Air crew vision requirement changes

[old medic]

There have been various small articles appearing since July that indicate
the vision requirements for aircrew selection will change.

Examples:

http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/site/newsroom/crew/2007_07/04_e.asp#s3

The Maple Leaf  2007-08-22  Volume 10, No. 24
New vision standards for CF aircrew candidates
http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/community/mapleleaf/article_e.asp?id=3670
Also re-printed word for word in the Fall 07 (Vol. 31 #3) edition of Airforce Magazine.

The DRDC flight surgeon site is still showing the 2002 standards, has anyone seen anything newer come
down the pipe yet ?

Canada’s Air Force has recently approved updated vision standards for aircrew candidates.

Under the new standards, applicants who wear glasses or contact lenses to provide modest correction to their vision are now eligible for consideration, whereas previously, applicants required uncorrected vision. The decision to adjust the minimum vision standard is based on the findings of a scientific review by a third party contractor with oversight from Defence Research and Development Canada.

“The updated standards are based on scientific measurements that more accurately reflect the reality of operator requirements,” said Chief of Air Staff Medical Advisor, Captain(N) Cyd Courchesne. “This is good news for the Canadian Forces as well as for many aircrew candidates, who in the past did not quite meet the previous vision standards.”

The previous standards were based on a Second World War-era policy that uncorrected vision was necessary to fly combat aircraft, however, this policy was not substantiated by scientific research. It was decided that the vision standard for aircrew candidates should be based on modern scientific testing in order to be as fair and as inclusive as possible to all those desiring to become CF aircrew.

Within the aircrew occupations, the new vision standards have the most impact for prospective pilots. There will, however, be no change in the expected flying performance of pilots because of the adjusted standards.

Applicants who have had corrective laser eye surgery are, however, not eligible for entry into the pilot occupation.

The CF has not had any difficulty attracting pilot applicants in the past several years but in the future, the new vision standard will result in a larger pool of applicants and a more competitive selection process.

It looks like slightly correction will be allowed, but it's very clear that surgery is going to remain a no-go.

 

[niceasdrhuxtable]

This is a bit old, actually. The article is somewhat misleading too as the vision change only affects pilots.

 

[old medic]

it is old in one sense, the two articles are several months old, and the study it alludes too
was done in 2005;
http://pubs.drdc-rddc.gc.ca/inbasket/smcfadden.050720_1451.Final%20CR%202005-142.pdf

I'm just curious as to where this "approved updated" standard is. 

 

[aesop081]

I'm just curious as to where this "approved updated" standard is. 

Flight surgeons have them....the one here on the Wing showed them to me earlier this week

 

[old medic]

I'll dig around next week then.  It's probably another case of out-of-date public website.

 

[MedicStudent]

Any ideas on quantitatively what "slight" is going to be?

 

[I_am_John_Galt]

Any ideas on quantitatively what "slight" is going to be?

Fill your boots: http://www.toronto.drdc-rddc.gc.ca/medical/visreq_e.html

All there, except not yet updated to the new criteria: the new initial Pilot standard is V2 (i.e., same as SAR Tech, CCEP. Helicop & former Pilots in that link).

 

[aesop081]

"slight" is going to be?

Its not a question of "is going to be"

The changes have been made and implemented already.