Colourblind Pilot?

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Phexx

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Ultimate Geek
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#92150 27-Oct-2011 21:28

Hi everyone,

I am currently in school and it's time for me to seriously start thinking about my future....

I have a huge passion of commercial aviation. I have spent hours on simulators, reading guides ect...

I really want to eventually be a commercial pilot one day, studying at Massey for a Bachelor of Aviation. However, I was diagnosed with color blindness at a very young age. Reading up on the matter, I have found different answers to the question "can a colorblind person become a commercial pilot?"

What I am wondering is: What is the testing process, for the Class 1 medical cert, for colorblindness/vision Is it a straight up colorblind = NO. Or is it a "real life" test, to see how bad the problem is.

FYI - I have never had an issue with identifying colors in life. However, present me with this: http://www.toledo-bend.com/colorblind/Ishihara.asp
and i will fail...

I know there aren't many (if any) professional pilots on this forum but something might come up!

Technofreak

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#538368 27-Oct-2011 21:46

If you fail the Ishihara test you can do what is called a lantern test and if you pass that you're good to go.

I'm not sure exactly what standard you have to meet with the Ishihara test, you may find you're OK with that test even though you have some colour blindness. Go and get the test done even if it's just the eyesight test without doing the full pilots medical. If you fail that you will need to find out who/where you go for the lantern test as it's not available every where and then from there you will know if you should continue with your training.

By the way there's other places than Massey where you may be better off doing your training.

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Phexx

420 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#538370 27-Oct-2011 21:50

Thanks for the advice,

What's involved in latern test, ifd you know?

Also, I was origonally going to go for something like an areonautical science/engineering degree then go to a flight school. However, I was worried about the amount of time/money it would take to go that route. Any suggestions?

Technofreak

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#538376 27-Oct-2011 22:02

I don't know what's involved having never had to do it nor knowing anyone who has. So far as I know it involves looking at light shone through coloured lenses rather than the reflect light of the Isihara test.

So far as your training goes, unless you intend to be a test pilot or similar there is no need for the aeronautical engineering degree. You need to decide do you want to be a pilot or an engineer having said that there's nothing wrong having another back up career to that of being a pilot.

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Phexx

420 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#538380 27-Oct-2011 22:07

Having a backup degree was my intention. I definitely want to be a pilot, are nautical engineering seemed like a good option to fall back on.

I not trying to go on and on but I have never had the opportunity to talk to someone about this.

Just as a base, what could you recommend as a good way to start to become a pilot, say I pass the vision tests. I noticed Massey's aviation degree and saw the Air NZ induction program so it looked like a good way to go.

Technofreak

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#538387 27-Oct-2011 22:26

Firstly despite what Massey says a degree in aviation doesn't currently give you any advantage in getting a flying job. You can end up paying for something you don't need. Also the Air New Zealand induction programme or what ever it's called is not what it's cracked up to be in my opinion. So few will be accepted off this scheme that it's almost a waste of time.

How you get started to some extent depends on where you live. If I were you I'd go out to the local aero club/flying school and take some lessons. That way you can get a feel for what it's all like and hopefully get to meet some people who can help answer all those questions you're going to have. What ever you do don't take the word of the PR people at some of the bigger places, have a good look around. Let me know your general location and I may be able to recommend some places to go.

If you really need to go down the student loan route some aero clubs/flying schools are able to offer student loan funding though there's been some recent changes so things may have changed on that front.

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Regs

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Snowflake

#538439 28-Oct-2011 00:46

i know absolutely noting about aviation, but ATTTO is a customer of mine and the are the ITO (industry training organisation) for Aviation. Perhaps a call to them might be a good idea?

http://www.attto.org.nz

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Snowflake
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BerG

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Master Geek
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#538456 28-Oct-2011 04:59

Having got my CPL/MEIR/CCAT through a large New Zealand flight school I would recommend:

-Get your PPL through local aero club
-Take your time, speak to others in the industry, make sure it is what you want to do as it costs a serious amount of money
-Remember there are too many pilots, not enough jobs. You will be highly unlikely to get a job unless you know someone who owns business/works at business

Phexx

420 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 6

#538461 28-Oct-2011 06:16

Thanks all,

I live in central Auckland.

I always understood that getting a job as a commercial pilot was difficult, I even thought about moving to the UK (I'm born and raised) for more options.

I was also aware of the huge amount of money and time it would take to get a CPL plus all the ratings. Ideally, I wanted to get a qualification from Uni, something to fall back on. However, mixing this with getting a CPL it may be a bit to much, both in money and time.