IAA Class 1/2 Medical Refusal on Eyesight

cherrytaz

Alaba320 wrote: »

If you are determining whether you are "colour safe" or "colour deficient" (the EASA terms) by means of an Ishihara test plate test, then you will be happy to know that the Ishihara isn't the test that rules you colour deficient.

It's a little confusing -

If you identify the first 14 of the 21 Ishihara plates without hesitation then the test is stopped and you are deemed colour safe. straightforward enough!

However, If you have trouble identifying any of the first 14 Ishihara plates then you must complete the 21 plates with no more than 1 mistake (IIRC) If you do this then you are deemed colour safe.

If you fail the Ishihara, even if you didn't manage to get 1 correct it does not rule you colour deficient, it just means that you have to carry out another type of test. CAD is used in the UK and Holmes Wright Lantern Test is used in Ireland. You pass this then you are deemed colour safe. My personal experience is that the lantern test was 100 times easier to pass that the Ishihara, got my unrestricted Class 1 and I'm now flying for an airline, so don't give up just because of the Ishihara test.

It boils my blood when Aer Lingus require you to come to the Cadet Interview with a letter from optician stating you have passed the Ishihara.. When it's not even a requirement! They are only fuelling the rumours that you can't be a pilot if you can't pass the Ishihara.

Hope this helps you out

EASA part Med has more details on this and is available on PDF on the EASA site. Good luck

You're correct in the above. I failed the Ishihara in the Mater and then straight to lantern which I also failed quite badly. It's so frustrating that it comes so easy/natural to most people but for someone like myself I just can't distinguish certain colours. All the rest of my family are fine and of course none of them have any aviation interest. It's just life I suppose