Fail your medical, loose your sport

[Doggtyred]

Well this makes me nervous now. I have 40 hours, and I am ready for a checkride. The only thing I am concerned about is my right eye. I have 20/20 corrected vision with both eyes open, but my right eye is right on the edge of 20/40. I can't afford to loose my sport.

That should not be an issue. The folks they want to keep from flying sport are the guys who got a defibrillator put in, have seizures after their head injury, etc..

As others have said... if you have been DENIED a medical you ineligible for sport privileges. If you have a valid medical of any type, and it expires, you can self certify yourself as airworthy or not. But if you FAIL a medical exam you cannot.... until you resolve the issue and get a valid medical issued. You can maintain it, or let it lapse, as long as the last medical exam was a pass..

Or.. if you have never had a medical, you can also medically self certify for sport privileges. Provided you are healthy enough to have a drivers license..

 

[James331]

Can only get corrected to 20/40?

For a 3rd class you only need 20/40 anyways

§67.303 Eye.
Eye standards for a third-class airman medical certificate are:

(a) Distant visual acuity of 20/40 or better in each eye separately, with or without corrective lenses. If corrective lenses (spectacles or contact lenses) are necessary for 20/40 vision, the person may be eligible only on the condition that corrective lenses are worn while exercising the privileges of an airman certificate.

(b) Near vision of 20/40 or better, Snellen equivalent, at 16 inches in each eye separately, with or without corrective lenses.

(c) Ability to perceive those colors necessary for the safe performance of airman duties.

(d) No acute or chronic pathological condition of either eye or adnexa that interferes with the proper function of an eye, that may reasonably be expected to progress to that degree, or that may reasonably be expected to be aggravated by flying.

https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/aam/ame/guide/

 

[James331]

there are people flying airliners with class-1 medicals and only one eye in their head. If that's the worst ya got, don't sweat it.

How do they demonstrate 20/20 distant and 20/40 near with "normal fields of vision" required for their first class medical while they are missing a eye?

§67.103 Eye.
Eye standards for a first-class airman medical certificate are:

(a) Distant visual acuity of 20/20 or better in each eye separately, with or without corrective lenses. If corrective lenses (spectacles or contact lenses) are necessary for 20/20 vision, the person may be eligible only on the condition that corrective lenses are worn while exercising the privileges of an airman certificate.

(b) Near vision of 20/40 or better, Snellen equivalent, at 16 inches in each eye separately, with or without corrective lenses. If age 50 or older, near vision of 20/40 or better, Snellen equivalent, at both 16 inches and 32 inches in each eye separately, with or without corrective lenses.

(c) Ability to perceive those colors necessary for the safe performance of airman duties.

(d) Normal fields of vision.

(e) No acute or chronic pathological condition of either eye or adnexa that interferes with the proper function of an eye, that may reasonably be expected to progress to that degree, or that may reasonably be expected to be aggravated by flying.

(f) Bifoveal fixation and vergence-phoria relationship sufficient to prevent a break in fusion under conditions that may reasonably be expected to occur in performing airman duties. Tests for the factors named in this paragraph are not required except for persons found to have more than 1 prism diopter of hyperphoria, 6 prism diopters of esophoria, or 6 prism diopters of exophoria. If any of these values are exceeded, the Federal Air Surgeon may require the person to be examined by a qualified eye specialist to determine if there is bifoveal fixation and an adequate vergence-phoria relationship. However, if otherwise eligible, the person is issued a medical certificate pending the results of the examination.

 

[Greg Bockelman]

How do they demonstrate 20/20 distant and 20/40 near with "normal fields of vision" required for their first class medical while they are missing a eye?

It's called a waiver. Or Statement of Demonstrated Ability. SODA

 

[James331]

It's called a waiver. Or Statement of Demonstrated Ability. SODA

Oooook,

and how is it possible to have demonstrate 20/20 in a eye that isn't there?

How is it possible to have a normal field of vision when half your eyeballs are missing?

Lest we even get into depth perception.

 

[RJM62]

In view of the past few days' developments re: possible third-class exemptions for PP, maybe you should just finish SP and do nothing until we find out what, if anything, FAA is going to fly up the flagpole. It may be that whatever they're offering is enough to keep you happy, in which case you save the money for the consult and the exam, as well as avoid any possible negative consequences.

Usually I just shrug when I hear these sorts of rumors and dismiss them as bovine excrement. But Capt. Ron Levy has a nose like a hound when it comes to things FAA; so when he says it's possible that they may broaden the DL medical, my ears perk up.

That's my opinion, anyway, and it's worth everything you paid for it.

-Rich

 

[FastEddieB]

How is it possible to have a normal field of vision when half your eyeballs are missing?

Lest we even get into depth perception.

Field of vision would definitely be affected.

But its been demonstrated that an airplane can be flown and landed perfectly well with one eye - see: Wiley Post.

Binocular vision is not a huge factor at the distances involved in maneuvering an airplane, apparently. Maybe try landing with one eye covered to see - with a CFI or safety pilot, of course!

 

[Greg Bockelman]

Oooook,

and how is it possible to have demonstrate 20/20 in a eye that isn't there?

How is it possible to have a normal field of vision when half your eyeballs are missing?

Lest we even get into depth perception.

With a Statement of Demonstrated Ability, that pilot has demonstrated that he can operate the aircraft safely without the eye and that the field of vision issue has adequately been compensated for.

 

[Matthew]

Oooook,

and how is it possible to have demonstrate 20/20 in a eye that isn't there?

How is it possible to have a normal field of vision when half your eyeballs are missing?

Lest we even get into depth perception.

What the others said. You go up with an FAA examiner, show him/her you can safely operate an aircraft, and get a Statement of Demonstrated Ability that waives the requirements. Works for colorblindness, too.

 

[poadeleted20]

Oooook,

and how is it possible to have demonstrate 20/20 in a eye that isn't there?

How is it possible to have a normal field of vision when half your eyeballs are missing?

Lest we even get into depth perception.

As Greg said, you get a waiver from that section of the regulations by demonstrating that you can safely perform to the PTS standards associated with the level of medical for which you are requesting a Special Issuance. In the case of having only one eye which meets the regulator standard, the process is described in FAA Order 8900.1:

4) Observe an applicant with a visual defect (one eye missing or one eye blind) demonstrate the following in an aircraft:
· The ability to select emergency landing fields at a distance, from high altitude, and preferably over unfamiliar terrain.
· The ability to simulate forced landings in difficult fields; note the manner of approach, rate of descent, and comparative distance at which obstructions (stumps, boulders, ditches, etc.) are recognized.
· The ability to recognize other aircraft (which may be present by prearrangement) approaching at a collision course (particularly aircraft approaching from the far right or far left).
· The ability to judge distances and to recognize landmarks (compared with the ASI's estimate).
· The ability to land the aircraft.
· The ability to read aeronautical charts in flight and tune the radio to a predetermined station accurately and rapidly.
· The ability to read instrument panels (including an overhead panel, if any) quickly and correctly.

Also, by rule, this Special Medical Flight Test must be done with an FAA Inspector, not a Designated Pilot Examiner.

 

[orange]

OK this makes me feel better. I have no problem at all with depth perception. It is basically just making out text in my right eye. I guess I might have to look into a SI because I don't want to go to an AME and they say I cant see out of my right eye and fail me.

I just saw your last post as well. Yes I am going for my Private.

They won't fail you if one eye is good and the other is below standards. I'm in the same boat (I'm 20/20 and 20/60-can't be corrected due to cornea damage). My AME actually passed me at the exam. I was surprised but psyched until I got a letter 3 months later from FAA Medical Division in OKC saying that they "cannot approve my medical at this time, not being denied, but need more information"; they asked for medical records for my cornea damage in my left eye. I sent them everything and it took a few months to finally let me know that I have to do a SODA (Medical Test Flight) with an FAA inspector before I can solo. During the SODA, I must demonstrate the following:

Observe an applicant with a visual defect demonstrate the following in an aircraft:

1. The ability to select emergency landing fields at a distance, from high altitude, and preferably over unfamiliar terrain.
2. The ability to simulate forced landings in difficult fields; note the manner of approach, rate of descent, and comparative distance at which obstructions (stumps, boulders, ditches, etc.) are recognized.
3. The ability to recognize other aircraft (which may be present by prearrangement) approaching at a collision course (particularly aircraft approaching from the far right or far left).
4. The ability to judge distances and to recognize landmarks (compared with the ASI’s estimate).
5. The ability to land the aircraft.
6. The ability to read aeronautical charts in flight and tune the radio to a predetermined station accurately and rapidly.
7. The ability to read instrument panels (including an overhead panel, if any) quickly and correctly.

 

[ChrisK]

They won't fail you if one eye is good and the other is below standards. I'm in the same boat (I'm 20/20 and 20/60-can't be corrected due to cornea damage). My AME actually passed me at the exam. I was surprised but psyched until I got a letter 3 months later from FAA Medical Division in OKC saying that they "cannot approve my medical at this time, not being denied, but need more information"; they asked for medical records for my cornea damage in my left eye. I sent them everything and it took a few months to finally let me know that I have to do a SODA (Medical Test Flight) with an FAA inspector before I can solo. During the SODA, I must demonstrate the following:

I anticipate I might have to do this some day and am quite interested in hearing how it worked out.

 

[orange]

I anticipate I might have to do this some day and am quite interested in hearing how it worked out.

I'll post my experience once I take it sometime this summer.