Expert: Ismar Avdic, Eng. - 12/15/2009

Question
QUESTION: hi

i have a query about my health,as i have colour blindness but my eye sight is fine so, can i still become a pilot?its my dream to be a pilot.so please help me out.

thanks a lot
regards
fateh

ANSWER: Hi Fateh,
Color blindness is serious issue for pilot. However in accordance with medical requirements and regulations, you can pass medical exam but with deficiency that you can not fly in night. As you can not recognize lights for approch lighting system. So answer is YES you can get pilot license, but NO you can not be professional airline pilot with this deficiency, I mean you can earn your commercial pilot license but it will carry deficiency limitations that is valid only during Daylight hours.
But anytime you are able to prove medical examiner that you can destinguish all colrs that are requiring you to recognize your deficiency could be easily removed from medical certificate.

Ismar


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi ismar
Thanks a lot for your help. I have one more question that if I completed my CPL (commercial pilot licence), then is it  easy to get a job in this field or not for me as a colourblind? And from which country ITs easy to get pilot licence?
Thanx
Regards
Fateh

ANSWER: Hi Fateh,
Completation of Commercial Pilot license will give you chance to work as an commercial pilot on projects during daylight. That means you can do flight instruction, commercial operations , I mean any kind of commercial operations as long as they do not involve night flying. Because that will state on your medical exam. Now most important thing is something called SODA what means (statement of demonstrated ability) short for SODA, once you complete that test with medical examiner or FAA inspector your viewer will be removed from medical exam. One of my students could not recognize differences between red and green color, deficiency called daltonism but not color blindness, but he proved and FAA inspector that he was able to determine colors from airplane and his vaiwer has been removed forever. You do not have to take any more test again.
All this answers are pertaining FAA regulations that governs issuance of pilot licenses in USA, although similar regulations are present in Europe, but  Europe has l;ittle bit stricker regulations for getting medical cert. I would suggest USA for training as the fact we have all kind of people with all kind of deficiency flying airplanes. Even paralized poeple can get pilot license, No hands or legs and Yes you can get license..
Ismar


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: One more thing ismar, how much I have to pay to be a pilot?

Answer
Hi Fateh,
depending where are you located. Generally in europe price for pilot licenses is significantly higher then in USA. In fact major airlines are opening flight training centers for their students in USA...
But in general you'll need roughly around 50,000 just to complete Private, license, Instrument rating, and Commercial license.
Regards

Ismar