Updated August 2026: The FAA revised how pilot color vision is screened, effective January 1, 2025. Pseudoisochromatic plate tests such as Ishihara are no longer on the FAA’s list of acceptable tests for pilot color vision screening, and the older SODA and light-gun signal routes are no longer part of current screening. This article has been updated to reflect the current position. For the full current process, see our detailed guide to the current FAA color vision testing process.
If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a pilot, you know there are medical requirements you need to meet before taking to the skies. One common concern among aspiring pilots is color blindness—but does having a color vision deficiency automatically disqualify you from becoming a color blind pilot?
The short answer is: not necessarily. While color vision is important in aviation, there are workarounds and alternative tests that may allow you to qualify for a pilot’s license. In this guide, we’ll explore how color blindness affects pilot eligibility, what the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) requires, and what options are available if you have a color vision deficiency.
What Is Color Blindness?
Color blindness, or color vision deficiency (CVD), is a condition that affects how the eyes perceive certain colors. It’s typically inherited but can also be caused by medical conditions, injuries, or aging. People with CVD may have difficulty distinguishing between red and green (the most common type), blue and yellow, or, in rare cases, may see the world in shades of gray. Blue-yellow color blindness is a less common type that affects the ability to distinguish between blue and green as well as yellow and red, while red-green color blindness is extensively discussed and includes various diagnostic methods such as the anomaloscope.
While color blindness does not affect visual sharpness or depth perception, it can make it difficult to differentiate between colored lights and signals—something that plays a key role in aviation safety.
Why Does Color Vision Matter for Pilots?
Pilots rely heavily on visual cues to navigate, communicate, and operate aircraft safely. Some critical color-dependent tasks include:
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Reading cockpit instruments – Some aviation instruments use color-coded indicators.
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Identifying runway and taxiway lights – Green, red, and white lights help pilots navigate airports safely, especially at night. Recognizing different colored lights is crucial for navigation and distinguishing runways, approach paths, and cockpit information.
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Understanding aviation charts and displays – Various colors indicate different airspaces and hazards.
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Recognizing emergency signals – Color-coded signals indicate warnings, alerts, and navigational guidance. Color signal controls are essential for pilot safety, particularly for those with color vision deficiencies.
Because of these factors, the FAA has strict color vision requirements to ensure pilots can accurately perceive the necessary visual cues.
FAA Color Vision Requirements for Pilots
The FAA requires pilots to demonstrate adequate color vision as part of the medical certification process. Color vision impairment can impact pilot eligibility, but advancements in testing have allowed individuals with varying degrees of color vision impairment to pursue aviation careers. The medical standards themselves are set out in 14 CFR Part 67, which requires the ability to perceive those colors necessary for the safe performance of airman duties — the same wording applies to all three classes. When you apply for a First-Class, Second-Class, or Third-Class Medical Certificate, an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) will screen your color vision using one of the tests the FAA currently accepts.
FAA-Approved Color Vision Tests
Since January 1, 2025, the FAA accepts only computer-based color vision tests for pilot screening, and its guidance states that a test which is not specifically listed is not acceptable. The accepted tests are:
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Color Assessment & Diagnosis test (CAD) – A computer-based assessment of color discrimination.
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Rabin Cone Contrast Test (RCCT) – A computer-based test of cone contrast sensitivity.
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Waggoner Computerized Color Vision Test (WCCVT) – A computer-based color vision test.
Before 2025 the FAA accepted plate tests such as Ishihara, Dvorine and Richmond HRR, along with the Farnsworth Lantern Test (FALANT). Those tests are no longer part of current FAA pilot color vision screening, though limitations issued under them remain on existing certificates. Not every AME’s office has one of the three computer-based instruments on site, so it is worth asking before you book. Our guide to the current FAA color vision testing process covers each test in more detail.
If you pass any one of the accepted tests, you meet the FAA’s color vision requirement with no limitation — at any class of medical certificate — and no Letter of Evidence or Statement of Demonstrated Ability (SODA) is needed. If you do not pass, your certificate can carry a color vision limitation:
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Limitation #104 – "Valid for day visual flight rules (VFR) only" – Under the current process, an AME issues a third class certificate carrying this limitation rather than deferring or denying the application. Daytime VFR flying is still permitted.
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Legacy limitations #16 and #17 – Certificates issued under the previous system may still carry these older wordings. If you hold one, ask your AME how it applies to you now.
What If You Fail the Initial Color Vision Test?
Not passing one test doesn’t mean your aviation career is over! The three accepted tests measure color vision in different ways, and not passing one of them does not mean you will not pass another. There is no published limit on how many of the accepted tests you may attempt, and passing any one of them clears the requirement.
Alternate FAA Color Vision Testing Options
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Take another accepted test – If you do not pass one of the three computer-based tests, you can be tested on another. Passing any one of them satisfies the requirement, with no limitation attached.
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Ophthalmologist or Optometrist Evaluation – Some eye specialists have CAD, RCCT or WCCVT equipment. Ask your AME first whether and how a result from an outside provider can be used for your exam.
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Color Vision Limitation Review – This is the FAA process that now applies to pilots holding a color vision limitation, set out in FAA guidance revised January 29, 2025. Your AME or the FAA can tell you what it involves in your case.
The older practical routes — the Operational Color Vision Test, the Medical Flight Test, the light-gun signal test and the Statement of Demonstrated Ability (SODA) — do not appear in current FAA color vision guidance. Because the detail of the current review can change, confirm the steps with your AME and with the FAA rather than relying on older write-ups. Many pilots who do not pass the first test they take go on to pass another accepted test and hold a certificate with no color vision limitation at all. You can read what happens at each stage in our walkthrough of the current FAA color vision testing process.
Color Vision Medical Flight Test (MFT): A Historical Route
The Color Vision Medical Flight Test (MFT) was a practical, in-flight evaluation used under the pre-2025 system. A pilot who did not pass a plate test could be assessed in real-world flying conditions on their ability to identify colored lights, navigation charts and instrument displays, and a successful result could lead to the color vision limitation being removed. The MFT does not appear in current FAA color vision guidance. It is described here only because pilots who went through it before 2025 may still hold paperwork that refers to it, and because limitations and authorizations issued under the old system remain on existing certificates. If that is your situation, your AME is the right person to ask what your paperwork means today.
Operational Color Vision Test (OCVT): A Historical Route
The Operational Color Vision Test (OCVT) was the other practical route under the previous system, and it was usually paired with the light-gun signal test at a control tower. It asked the pilot to identify and interpret colored lights, signals and displays in operational conditions. Like the MFT, the OCVT does not appear in current FAA color vision guidance. The mechanism that now applies to pilots carrying a color vision limitation is the FAA’s Color Vision Limitation Review, in guidance revised January 29, 2025. Pilots who completed an OCVT or hold a SODA or Letter of Evidence from before 2025 should ask their AME how that documentation is treated now, rather than assuming it still works the same way.
Can Color-Blind Pilots Still Fly Commercially?
Yes! Many pilots with mild to moderate color vision deficiency have successful careers in aviation. If you pass any one of the accepted FAA color vision tests, you can qualify for a First-Class Medical Certificate with no color vision limitation, which is required for airline pilots.
Obtaining a Second-Class Medical Certificate is crucial for those aiming to become commercial pilots. This certificate ensures that pilots are fit for safe operation during commercial flights and includes passing color vision tests.
However, those who do not pass any of the accepted tests may fly with a limitation instead. A Third-Class Medical Certificate (for private pilots) carrying limitation #104, "Valid for day visual flight rules (VFR) only", still allows daytime VFR general aviation flying. How a color vision limitation affects a first or second class certificate is a question for your AME and the FAA — only they can determine eligibility in an individual case, against the standards in 14 CFR Part 67.
Famous Pilots With Color Blindness
Surprisingly, several well-known pilots have flown successfully despite color vision deficiencies. While FAA regulations are strict today, many earlier aviators found ways to adapt and excel.
One famous case is William “Billy” Bishop, a World War I flying ace. Despite a reported color vision deficiency, he became one of Canada’s greatest pilots.
These stories highlight that while color blindness presents challenges, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t pursue aviation.
How to Know If You Have Color Vision Deficiency
If you’re unsure about your color vision, the best step is to get a medical examination before beginning flight training. Many people with mild CVD aren’t even aware they have it until they take an FAA medical exam.
You can check your color vision at:
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An optometrist or ophthalmologist’s office – ask specifically whether they administer one of the tests the FAA accepts (CAD, RCCT or WCCVT), since a plate test result no longer counts for FAA screening.
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Online color vision tests (though these are not official, they can give you an idea).
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An Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) during your initial medical exam.
If you find out you have CVD, don’t be discouraged! A plate test result on its own tells you very little about how you will do on the tests the FAA now uses. Work with your AME to arrange one of the accepted tests and find the best path forward.
Can You Become a Pilot If You’re Color Blind? Final Thoughts
Being color blind doesn’t mean you have to give up on your aviation dreams. While the FAA does have strict color vision standards, there are three accepted tests, and passing any one of them qualifies you for a medical certificate with no color vision limitation.
If you’re serious about becoming a pilot:
✔ Get tested early to understand your color vision status.
✔ If you don’t pass one test, ask about the others – the CAD, RCCT and WCCVT are all accepted, and passing any one clears the requirement.
✔ Consult an AME for guidance on your specific case – only an AME or the FAA can determine eligibility. Our walkthrough of the current FAA color vision testing process explains what to expect.
Many successful pilots have overcome color vision challenges and built rewarding careers in aviation. If flying is your passion, don’t let color blindness stop you—there may be a way forward!
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