CVD Pilots Frequently Asked Questions

Not Yet… But close… Lab website: www.neitzvision.com ‘Gene cure’ for colour blindness

Watch the squirrel monkey ‘cured’ of colour blindness video Scientists say they are a step closer to curing colour blindness using gene therapy.
A US team were able to restore full colour vision to adult monkeys born without the ability to distinguish between the colours red and green.
Nature journal describes the technique used by the researchers at the University of Washington.
Although more studies are needed, the same treatment may work for humans who are colour blind, experts believe.

Full colour
Until now scientists had not thought it was possible to manipulate the adult brain in this way.
It was considered that adding new sensory information, such as the visual receptors necessary for perfect colour vision, could only be done in the earliest years of life when the brain is at its most malleable or “plastic”.
But Professor Jay Neitz and his team were able to introduce therapeutic genes into the light-sensing cells at the back of the eye of adult male squirrel monkeys.

This provides a positive outlook for the potential of gene therapy to cure adult vision disorders

The study authors
The therapeutic genes contained the necessary DNA code to enable the light-sensing cells to distinguish between red and green – something lacking in the male monkeys. Tests revealed the gene therapy was a success. The male monkeys now possessed the necessary photopigments to see all colours and were able to correctly pick out red from green on computer image tests.
The monkeys were treated over two years ago and their improvement in colour vision has remained stable since. Professor Neitz’s team will continue to monitor the animals to evaluate the long-term treatment effects.
They are hopeful that a similar therapy could benefit people who are colour blind.
“This provides a positive outlook for the potential of gene therapy to cure adult vision disorders,” they said.
There are several forms of colour blindness. The most common form is inherited red/green colour blindness, passed on through a faulty colour vision gene on an X chromosome.


Sometimes colour blindness occurs because of diseases such as macular degeneration or from side effects of medicines.
Winfried Amoaku, an expert in ophthalmology at the University of Nottingham, said the research could eventually benefit approximately 7% of males and 1% of females born with genetic colour deficiencies. He said: “These research seems to be the first in primates to address the colour vision deficiencies and indicate that intact cells are modifiable in their colour perception. “Further research is required, however, before this comes to human clinical trials, and therapy in the clinics.”

A person with normal colour vision will be able to see the eye in this image

The Myths of the CAD: I apologize from the start for this long posting. I have been watching the traffic on the new CAD test, both on this thread and on the CAA UK website where the origininal documents are readily available. Here is the problem with CAD: it is yet another colour vision test, nothing more and nothing less. It has no resemblance or relevance to any of the complex psycho-motor tasks that pilots perform in the “safe performance of their duties”. IT IS A RED HERRING. We have pilots in Australia, the USA and in the rest of the world who would not pass the CAD (because they are dichromats- the most severe of colour defectives) and yet they are in command of Airbuses, Boeings, Embraers, Pilatus, Metros, DASH 8’s and so forth. They undergo exactly the same demanding and thorough ongoing assessments in check flights and simulator sessions as their colour normal peers, and they perform no differently, let alone, less safely. The entire colour perception standard issue has been a massive con since its inception ninety years ago. While I am pleased for those who have already passed the CAD, and therefore have no further barriers to their aviation career aspirations, it is still a total irrelevance to the fundamental debate about the ICAO colour perception standard. On another issue, I am amazed at how few people appear to be subscribed to this thread. If we start from the sure knowledge that between 8-10% of males are colour defective, there have to be nearly a million in Australia alone, let alone several million in the UK, and again in the USA and many more millions in Europe. That’s not taking into account the other continents. If only a tiny one percent of the CVD population wish to engage in an aviation career, there have to be many many hundreds of thousands who are being denied any participation in professional aviation on the basis of colour perception defects. Where are they all? Why isn’t this group of human beings who are being discriminated against so shabbily up in arms and beating down the doors of their parliaments and the courts for justice. I don’t get it! Perhaps it is because they don’t “look” colour defective, so the discrimination can be effected silently, popping off one at a time, with not a whimper. We are not “organized” except in the most rudimentary of ways, such as this PPRuNe thread. We have no organization that we can belong to, and through it, exert real influence. And therein lies our fundamental weakness. On the other hand, the Aviaiton Authorities from all over the world regularly get together to pat each other on the back, and to concoct ever more restrictive policies. Take for example the JAA efforts in recent years. How did it ever happen that perfect colour vision came to be written into their regulations? Where were we, and what did anyone do to stop it? I just don’t get it. We will never ever succeed in the removal of the colour perception standard while we continue to be such a disorganized bunch. That’s not to be critical of anyone, its just that we have never organized ourselves into an effective group. The reason we had significant success in Australia 20 years ago was because we had a dedicated and generous group of CVD pilots who stood up for themselves, and took the matter to the courts for independent adjudication. We WON because we acted on our beliefs that we are as safe as pilots as those with normal colour vision. We won, because the fundamental logic that underpins the ICAO standard is flawed, and any thinking person can see that when it is demonstrated properly. This process can be replicated in other countries, but it takes dedication and a lot of work (and money). So, what I am asking is this: where are the activists who can organize a huge group, get the lawyers to start work on serious legal action, talk to the politicians and start to be heard. If we wait for the CAA’s and the FAA’s to sort it out for us, we will wait into eternity: it’s never going to happen. I’ve seen some early effort to create a cvdpilot website, a very worthwhile project. “Ponte” deserves support in his effort and I encourage everyone to get behind this and to make it work. There must be thousands out there who can contibute to the IT technology to make this a reality. There must be thousands too who have access to knowledge about their legal systems in their own countries so that avenues of appeal can be opened. Don’t forget, the lawyers, the politicians, the doctors, the judges are also CVD at the rate of 8-10%. Finally, let me suggest that a worldwide and well run Association of CVD Pilots could do great work towards the removal of the discrimination that IS the ICAO colour perception standard. Let me respectfully suggest we stop talking about how we are going to be “executed” (eg by CAD), and start planning how to win the battle. I appreciate the need of many to remain anonymous, but in the end it serves no good purpose. If we want to be effective, we need to “meet” properly, either face to face, but letter or in cyberspace. We need to know each other, to commence the enormous task that lie ahead if we are going to win. We need to affiliate (which means to become brothers). It’s impossible to do that behind pseudonyms. I welcome emails to my private email address. Have a lovely day!! Cheers, by Arthur Pape

No and they reduce light perception by night

Holmes-Wright Lantern
Beynes Lantern
Ishihara
Anomaloscope
Spectrolux
CAD – Colour Assessment and Diagnosis (UK only)

What are your choices to accomplish the FAA test for color vision—specially if this could be a problem for you as you know you don’t have perfect color vision? This article will show you the different possibilities you have to master this specific test on color vision deficiency. There are two ways you can go to accomplish it. The first choice is always to take a usual color blindness test with your Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). If you can’t pass this first round there is the possibility of retesting using some other color vision deficiency test which is accepted by the FAA. Or you can choose the second way which includes some special form of a very job specific color vision testing. But be prepared because this specific test can only be taken once and thereafter there is no other color vision test allowed anymore! Let me explain this step by step in more detail. First way: Accepted Color Blindness Tests Any of the following listed tests can be taken to examine your color vision. If you fail one of them there is always the possibility to take another test of the list. I think this is a good rule as you can always have a bad day or be to nervous. So make sure that you pass in the second round. And it is important to know, that no other color blindness tests are allowed! Pseudoisochromatic Plates Color Vision Tests: This tests are the most common ones and also known as Ishihara plates tests, because the first and very well known plates were made by Dr. Shinobu Ishihara. It is reported that the AOC and the Dvorine tests are the easiest to accomplish for people with color vision deficiency. AOC (1965 edition) AOC-HRR (second edition) Dvorine pseudoisochromatic plates (second edition, 15 plates) Ishihara pseudoisochromatic plates (concise 14-plate edition, 24-plate edition, 38-plate edition) Richmond pseudoisochromatic plates (1983 edition) Richmond-HRR (4th edition) Tools which display plates: Titmus Vision Tester, Titmus II Vision Tester, Titmus 2 Vision Tester, Titmus i400, OPTEC 2000 Vision Tester, OPTEC 900 Vision Tester, Keystone Orthoscope, or Keystone Telebinocular Electronically plates by LEDs: APT-5 Color Vision Tester Farnsworth Lantern Test (FALANT): This is the only test allowed which is not based on isochromatic plates. The FALANT test consist of two little lights showing one of the colors red, green, or white which have to be named correctly. It is reported to be the easiest test to accomplish. For detailed information about the allowed number of errors in each test check the decision considerations for AMEs at the official FAA website. Many people ask if it is allowed using color correcting lenses or glasses while taking a color vision test. Unfortunately the rules say clearly, that you are not granted to do so. Second Way: Specialized Operational Medical Tests If you fail the above tests and still want to try to get your license, there is a last chance for you. But it is very important to know, that this second possibility of test can only be done once and after that you are not allowed to take any other test again. So this is really your last chance! The specialized operational medical test consists of five different test steps. The first two parts are subsumed under the name Operational Color Perception Test (OCVT) and you have to accomplish them during day light. The last three steps are called Medical Flight Test (MFT) including also in-flight testing. Signal Light Test (SLT): Identify in a timely manner aviation red, green, and white. Aeronautical chart reading: Read and correctly interpret in a timely manner aeronautical charts, including print in various sizes, colors, and typefaces; conventional markings in several colors; and, terrain colors. Read and correctly interpret in a timely manner aviation instruments or displays. Recognize terrain and obstructions in a timely manner. Visually identify in a timely manner the location, color, and significance of aeronautical lights such as, but not limited to, lights of other aircraft in the vicinity, runway lighting systems, etc. Make sure you are fit while taking this test, as it can be taken only once. But if you can master it you will receive a Letter of Evidence (LOE) which means, you will never have to take a color blindness test again during your pilots career. If you fail the color vision testing during your medical exam you will have the restriction of not valid for night flying or by color signal control. There is also an interesting study about Unreliable Secondary Color Vision Tests for Pilot Candidates and you can also find a lot more information on this topic at Leftseat.com. source website: http://www.colblindor.com/2009/07/30/color-blind-testing-guide-for-pilot-applicants/

(please contact us if you know)

You should send a fax or letter in german and english (I used google translate for the german) to book the appointment. You should receive a call in English to confirm your appointment.

google map

Dr. med. B. Kopp Augenarzt FMH
Oberexperte BAZL
Thunstrasse 2
3700 Spiez, Switzerland
Tel: +41 33/654 70 20
Fax: +41 33/654 70 79

The Colour Assessment and Diagnosis (CAD) test is a newly developed test for colour vision deficiency in pilots.
The CAD test is completely sensitive and specific for the identification of normal colour vision and the test is able to accurately and repeatably quantify the degree of colour vision loss in individuals with colour vision deficiency.
The pass/fail criteria are based on the point at which the degree of deficiency degrades performance in critical piloting tasks, the most critical task being the interpretation of the Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) lights. Using the pass/fail criteria that have been established, 35% of colour deficient pilots will be granted unrestricted class 1 medical certification.
The presentation describes the background to the work including current tests for colour vision deficiency, an analysis of colour critical piloting tasks, and the CAD test.
> online demo
> wesite
book an appointment: MEDICALWEB (at) caa.co.uk
Exam at CAA: takes about 15 min.
Pass Fail Criteria (measeured in Standard Normal color units):

< 6 SN for deutans
< 12 SN for protans

The UK CAA will, from September 1st 2009, use the Colour Assessment and Diagnosis (CAD) test to assess applicants who fail the Ishihara plate test. Report published by the CAA&FAA

Product description and order The Farnsworth Lantern Flashlight is an accurate, inexpensive substitute for the original Farnsworth Lantern. It compares faithfully to Farnsworth Lantern in construction, chromaticity, and performance with color deficient observers. This test uses nine interchangeable filters that recreate the chromaticity of the original Farnsworth Lantern.
The Farnsworth Lantern has been used since Dean Farnsworth first described it in 1946 for the testing the color signal discrimination ability of color anomalous individuals. This test has found longstanding application in the military and the transportation industry to qualify operators of ships vehicles and aircraft that are known to have failed screening tests such as the Ishhara plates. Because many color deficient persons do have reasonably good signal light discrimination Farnsworth Lantern Test often enables the qualification of these individuals. The original test device has long since stopped being manufactured and more modern equivalents are quite expensive for the limited usage they see in a typical optometrists office. This has resulted in prospective patients often traveling long distances for the test.

The Farnsworth Lantern Flashlight requires 3 D cell batteries and includes a xenon bulb.

Price: $199.00

online color test 1
online color test 2
by Daniel

although this unfortunately is very different from reality, you might get an idea. download powerpoint

although this unfortunately is very different from reality, you might get an idea. download powerpoint