From: hopkins@gvlf9-o.gvl.unisys.com (Bill Hopkins)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.piloting
Subject: Re: wanna be a pilot with eye-glasses???
Date: 7 Oct 92 18:18:56 GMT
Article-I.D.: gvl.1992Oct7.181856.24226
Reply-To: hopkins@gvl.unisys.com
Organization: Paramax Systems Corp (A Unisys Company), Great Valley Labs, PA

asunta@convex.csc.FI (Miika Asunta) writes:
>
>I have about -6 in both eyes.
>
>Have I any chance to become a private pilot?

and doshay@ursa.arc.nasa.gov (David Doshay) writes:
>
>I was just pouring over the FARs last night,

What was that you were pouring, David?  (oh, PORING... ;-})

>                                             and in addition to the
>20/xxx details, there are also explicit references to diopter
>corrections and all sorts of exceptions. Of course, the details are
>different for class 1, 2, or 3 medicals. 

To become a private pilot, you need only a third class medical.  I
see diopter requirements only the first-class medical.  ( -6 is the
limit without a subsequent test.)

>When in doubt, get out a copy of the FARs and look it up.

Indeed.  The FARs make fascinating reading, even if they're not
great literature -- this section has lots of requirements but
big-time machinery for getting around them!

As of October 1991 (a year ago), the eyesight requirements are:

67.17  THIRD-CLASS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.
  (a) To be eligible for a third-class medical certificate, an
      applicant must meet the requirements of paragraphs (b) through
      (f) of this section.
  (b) Eye:
    (1) Distant visual acuity of 20/50 or better in each eye
        separately, without corection; or if the vision in either or
	both eyes is poorer than 20/50 and is corrected to 20/30 or
	better in each eye with corrective lenses (glasses or contact
	lenses), the applicant may be qualified on the condition that
	he wears those corrective lenses while exercising the
	privileges of his airman certificate.
    (2) No serious pathology of the eye.
    (3) Ability to distinguish aviation signal red, aviation signal
        green, and white.
  ...
  (g) An applicant who does not meet the provisions of paragraphs (b)
      through (f) of this section may apply for the discretionary
      issuance of a certificate under paragraph 67.19.

67.19  SPECIAL ISSUE OF MEDICAL CERTIFICATES.
 (a) At the discretion of the Federal Air Surgeon, a medical
     certificate may be issued to an applicant who does not meet the
     applicable provision of 67.13, 67.15, or 16.17 if the applicant
     shows to the satisfaction of the Federal Air Surgeon that the
     duties authorized by the class of medical certificate applied for
     can be performed without endangering air commerce during the
     period in which the certificate would be in force.  The Federal
     Air Surgeon may authorize a special medical flight test,
     practical test, or medical evaluation for this purpose.

     [and lots more...]

If you need more detail, find a copy and start reading.  They're easier
to read than to type.

	Bill (who's going back to reading) Hopkins

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Newsgroups: rec.aviation.piloting