The perception that all pilots must have perfect vision is an enduring myth, but is it true? Many types of pilot certificates are available, and as medical technology improves, so do the possibilities. Don’t misunderstand, we won’t be certifying blind pilots any time soon, but the image of an eagle-eyed student with perfect posture is a thing of the past. Jason Blair summarizes the current pilot vision requirements in An Aviator’s Field Guide to the Pilot Career Path.
Do I Need to Have Perfect Vision?
A common misconception is that pilots must have perfect vision to be a commercial pilot. While vision standards were pretty stringent in the early days of flying and in some branches of the military, we have modernized our approach.
No, you probably can’t be a commercial pilot if you are legally blind. But in today’s medical standards the pilot must meet 20/40 near vision and 20/20 distance vision requirements. This can be done with or without corrective lenses. In fact, as technology has adapted, contact lenses and LASIK surgery have become allowable to meet FAA vision requirements. At one point in history these were not approved. Technology is letting us move forward.
The medical requirements do get a little more stringent with commercial operations and with respect to distance vision (near-sighted). The Federal Aviation Regulations require that a pilot’s distant vision be 20/20 or better, with or without correction, in each eye separately to hold a first or second class medical certificate. The standard for near visual acuity (farsightedness; 16 in) is 20/40 in each eye separately. Pilots aged 50 and older also have an intermediate visual standard, measured at 32 in, of 20/40 or better in each eye separately. Third Class Medical Certificates require 20/40 or better for near and distant vision. There is no intermediate vision standard for third class certification.
So, if a pilot doesn’t have perfect vision, that’s OK. No need to give up on a career in aviation just because you wear glasses or contacts.
One vision requirement that can be a challenge, however, is color vision deficiency, also known as color blindness.
A pilot must be able to determine some basic color differentiations as a part of the job, so a person with color blindness may be ineligible depending on the severity. Color blindness affects approximately one in 12 men (8 percent) and one in 200 women (0.5 percent) in the world.
Color vision requirements for FAA medical certificates are an essential aspect of ensuring the safety of pilots and their passengers. These requirements are in place to guarantee that pilots possess adequate color vision to safely operate aircraft, particularly in situations where distinguishing between different colors is crucial, such as reading cockpit instruments, runway lights, and air traffic control signals.
The FAA employs various color vision testing methods. One of the most commonly used tests is the Ishihara color vision test, which consists of a series of plates containing colored dots arranged to form numbers or shapes. Pilots must correctly identify the numbers or shapes on the plates to pass the test. Additionally, alternative tests such as the Farnsworth Lantern Test (FALANT) may be administered to assess color vision in aviation-specific scenarios.
In cases where applicants fail the standard color vision tests, they may still be eligible for a medical certificate through the use of alternative methods, such as operational color vision testing (OCVT) or the Light Signal Gun Signal Test (LSGST). These tests evaluate an applicant’s ability to interpret aviation-related color signals and lights, which are critical for safe flight operations.
While certain color vision deficiencies may disqualify pilots from obtaining specific medical certificates, the FAA recognizes that individuals with mild deficiencies can still safely operate aircraft under certain conditions. Therefore, applicants with color vision deficiencies may undergo additional evaluation and testing to determine their eligibility for a special issuance medical certificate that may have some limitations, such as “no night flying.”
Does this open your eyes to your possibilities on the pilot career path? ASA offers Blair’s book and many others that can guide you.
