Getting hired with a S.O.D.A.

[Northern Lights]

I was wondering which regional airlines accept pilots with Statements of Demonstrated Ability (SODAs)?

I have a First class medical with a waiver for color blindness and am curious to know if I will be disqualified because of it.

How about these:
Horizon
Air Wisconsin
Pinnacle
Mesaba
Comair
ASA
Skywest

And any others…

When I talk to COEX back in 2000 they said “no waivers.”

Thanks in advance for your responses.

 

[English]

Pinnacle and Coex - NO
American Eagle - YES

The rest, I don't know. Sorry. American Eagle is your best shot.

 

[mooser]

I was wondering which regional airlines accept pilots with Statements of Demonstrated Ability (SODAs)?

I have a First class medical with a waiver for color blindness and am curious to know if I will be disqualified because of it.

How about these:
Horizon
Air Wisconsin
Pinnacle
Mesaba
Comair
ASA
Skywest

And any others…

When I talk to COEX back in 2000 they said “no waivers.”

Thanks in advance for your responses.

Well they all are supposed too, otherwise it is discrimination...I know of someone who has one (no it isn't me)...PM me for more info

 

[English]

I recently helped a friend get hired at American Eagle. This pilot has a SODA for deafness in one ear.

About two years ago we went to a job fair that almost every regional airline attended. There was a forum in which those in charge of hiring at various regionals hosted. I asked what each airline's policy was regarding hiring pilots with a first class medical and a SODA. Several of these hiring reps had NO IDEA was a SODA was. After I described it, most said no, they would not hire a pilot with a SODA. American Eagle was the only one that said yes. Being the trouble-maker that I am, I informed the group that if they didn't hire a fully qualified pilot who had the blessing of the FAA to hold a first class medical, they were in violation of the ADA. Most were unfazed.

I read somewhere over the weekend that an Island Air pilot with one eye (and a SODA) recently sued Island Air and won for violations of this act. Maybe precedent-setting?

 

[mmmdonut]

I don't think suing your airline employer wins you any friends.

 

[Hose]

I know of two pilots hired at Comair with a SODA. Good Luck!!

 

[mooser]

Great Lakes is also one of those GREAT airlines that understands minor disabilities and will employee you with a SODA

Mooser

 

[328dude]

A SODA is a alternate testing standard that is issued by the FAA for those that to not meet the criteria for normal testing standards. It's not a waiver. What does it waive? You still got your medical right?

 

[mooser]

A SODA is a alternate testing standard that is issued by the FAA for those that to not meet the criteria for normal testing standards. It's not a waiver. What does it waive? You still got your medical right?

Excellent Point

Mooser

 

[ExFokkerFlyer]

I have a SODA for color blindness... there is no reason an employer would even know about it unless they give you a physical. Even with that, the other guys are right, you would have a winnable law suit on your hands. The only person you will have to show it to is your AME when you get your medical. The fact that you have one shouldn't, though sometimes does with some AME's, even show up on your actual medical certificate.



Don't worry about it, apply...

 

[CWASaab]

from 328 dude:

"A SODA is a alternate testing standard that is issued by the FAA for those that to not meet the criteria for normal testing standards. It's not a waiver. What does it waive? You still got your medical right?"

I'm certainly no aviation medicine expert, but I would have to agree, after all the acronym stands for Statement of Demonsrated Ability.

 

[328dude]

I have gone around and around on this with people before. A SODA is not a waiver. If someone can convince me what it waives, I might switch my stance on this. I have one myself which is in the process of getting removed. Had to convince a FED that I could see the light gun. I did.

If your SODA is for slight colorblindness, or in my case, you can't read those dot charts, then talk to your ME. The FAA approved a slew of diffrent test's to test your color field ability without using the cards. The lantern test is what you can use instead of those **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** cards. If you pass that, you can have it removed.

If an employer refused employment because they state a SODA is a waiver, have them explain it to you what it waives and how is it waiving any part of my medical performance.

 

[JobHuntr]

I know an Air Wisconsin CA who is colorblind.

 

[wings421]

I have a SODA for color blindness... there is no reason an employer would even know about it unless they give you a physical. Even with that, the other guys are right, you would have a winnable law suit on your hands. The only person you will have to show it to is your AME when you get your medical. The fact that you have one shouldn't, though sometimes does with some AME's, even show up on your actual medical certificate.

Not quite true. Your medical is NOT valid without the SODA attached. So, when your future employer asks for a copy of your medical, you must also show a copy of your SODA. NO big deal though. If you want to totally rid yourself of the problem, apply for a Letter of Competence. This letter is only shown to the AME at the medical exam and describes to them that you have passed alternate tests for color vision defects. It is not required for your medical to be valid and you don't have to carry it with you. If you are a member of the EAA or AOPA, I'd try applying though them. I tried for months on my own, then wrote a letter some months later to the EAA medical division, I had my letter within a week. Good luck.

 

[328dude]

Error: You don't have to have your SODA attached to your medical. Only when you renew your medical.

Straight from Silverman himself.

 

[701EV]

If you have a First Class Medical and thats what they require they should hire you. The soda does not take away from your First Class Medical. You do not have to show them the SODA. Mine is in a safety deposit box.

I was offered employment at ASA, American Eagle, Piedmont, and Mesa all at the same time.

I have a First Class Medical with a SODA. During the interviews they didn't even ask about it.

701EV

 

[701EV]

Also the SODA is not a waiver.

701EV

 

[Long-Gonner]

Add PSA to the list for airlines that hire pilots with a SODA.

 

[BRA]

add colgan too

 

[Aeronca]

If you want to totally rid yourself of the problem, apply for a Letter of Competence. This letter is only shown to the AME at the medical exam and describes to them that you have passed alternate tests for color vision defects. It is not required for your medical to be valid and you don't have to carry it with you. If you are a member of the EAA or AOPA, I'd try applying though them. I tried for months on my own, then wrote a letter some months later to the EAA medical division, I had my letter within a week. Good luck.

Did you already have a SODA when you applied for your letter of competence? I always thought once you had the SODA it stayed with you.

What type of alternate test did you have to take?

Thanks.

 

[wings421]

Under the words Statement of Demonstrated Ability the sentence says that the SODA should be attached to your medical certificate.

As far as the letter of competence, no additional testing required, they just sent me the letter and said I didn't need the SODA anymore, just to present the letter of competence at the medical exam.

 

[Northern Lights]

Thanks for all of the positive responses! I guess that I errored when I referred to my SODA as a "Waiver."

I love the language that they use on the thing though,

Physical Defects: Defective Color Vision

When going through the application process and providing colpies of your certificates would you recommend including a copy of the SODA?

I was up front about it last time, and they didn't care.

P.S. One thing that I learned early on in life, is that if you are color blind, you take your girlfriend with you when you shop for clothes!

I've picked out some hideous shirt/pants/tie combos when trying to shop solo.

 

[Aeronca]

P.S. One thing that I learned early on in life, is that if you are color blind, you take your girlfriend with you when you shop for clothes!

I've picked out some hideous shirt/pants/tie combos when trying to shop solo.

As long as she's not mad at you. One day my wife sent me to work with green pants and a purple shirt. It was a long day.

 

[JB74]

OH, and when you go out with your buddies drinking for the night.

She will dress you up like a freakin clown! Trust me, I know!

 

[Crucianpilot]

S.O.D.A.

I have held a S.O.D.A for 18 years and have never had a problem with any airline I have applied to, interviewed or worked for. Simply stated, it allows you to hold a first class medical because you have demonstrated the ability to operate an aircraft with the limitation you may have. In my case, defective distant vision in one eye(>20/200). You should not be denied employment because of it. Period.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

I read somewhere over the weekend that an Island Air pilot with one eye (and a SODA) recently sued Island Air and won for violations of this act. Maybe precedent-setting?

I understand someone in the company made the mistake of telling this individual that they "didn't need any one-eyed pilots". Not too hard to make a case out of that. A one-eyed pilot wins a case for not getting hired at a 121 outfit for being half-blind. You should take comfort in the fact that these will be the same lawyers that will be defending AQ against the ALPA suit for scope violations, and there's already a precedent for that one.

I am amazed (well, maybe not) that the FAA would grant a 1st class medical to a person with an eye or an ear missing. I do believe the ADA line of common sense has been crossed.

English, are you willing to help that same person get on with AQ? When you are a Captain, and that buddy is in the right seat, and the choice is hearing you or the radios at every turn, how are you going to like that? While I'm sure, your intentions are the best, I would be curious to know how the Captains at Eagle are observing your friend in the missed radio call department. Perhaps this case is working out fine, but I think the precidence has been set on the wrong side of the INTENT of the ADA.

 

[English]

Well Hugh, I can tell you first-hand from having flown with this person that the deafness in one ear makes absolutely no difference at all. I have spoken with several Eagle captains that have flown with this pilot as well, and they didn't even know there was an issue.

Hugh, it is called a statement of demonstrated ability because the pilot has to demonstrate they can still function as a pilot in spite of their "disability". If a person has been granted a SODA, then the FAA deems them capable of exercising their first class medical privileges. It is not a statement of disability, it is a statement of ability. So, if the FAA deems the person worthy, then how can a corporation stay within the guideline of the ADA and not hire them? Seems pretty clear cut to me.

 

[Thedude]

I have had a SODA for color eficiency for about 8 years now and my first class medical even says "no limitations"... I have to agree it is not a wavier

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

I can tell you first-hand from having flown with this person that the deafness in one ear makes absolutely no difference at all.

So, if the FAA deems the person worthy, then how can a corporation stay within the guideline of the ADA and not hire them? Seems pretty clear cut to me.

It's not the company that I question. It's the FAA for deeming a sensory deprived individual safe to be the captain of a passenger airplane.
As I said, perhaps the case you are familiar with might be working out fine, but I firmly believe the intent of the ADA is not to allow such things to occur. Public safety is sacrificed here for the sake of not intruding on the unfortunate person's "right" to work. You can't tell me a person who has no sight in one eye can keep an adequate VFR scan going and detect periferal conflicts as fast as the average person with binocular vision. Exactly how does that person "demonstrate" their ability? A set of circles for depth perception? Again, we've lost sight (heheh) of the reason for the ADA.

 

[English]

I can't answer your question, Hugh, about the one-eyed individual. I don't know that much about SODAs, just what I have experienced with my friend. However, I do know that if a pilot demonstrates competency with the FAA, that's the end of it. There are many good pilots out there with no fingers, deafness in one ear, colorblindness, and even one pilot (now deceased, I believe, ex Eagle and American) with no legs. The ADA was created to protect people from discrimination. I say if a person can do their job despite their handicap, they should be allowed to do it. If the FAA gives them a SODA, they've proven their worth and you can't second guess them.

There's my advocacy for the day