pass a flight medical examination in order to fly an aircraft. I bet few pilots know what those minimum standards are. (They’re outlined in CFR Part 67.) Depending on your medical classifica-
tion level, you could have different mini- mum visual standards from other pilots. Class 1 and 2 candidates will need 20/20 visual acuity and 20/40 near vision, whereas Class 3 candidates will need only 20/40 visual acuity and 20/40 near vision. You may use corrective lenses to meet these standards, and if you do, you’ll likely be required to have those lenses available or wear them when exercising the privi- leges of your airman certificate. The standards change just a bit if you’re an airman and use the basic medical that’s authorized by the FAA within US borders. Those visual acuity minimums are similar to what’s required to pass a basic driver’s license exam. Because state vision stan- dards can vary, I won’t try to outline them
here, but keep in mind that those stan- dards won’t be as strict as a pilot medical Class 1, 2, or 3 standard.
Wake-Up Call
I fly a lot. Some people around my local air- port might say I really fly a lot. I love to fly. I especially enjoy the sound of a big-bore Continental engine and the smell of avgas! So you can imagine how distressing it was when, over the past year or two, I noticed I had difficulty seeing aircraft my ADS-B had no trouble seeing. When I went for my annual Class 2
flight physical, my aviation medical exam- iner (AME) confirmed what I already knew but didn’t want to admit: it was time for a vision correction.
I had the procedure done recently to
correct my vision, and the difference is unbelievable. Colors are more vibrant, and objects are clearer by many measures. Our vision changes so gradually sometimes
that we don’t notice the difference and for- get what we could see before.
It’s Up to You There are three parts to the VFR equation. The government sets the standard on flight rules. AMEs make sure you meet the mini- mum physical standards for a pilot. And the third part? That’s up to you. Do all you can to safeguard your vision. Wear sunglasses when necessary. Put
on eye gear when working in the hangar or workshop, or when you’re on the flight line. Protect your eyes from chemicals. For a pilot or mechanic, nothing is more
important physically than your ability to see. To do the things we love to do—like go fast and look down on all things mortal— we have to be able to see, and see well. The next time you go flying or prepare
an aircraft for flight, remember the “V” in VFR. You can’t do it if you can’t see it. Fugere tutum!
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