Last year a bloke asked about lenses and the best sunglasses before his RAF unit moved out to Iraq. To the best of my knowledge he went there OK, he was part of the ground crew.
I know 20 years ago the RAF doctors were good with KC as they picked mine up on the medical during my assesment. Medical done last of all and they could not explain how I got through the rest of the assements with such bad sight. I had also been persuaded at that time to change my proposed career choice from load master to pilot due to my size, weight and skills!
They were a bit bemused as to how I excelled at what their metrics said I should be a fighter pilot when according to the medical I was blind as a bat!
Career Issues
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Matthew_
- Champion
- Posts: 814
- Joined: Thu 13 Jul 2006 3:13 pm
- Keratoconus: Yes, I have KC
- Vision: Graft(s) and contact lenses
- Location: Gallafrey
Gareth,
This is a fascinating story! Sorry I never picked it up, until now. This thread fell into page 2 because there is so much discussion going on in the forum and being a bear of little brain, I hadn't thought to chack if anybody had responded.
So what happened to you? You say this was 20 years ago, presumably people were not as accomodating as they (have to be) are today? Or am I being predjudiced about times gone by? I take they wouldn't let you be a pilot? The eye sight standards for that a v high.
Your friend in Iraq, was he in field conditions? If so how does he manage solutions etc?
I was in Iraq too, 2003. My eyes were a lot better then and I did not know I had KC.
This is a fascinating story! Sorry I never picked it up, until now. This thread fell into page 2 because there is so much discussion going on in the forum and being a bear of little brain, I hadn't thought to chack if anybody had responded.
So what happened to you? You say this was 20 years ago, presumably people were not as accomodating as they (have to be) are today? Or am I being predjudiced about times gone by? I take they wouldn't let you be a pilot? The eye sight standards for that a v high.
Your friend in Iraq, was he in field conditions? If so how does he manage solutions etc?
I was in Iraq too, 2003. My eyes were a lot better then and I did not know I had KC.
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GarethB
- Ambassador
- Posts: 4916
- Joined: Sat 21 Aug 2004 3:31 pm
- Keratoconus: Yes, I have KC
- Vision: Graft(s) and contact lenses
- Location: Warwickshire
My sight deteriorated so much, there was no way I could go in as one of the backroom boys. Took the RAF advice and continued my studies and to re-apply once the sight sorted. By the time I was at the pilot eye standard I was well settled in civilian work which still had an element of danger. Done work down mines, oil rigs, sewers and up chimneys. All carry their share of danger, enjoyed it so much never got round to the RAF application.
As far as they guy in Iraq goes, as he has never posted again I can only assume (rightly or wrongly) that his concerns were adressed and he is now maintaining the planes out in Iraq.
As far as they guy in Iraq goes, as he has never posted again I can only assume (rightly or wrongly) that his concerns were adressed and he is now maintaining the planes out in Iraq.
Gareth
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