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vision requirement for SNA confirmed
- Thread starter wink
- Start date
Cougar_62
Just another frustrated observer.
Haven't posted for a while, but still reading to get info. My daughter is working on getting an appointment to the Naval Academy for the class of 2011. From all the information we've seen, it's a total disqualification to have PRK before actually getting into the Academy. Once you're there, they'll give you PRK on the Navy's dime if you're otherwise qualified to be a pilot.
Does that jive with what everyone else has been seeing?
Does that jive with what everyone else has been seeing?
pdx
HSM Pilot
I don't think it is a disqualification to have it done before, but there is the issue of age. Most 17-18 year olds aren't good candidates for PRK yet. The Navy will pay for PRK at the Academy. I am not from the Academy, but several of my classmates had PRK done there. At OCS, everyone that had PRK did it on their own before applying.
TheDotster
New Member
I looked at the NAMI site and it says 20/400 is now accepted for aviators...this might seem like a stupid question but is that true? I mean can you really get a waiver for 20/400 and still be a pilot or navigator?
Poorest eyesight for pilot, uncorrected, is 20/40. They can be as bad as 20/400 and be waived if you wear and obtain a waiver for soft contact lens. PRK surgery to correct to better then 20/40 will also get you qualified for pilot.
Naval Flight Officers, not navigators, can have eyesight worse then 20/400 and correct it to 20/20 with glasses or contacts.
We were told they are no longer issuing the contact lense waiver. Have you heard differently?
This was sent out for the Navy Options in the NROTC program according to our LT in charge of aviation stuff. He is a sub guy so he could be mistaken, but thats what we were told.
Just to keep things straight, I was talking about the Navy. The Marines (PLC aviation) got on board with the SCL wavier before the Navy and may have a different rule even now. As to changes to the Navy waiving SCL, I don't know. Since I am a Reservist, I get in to the office just a couple days a month. I haven't been into the office for a few weeks. I will check on it next time I call the OPO.
as far as I can tell the Marines are still good to go with the SCL. Im a PLC air contract with the SCL waiver. I did juniors this past summer.
There are a lot of subtle differences in the requirements for admission to USNA vice going the OCS or other commissioning sources route. It is a very peculiar place with their own rules. I guess you just have to drink the Kool-Aid sometimes.
What Cougar_62 was told is correct. I know several people that are receiving PRK, paid for by the Navy, to qualify for Aviation. It will only be paid for if you attend the USNA. ROTC and OCS'ers have to pay their own way to better eyesight.
ACTUALLY, you were informed correctly. When I was deciding to go to USNA and for the entire time I was there you could not get PRK on your own. If you had it before you got there you were not elligable for pilot. They are giving PRK to EVERYONE that wants it there free of charge, SWO's included, so there is no reason to get it on your own dime. I don't know why this was the case, but it was. This was the 2000-2004 range, so I don't know what their current policy is. As for the guy that said you were misinformed, those dates are for OCS or ROTC. USNA has their own aviation board with its own set of rules. Don't call people out when you are speaking out of your scope of understanding.
Can't remember the exact timeline, but as I recall there was no such thing as a PRK waiver for aviation in 2000-2001. Certainly not for OCS guys.
TheDotster
New Member
So you can actually have eyesight as bad as 20/400 and get a waiver for SCL, so that means you can wear contacts and be a pilot? Or do you have to get it corrected later, or will they even let you get it corrected later with PRK?