Color Vision/Deficiency Adventures!

jtuttle18974 Newcomer PA

Like i said before.....I passed a farnsworth lantern test....Think of a light gun test...just a lot smaller version....Just like a light gun test....it measures you ability to see "the colors necessary for aviation" which are green red and white....The light gun test measures your ability to distinguish between red white and green.....these are both acceptable alternatives for pilots to get the color signal and night restrictions removed from their certificates and as far as i know still are for air traffic controllers....just wondering if anybody has already been down this road before and how they were able to do it once they got hung up at the pre employment processing center

BigBOSS Gotta Keep 'em Seperated! Austin, TX

I think I am going to run into the same problem as you.. I am pretty sure I am red-green color deficient as well

boytal Newcomer Ft. Lauderdale

I am also color deficient about 4 years ago i went to the doctor and took the dot test I want to see a specialist though. I'm in my 2nd year at CTI school my teacher told my theirs an alternative test. I can read a light but I don't know if that all you need to demonstrate. some answers would be nice I've been worried ever since I started

mbalunda Epic Member

The ATCOV is the only alernate test that is approved for ATC. There are several threads on here about it if you want to read up on it.

Rosstafari Daaaang. /X

Nothing personal, but why in the world would you go through a full year of college classes without figuring out what the test was?

skyway172 Rookie

Has anyone taken the medical specifically for ATC, and failed the color test? How long did you have to wait until you were notified by HR that you failed, and had to do something about it? The Ishihara test is also moderately easier in person. I forget why, but the printed colors are more true than the microscopically distorted colors online.

Mt_Sac_2011 Newcomer

After applying since PUBNAT1-8, putting myself through CTI, re-taking the AT-SAT after scoring an 84.6 on my first attempt, finally getting picked up on the November 2011 panels, having all of my background/security clearances go through, my process likely came to an end today.

I did not pass the color vision portion of the ATC physical back in February when I did my initial screening. I believe the test used was a variation of the Ishihara. I was scheduled for the ATCOV test on April 10th. At the last minute, the doc at the Western Regional Office decided to have me go down to a local Optometry College to take the Dvorine 15 plate test. He wanted me to have one more "buffer" instead of potentially ending my process with the ATCOV. The type of test he wanted me to take there got lost in translation between him and his secretary, who gave me the information over the phone. I had written down "DV-15" as the test to take. When I got the the college, the Doctor there said "he likely meant the D-15.. Farnsworth D-15... there is no such thing as the DV-15." I took and passed the Farnsworth with a 15/15. After reviewing my test, the Doc at the RO decided to have me come back to him to take the ATCOV, having not accepted the results from he college.

Today, taking the ATCOV, I scored 100% test 1, 87% on test two, and 100% on test 3 for an average of 95.6% overall. Even with this, my result was deemed a FAIL because I did not meet the minimum passing score of 89% on one of the tests; test #2.

Frustrating to say the least, especially for a career field that I have been pursuing with a passion for so many years. I am an RPO at Southern California Terminal Facility, work with Radar screens everyday. I have gone up to the tower at our facility numerous times, as well as the towers at several other local terminals and can see all colors with clarity. Eash of the Raytheon instructors I work with can confirm this.

Would anyone on this forum who may have had a similar experience, or knows someone who has be of any help? As you can imagine, I am working on all cylinders to get answers in a variety of ways from other people who may be of help. My life goal is to get into the FAA to become a controller. I am already tentatively selected for Grand Canyon Tower for FY2013.

I appreciate anyone's help in this. Thank you!

BG

robycanoby Rookie ZLC

Sorry to hear how things are going. I know only to an extent what you're going through, because I also failed the initial screening color vision test and wondered for several months if my career plans were down the crapper while I waited for my ATCOV test. I was fortunate and passed that test though, so I'm not aware of anything that could be done after not passing. It's extremely frustrating having something that you have no control over and there's no corrective action for possibly keep you out of your dream job. Hopefully since it sounds like you're right on the borderline of color vision you find a way to work it out. Out of curiosity, have you asked or been informed if there's any hope of re-taking the ATCOV since you were so close? Anyway, if you do find out any information please share. There's always someone else that comes along later with a similar situation that can learn from what you're going through. I know when I was going through it, it was a huge help to read about others that had similar situations. Good Luck.

blakspider Newcomer

Wasn't there some talk about variant of lasic that can help with this?