Expert: D. Norkus - 9/20/2010

Question
Actually I'm 53 yr old hold a current ATP license used in Peru, and have more than 4,000hrs, rated in Dash8, F28, DC10, last week I went trough my physical test and on the Color test (Ishihara Test) I fail.
Do you know if there is any similar case to mine that has been allowed to keep working? How?

Answer
I can only address this from an FAA medical certification standpoint but there are alternatives to the Ishihara test in the USA:

FAA Color Vision Tests and Alternative Tests

COLOR PLATE TESTS:

American Optical Company (AOC) 1965 edition: 7 or more on plates 1–15
AOC-HRR 2nd edition: any on plates 7–11
Dvorine 2nd edition: 7 or more on plates 1–15
Ishihara 14- plate edition: 6 or more on plates 1–11
Ishihara 24-plate edition: 7 or more on plates 1–15
Ishihara 38-plate edition: 9 or more on plates 1–21
Richmond 1983 edition: 7 or more on plates 1–15

The FAA-approved alternative tests listed below may be used
in lieu of pseudo-isochromatic test plates.

Farnsworth lantern (FALANT) : Average of > 1 error per series of 9 color pairs in series 2 and 3
Keystone orthoscope: Any errors in sic plates
Keystone telebinocular: Any errors in sic plates
LKC Technologies APT-5: Letter must be correctly identified in at least 2 of the 3 presentations of each test condition
OPTEC 2000 vision tester (models 2000PM, 2000PAME, 2000PI): Any errors in sic plates
Titmus vision tester: Any errors in sic plates
Titmus II vision tester (models TII, TIIS): Any errors in sic plates
Titmus 2 vision tester (models T2A, T2S): Any errors in sic plates

Perhaps a doctor in Peru could administer the Farnsworth color test for you? That test seems to be a popular alternative to the Ishihara exam.

Read more about alternatives here - http://www.leftseat.com/colorvision
Perhaps you can find one that is administered by aviation medical examiners in Peru.

Here are some links on medical certification and color blindness for further information that may help you -

http://www.beanairlinepilot.com/forums/expressjet-jeremy/10189-color-blind-issue...

http://flypatchfly.com/color-me-blind/

http://www.pprune.org/archive/index.php/t-41111.html

Good luck!
Dottie