I recently failed the colour lantern tests at Gatwick CAA. Could i still have a career by flying daytime only?

Question

What are the opportunities in the UK? USA? Brazil?

I hear there are a shortage of pilot instructors? Is this a viable option for daytime only?

I am particularly interested in getting my CPL Helicopter licence

Any ideas or advice would be much appreciated...

Thanks!

Answer 1

You could possibly get a class 2- or maybe even a waiver on the class 1, but I'm not sure how difficult it is to get a waiver (called something like that)- try asking on the pprune, they will know the terminology and the most likely requirements. Also, try asking the CAA at Gatwick- they know what they will let you do.

Answer 2

You could qualify for the Sports Pilot Certificate. Probably not one for Rotary Wing Private or higher.

Colors matter when reading a sectional, and when receiveing light signals from towers.  You have to be able to discern colors for either one of those tasks.  For that reason, you probably won't qualify for a Medical, which means the LSA is the one you could qualify for, since it does not require a medical.

Answer 3

In the US, a flight instructor does not need a medical certificate if he/she is not operating as PIC of the aircraft.  You could therefore work as a flight instructor in the US with your color deficiency.  But, that would exclude you from teaching private pilot applicants.  Also, in order to even receive your flight instructor certificate, you need a CPL which requires at least a 3rd class medical certificate to take the checkride.  You would have great difficulty obtaining that medical certificate.  Unfortunately, it looks like you're out of luck.

Answer 4

Funny...

No you need full capacity of your body - just for safety.

Good Luck...

Answer 5

Eye standards are same every where.

No point in pursuing a career which has no opportunity for growth.

Check out about all your medical related problem at the resourse below

Answer 6

Look further into the color issues. There are substitute tests which can satisfy the requirements. Not sure which "colour lantern tests" you are referring to, as there are at least 2 that I know about. I overcame a color and daytime only issue and now have about 1,100 hours of night experience, in addition to thousands of day hours. ATP, 1st class med, jet type ratings, etc., all completely unrestricted, have flown full glass with indications in various different colors, etc.  In my case, however, the lights WERE the substitute test and I passed, but do look into it further. (A nice "plus" for me, too, is I never again had to take a color vision test of any kind, including during my many subsequent aviation medical exams. And the light test was decades ago. ) It is completely true that you can have a problem with the color "plates" (groupings of dots) that are typically used as the first level of color vision screening, and yet not have any problem distinguishing colors in the actual flight and flight deck environment. One daytime-only gig, perhaps, that comes to mind is agricultural application (crop-dusting), another, perhaps is pipeline patrol. And how 'bout those skywriters? Assuming you could get a second class medical and be insurable, etc.  But look further into having that restriction lifted. If that was the first level of screening, then there is probably at least one additional level available.