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If you are monocular, if one of your eyes is truly or legally blind or has a substandard vision, due to a condition, like an amblyopia, but you still want to be a commercial pilot and obtain Class 1 Medical certificate in New Zealand, please proceed further.

If you haven’t already done so, please first read the introduction and learn about my eye-sight condition first, to understand the situation and assess if it’s relevant to you.

Please note, that I have not gone through the route of obtaining NZ Class 1 Medical myself. My conclusions are based on reading the medical manuals and communication with AMEs.

Class 1	Monocularity	Substandard Vision in One Eye
Visual acuity standards in the “bad” eye	Uncorrected 6/60 (incl.) or below	Above uncorrected 6/60 (excl.) and below corrected 6/9
Initial issue	🟠 unlikely	🟢 possible
Revalidation / Renewal issue	🟡 possible for experienced applicants	🟢 possible

New Zealand CAA follows ICAO standards in distinguishing between applicants with monocularity and those with substandard vision in one eye. They also seem to exercise a distinctively different degree of flexibility towards these two groups.
The base Class 1 standards for vision are defined in CAR (Civil Aviation Rules) 67.103 (m). This flexibility for applicants unable to meet those standards is defined in NZ CAA Medical Examiners’—Medical Manual, Part 3.11 Ophthalmology.

Substandard Vision in One Eye

Section 3.11.14 of the Medical Manual defines substandard vision as following:

Substandard vision in one eye exists, by definition, when that eye uncorrected vision is better than 6/60 but cannot be corrected to the standard applicable to the class of certificate that is applied for [Note: for Class 1 it is 6/9]

A class 1 certificate may be issued provided that the following conditions are met:

• The uncorrected distance visual acuity in the good eye is 6/12 or better; and
• The corrected distance visual acuity is 6/6 or better; and
• The applicant meets the near visual acuity standard with or without correction; and
• There is no visual fields impairment; and
• The substandard vision is of more than 6 months duration and is stable;
• If requested, a medical flight test has demonstrated the applicant to be safe.

Based on this and section 3.11.14.2, Class 1 seems very much possible, but will require:

• a special eye report (on first examination and every 5 years subsequently);
• a visual field determination;
• possibly, a medical flight test.

Here I can recognize a lot of similarities with the process I have followed in Canada. If you fall into the category of one eye substandard, you may as well expect that your case will be deferred by your AME to CAA and expect a decision for a while. You may reasonably expect a medical flight test to be required if you don’t have (much) prior flying experience.

At the same time, I have to notice that, unlike Canada, the borderline visual acuity value of 6/60 in New Zealand falls into monocularity category, rather than substandard vision. Given my condition, it is uncertain whether I would fall under one or the other category of applicants, should I attempt to complete the Class 1 examination.

Monocular Applicants

Section 3.11.15 of the Medical Manual defines monocularity as following:

Functional monocularity exists, by definition, when there is severe impairment of central vision, i.e. one eye cannot see better than 6/60. The visual fields may be preserved.
True monocularity exists when one eye is missing or is non-functional. There is restriction of the visual fields that must be compensated by head movements, thus requiring full
cervical spine mobility and full visual fields in the good eye. 

It is also noted that:

A Class 1 or 3 monocular applicant who first applies for a medical certificate is unlikely to be issued with a medical certificate 1 or 3.
An experienced Class 1 or 3 monocular applicant who re-applies for a medical certificate may be issued a medical certificate in some cases if:
• The uncorrected distance visual acuity in the good eye is 6/12 or better; and
• The corrected distance visual acuity is 6/6 or better; and
• The applicant meets the near visual acuity standard with or without correction; and
• Visual fields determination demonstrates full visual field in the good eye; and
• The applicant has a full range of neck movement; and
• At least 6 months have lapsed since the monocularity condition has occurred and the
applicant is adapted to the new condition;
• The applicant has substantial flying experience

These requirements are not much different from those for substandard vision, yet issuance of Class 1 seems to be restricted to experienced candidates applying for revalidation / renewal only.

Based on this and section 3.11.15.2 will require:

• a copy of any report relating to the loss of vision in one eye;
• a special eye report (on first examination and every 5 years subsequently);
• a visual field determination.

Odd enough, I haven’t found any reference of a medical flight test required for monocular applicants.

All other monocular applicants are unlikely to be granted a Class 1 medical in New Zealand, according to the Manual. Yet, “unlikely” doesn’t equal to “impossible”. Please bear in mind that flexibility processes remain very discretionary, so there is still some (possibly, very little) chance that Class 1 will be issued after-all.

My communication with several AMEs didn’t reveal many additional details on this particular aspect, apart from the statement, that NZ CAA is “rather flexible”. This might mean that attempting an initial Class 1 with monocularity is not entirely hopeless.

If you have gone this route personally and have some experience to share, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I will be happy to update my guide to help other pilots seeking Class 1 Medical in New Zealand.