Jason DeCamillis of Ypsilanti, Mich., has wanted to learn to fly a plane ever since he was a child. However, he never thought that it would be possible because he is legally blind due to Retinitis Pigmentosa, a progressive condition that slowly affects his peripheral and night vision.
“I have about 20° of central vision now, which some refer to as tunnel vision,” said DeCamillis, a special education teacher and advocate.
Earlier this year, he saw a video online of a pilot who had lost his license due to the same condition, but kept on flying by taking flight lessons.
“I thought, ‘Wow. Maybe I could do the same thing.’ I had just never thought to ask,” DeCamillis said.
He contacted a local nonprofit flying club in Ann Arbor, Mich., and not only did the club agree to take him up for a discovery flight, but his instructor, Dr. Alex Arts, encouraged him to pursue flight instruction.
It’s been a few weeks now, and DeCamillis has logged over 8 hours of flight time even though he can’t ultimately get his license.
“I see this an opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream,” he said. “It’s not about overcoming disability; it’s about living my life. I’ve seen so many people forgo their dreams as a result of traditional notions of disability, and I want to share what is possible when we work together across ability — doing so isn’t charity or inspiration, it’s life.”
DeCamillis is working on an independent documentary film of his experience titled “Flying Blind,” which he hopes to complete in 2016, and is raising funds via Indiegogo to complete the project.
DeCamillis holds a visual impairment special education teaching certificate in the state of Michigan, and recently graduated from Eastern Michigan University’s Special Education Teacher Preparation Program (BA ’14), and the University of Michigan’s Educational Leadership and Policy Program (MA ’15).
Sorry, but this seems to be a kind of publicity stunt, like paraplegics who go surfing or skydiving. I am legally blind (20/200) in one eye (took an FAA medical checkride to get my certificate, thank you very much) and have no problems flying small aircraft for recreation. However, I would not have attempted to learn to fly, or drive, or ski, or ride a motorcycle etc. etc. if both my eyes were that fuzzy. This is based on the self-preservation instinct.
While monocular vision may not cut it in military flying (hard to spot that Mig coming up at 1500 kts on your weak side) people learn to adapt and compensate. My first CFI was young and inexperienced and freaked out when I explained that I had monocular vision. My first AME was crusty and calm, and explained that I could fly with waivers, other things being equal. I ended up firing the CFI and continuing with someone much more intelligent and attractive. The AME has since retired but holds a fond spot in my heart.
The takeaway is be realistic, but don’t accept “no way” from anyone as gospel.
During the early Eighties a young man from Ozark Mo named Dave Parker flew a Quicksilver MX.
The important thing was that he was Legally blind. He had virtually no forward vision and only “Fuzzy” peripheral vision.
Doug Anderson would stand by with a Radio and instruct him what to do!
They flew like this for a long time. It finally ended when they lost radio contact and he flew into a tree !!