanks in advance!

--
Randy Wentzel PPSEL
KSTS - Sonoma County

[John Galban]

Post by Randy Wentzel
Hi everyone!
I'm a colorblind 100+ hour PP, and am interested in picking up my
instrument rating. I am nearly positive that my colorblindness is severe
enough that I won't be able to get my night-flying restriction waived by
passing a signal gun test. I've had my local tower point the gun at our
plane and cycle through the colors, and I was able to correctly identify
only about 1/2 the colors.
I'm already content with the prospect of being a day-time IFR pilot, but
am worried that perhaps that the FAA feels differently. Are there
restrictions in regards to getting the instrument rating when one is
colorblind?

I don't know about the IFR restrictions, but there are about 15
different color vision tests that are acceptable to the FAA that
satisfy the color vision requirement without requiring the light gun
test. Unless you are monochromatic (i.e. see in shades of gray), you
can probably find one that you can pass. See:

http://www.aopa.org/members/files/medical/colorvis.html

I also have pretty bad color vision. Like you, I initially had
difficulty in correctly identifying the light gun colors. In most
cases, colorblindness is a deficiency in determining between various
shades of colors. I passed the light gun test by determiing what
aviation green, white and red looked like to me. Red should pretty
easy, but I had trouble with the green and white. I spent some
quality time at the airport at night, watching the rotating beacon. I
learned that, to me, green looks kind of whitish, and white looks sort
of yellow. After a little practice, I had no problems telling the
colors apart. I took the light gun test and scored 100% the first
time.

Good luck,

John Galban=====>N4BQ (PA28-180)

[Greg Copeland]

Post by John Galban

Post by Randy Wentzel
Hi everyone!
I'm a colorblind 100+ hour PP, and am interested in picking up my
instrument rating. I am nearly positive that my colorblindness is severe
enough that I won't be able to get my night-flying restriction waived by
passing a signal gun test. I've had my local tower point the gun at our
plane and cycle through the colors, and I was able to correctly identify
only about 1/2 the colors.
I'm already content with the prospect of being a day-time IFR pilot, but
am worried that perhaps that the FAA feels differently. Are there
restrictions in regards to getting the instrument rating when one is
colorblind?

I don't know about the IFR restrictions, but there are about 15
different color vision tests that are acceptable to the FAA that
satisfy the color vision requirement without requiring the light gun
test. Unless you are monochromatic (i.e. see in shades of gray), you
http://www.aopa.org/members/files/medical/colorvis.html
I also have pretty bad color vision. Like you, I initially had
difficulty in correctly identifying the light gun colors. In most
cases, colorblindness is a deficiency in determining between various
shades of colors. I passed the light gun test by determiing what
aviation green, white and red looked like to me. Red should pretty
easy, but I had trouble with the green and white. I spent some
quality time at the airport at night, watching the rotating beacon. I
learned that, to me, green looks kind of whitish, and white looks sort
of yellow. After a little practice, I had no problems telling the
colors apart. I took the light gun test and scored 100% the first
time.
Good luck,
John Galban=====>N4BQ (PA28-180)

As a colorblind guy myself, I find that I have the same types of
green/white confusion that you do. For me, it's just a matter of learning
what the color looks like to me. I've noticed that with a little effort,
I'm much, much better at determining the color since I've made an attempt
to try. In fact, like you, I've not missed a color since I made the
effort. Again, like you, green typically looks white-ish to me.

I'm glad to hear that 10% of the male population isn't being excluded. In
fact, I would of long ago had my license if I had known earlier that
colorblind people can pilot. I just wish I could remember who told me,
when I was a child, that colorblind people can't pilot. I'd love to place
a fully loaded, burning, brown paper bag on their front doorstep. ;)

Cheers,

Greg Copeland

[Robert M. Gary]

Post by Randy Wentzel
Hi everyone!
I'm a colorblind 100+ hour PP, and am interested in picking up my
instrument rating. I am nearly positive that my colorblindness is severe
enough that I won't be able to get my night-flying restriction waived by
passing a signal gun test. I've had my local tower point the gun at our
plane and cycle through the colors, and I was able to correctly identify
only about 1/2 the colors.
I'm already content with the prospect of being a day-time IFR pilot, but
am worried that perhaps that the FAA feels differently. Are there
restrictions in regards to getting the instrument rating when one is
colorblind?
Thanks in advance!

No, unless your medical says VFR only (which would surprise me) you
are good to go. You only need to worry about the limitations that are
written on your medical. The examiner is not going to give you a
medical exam on your checkride.

-Robert, CFI