Medical Question - colour deficiency

[Nick]

Like about 10% of white men I have some degree of colour deficiency in my vision. It's not a big issue for me, I didn't find out myself until I was 14 when I came across a sample of the Ishihara colour perception test in a science book. Indeed, there is some evidence to suggest that this 'defect' confers some advantages in hunting and military situations, allowing one to penetrate camoflage and conferring better night vision than folks with 'normal' colour vision.

Anyway, I understand that in the USA colour deficiency is not a show stopper for a PPL or MPL, but often a night flying restriction is applied on one's licence.

What is the situation here in SA for MPLs?

Does anyone have any contacts of any optomotrists who would know this space in detail from an aviation perspective? (Most optomotrists don't really know much about this subject)

[Learjet]

Nick, this CAA reference may be a good starting point...

http://www.caa.co.za/resource%20center/ ... 0Guide.pdf

[Nick]

Thanks for the link, it's proved rather useful.

[Nick]

The gen I have gotten follows. I'm posting it here to generate archive materiel for the benefit of other folks who may find it useful, given that nearly 10% of white men have some degree of colour deficiency (colour blind), it's very rare in black men.

If you can pass the Ishihara test then your colour vision is deemed good enough for aviation.

If you fail the Ishihara test but can pass the Farnsworth lantern test - a device that shines red, green and white lights in pairs at the person being tested - you still pass. I'm not sure what percentage of colour deficient men that fail Ishihara go on to pass the Farnsworth Lantern. Most colour deficient folks are men, for the budding geneticists it's a sex linked allele carried on the X chromosome, women have two X chromosomes and the chances of both of them being marked are rather low.

If you fail the Farnsworth Lantern test, I understand that you are restricted to PPL, cannot get a CPL and your licence is endorsed with a restriction limiting you to day flying. For me, that would not be too much of a burden.

I understand there is a Farnsworth Lantern somewhere in Centurion.

[Morph]

Cool,

thanks for the update and good luck with the tests

[Dreamer]

I have a friend that has monochromatic vision, no color at all. He flew impala's for the military, had his own flight school, rated on singles, twins, even on a citation and helicopters if I remember correctly(going back many years now.*L*). Not sure how he got away with it. When we do bush lane shooting evaluations he "see's right through" the bush and spots targets etc easily, def has an advantage there.