Any one here flying with a special issuance / SODA

[MARZ]

Going for my annual treadmill test (special issuance for a stent requires it) and I was reading up on the special issuance and came across SODA (statement of demonstrated ability)  Which looks to address the same but would seem to alleviate the annual requirement of a stress test for a third class license.

Anyone else have experience they could share?

[jwilkins]

I have very slight red / green color deficiency. It makes it difficult to pick out matching socks in low light conditions.

When I got my student pliot cert and medical I did not pass the colored charts test in the AME's office; I missed too many of the hidden numbers in the charts.

My choices were:

1. Accept  a restriction for no night flying.

2. Go to an airport tower and set up a test to watch the colored light gun signals to attempt to qualify for a SODA.

AOPA made me aware of this third option:

3. Get an extensive eye exam including the extended version of the color charts test. I passed the FAA criteria for the extended test version (passed X number of Y charts) and received a letter of Alternate Compliance. For color deficiency this letter from the FAA medical folks allows me to skip the color test during my medical for any class of airman certificate.

It was better than a SODA becuse it is considered full conformance to the standards, just using an alternate test. I'm not sure how a SODA could be applied to a medical test where they are looking for curent data on a condition.

Jim