Can you get your pilot license if you are color blind?
After requesting an article from our readers, one of them offered to write this for me and allowed me to post it on this site. He has hands on experience with the struggles of getting a pilot license with color blindness. He has written everything he had to go through for anyone that may be wondering what their options are with this condition. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks Sam!
Getting your pilot license with color blindness
Article written by Sam Cribbs
I remember being so infatuated with being an Army helicopter pilot as a child that it drove me silly. One day while interviewing (or more realistically drooling in the presence of a superhero) a helicopter pilot, I found out that my red/green color blindness was a disqualification and that I was “not gonna fly for the army little guy.” World = Shattered.
I think only about 2 percent of the population has a red green color deficiency but I do remember when I was doing my research, there was absolutely nothing out there that was helpful. Those color vision tests made up of circles with the numbers in the middle of the circle… I see only circles. However, now I know that I am a very physically capable pilot regardless of this.
I spoke with countless AME’s regarding my hiccup towards a medical and student pilot certificate. Each of them had a different opinion and most were concerned with getting me in for an examination or referring me to a friend of theirs. I really couldn’t get a clear answer from anyone. Finally, I found an AME in Phoenix, Az who specializes in helping guys through with their color deficiencies. After consulting with him I learned that although incredibly rare, there are aviation medical examiners out there who offer the alternative test that goes by the name of the Farnsworth Lantern. It is essentially a re-creation of light gun signals that would be given by an ATC tower in the event of communication failures (as you well know i’m sure.) There is another test given which I found to be even easier (the Optec 900 I believe it was) which is the same design, just a bit easer
Mind you, this is to have a medical with no restrictions placed on it. If I were to fail even this test, I would have only the restriction of “not valid for night flying, or flying by color signals.” But let’s face it, if you’re trying to fly for compensation or hire, that’s not something you want to have. Even if one does get that restriction, they can go to their local FSDO and take an examiner up with them to prove that they can see the light gun signals in the air and can read an aeronautical chart correctly. If they pass that successfully, the restriction is lifted.
But ultimately, I would recommend to anyone who is going through a similar (and truthfully god awful) situation to what I was a few months ago talk to Dr. Forred. WWW.MYFLIGHTSURGEON.COM He specializes in this whole color vision shenanigans and is more than willing to tell anyone where an AME is with the aforementioned rare alternative testing equipment is, even if it isn’t himself.
Hope this helps someone… if only one person. That was the worst damn 5 months of my life getting tossed around from person to person who didn’t have a color deficiency nor the knowledge on how to pursue their passion with one.
I am in my 9th hour towards my private license. I am red/green colorblind. Dr. Bush in Kissimmee, Florida has the lantern test. I failed it too. I am interested to see if these glasses on amazon help from o2amp. Originally designed to help er doctors see medical issue it was discovered that it helped red/green colorblindnees. If it does I hope the FAA will allow them just as they do eyeglasses. ABC, Discovery channels have done stories on these glasses.
My son is currently taking up aviation course ( pilot ) however when he had an eye test, it was discovered that he’s color blind? any option or alternative way we can do, he really desires to be a pilot someday. I heard of corrective lens that enhanced color visibility and could pass the ishihara test, like chromagen, colorview ,colorlite. any advise on this? Thank you
He would have to demonstrate his ability to see colors to the faa to avoid any limitations. I’m not sure if those lenses are approved for use so the best person to talk to about that would be an faa medical examiner. Please feel free to share anything you find out about it.
Thanks!
This is amazing information. I am in the Army serving as a leader, not flying, but am biding my time until I can get out and chase my dream of flying helicopters. I fail the dot test specatularly so the Army rejected my flight physical with no opportunity for waiver. Wish I had known of this alternative back in 09. Initial glance looks like I would smoke this test as i can see green/red/white very clearly from one another.
Amazing Info. Thank you very much. You helped give me hope for a passion-filled career.
Wow, so I’m not the only one. From my freshman year through my senior year of high school that was my plan in life. Warrant Officer Flight Training (AKA High School to Flight School, no college degree required). Flunk the color vision tests given at MEPS miserably, needless to say was devastated when the guy started reading off all ‘desk jobs’ that I qualified for. Ended up joining the Air Force as a paralegal. Good to read this article, though now I’m too old to fly for the service, wouldn’t mind getting a private pilots license.
Glad to see you have hope again! I hope you start to fly one day!
I join the long list of people who one day dreamt of being a pilot only to find out i wouldnt be allowed. My colour blindness was discovered at the age of 8 after years of torment from teachers picking on me because i didnt know my colours had to stand in the dunce corner haha…There are glasses you can buy that correct the colour they are pretty expensive id give anything just to try it just to see the world in its true colour 🙂
I’ve never heard of them but I think it would be worth every penny. I hope they come up with a surgery to correct it one day!
I’m 12 years old just finishing my first year or high school so need to be thinking of a career and I’ve always wanted to be a pilot but last year i was diagnosed with blue/green colour blindness and every time i say i want to be a pilot they tell me i cant and I’ve been getting really sad and also I’ve heard that even if i did manage to become a pilot there is a higher chance of them choosing someone with perfect eyesight. So i’m asking should i just give up on my dream and settle for some other job or should i keep working towards and hope i just don’t get denied
People that are colored blind usually have to demonstrate to the FAA that they can tell the difference between red and green to be able to get their license without restrictions. If they are unable to tell the difference they may still be able to get their license but only able to fly during daylight hours. If you want to fly for a living, this restriction would probably prevent you from being able to do it. The best thing to do is to call an FAA medical examiner and talk with him to find out what your options are. Flying for fun is still an option so don’t give up hope for that!
I am red/green colorblind. I am 41 years old and have never pursued a PPL because of this. The question that I have is, if I am unable to pass any of the approved color vision test and am restricted to daylight only flying, how do I complete the night time flying requirement for the PPL. Do they eliminate those hours or replace them with further hours of daylight training?
Hey Charles, you are still required to do 3 hours of night training to get your license but it will be with an instructor so it won’t be an issue.
I know this is an old post but I’ve got some questions. I’ve done all 3 color blind test: Ishihara, Farnsworth and CAD test. Long story short, I failed all the tests. My doctors have told me to pursue a different career and I’m starting to agree with them. My question is, would I be able to find a job as a helicopter pilot or should I pursue something else.
Usually if someone fails the color test they would have limitations on their license only allowing them to fly during daylight hours. This really could vary with how bad it is. The problem is, if you want to fly for a career, whether it is a plane or helicopter, it probably wouldn’t work out for you to have day only restriction.
It’s possible to still get a license and even have the restriction removed, but to do so you would have to demonstrate to the FAA that you can distinguish a red light from a green one. The first thing I would do is go to an aviation medical examiner and ask him how to go about getting any restriction removed.