Originally Posted by
rickair7777
I think you need good color vision until they replace all the PAPIs and VASIs with systems which don't use color...but that's a lot of money. they would also have to change some signs and markings on runways and taxiways.
There are most likely better ways to test for it than the flip-cards; more operationally oriented.
I'm all for helping people out, but the current crackdown was in response to that FDX crash in FL...I don't think we can just gloss over the safety issues here, some of them are real. There are some people who can't be professional pilots for a variety of reasons, and severe color deficiency probably needs to be one of them. I do think they can do a better job of separating those whose deficiency really impairs them operationally from those who do fine flying but can't tell chartreuse from green.
The FDX crash was based on bad science... The 2 other crew members both had the same view of the runway, and both had normal color vision. Neither of them noticed a thing. The problem there was fatigue, not color vision. There have been articles with PAPI tests and it has been proven that ALL, not just color vision deficients, but normals as well, had a much less error rate with use of a "modified white". I believe the white was more intense, and cooler in color temp. I don't think changing the bulbs with these whites as they burn out is going to burn anyone's wallet. Yup, normal's made errors too. One major point in Dr Pape's articles is the use of bad science, and biased unquestioned judgement - such as in the FDX crash. They test how well people discern color in the aviation environment, not how safe or how efficiently they perform the actual task of flying. There are guys on there with 20+ years in Airbus's that have severe deficiencies and work out of Australia (where the standard was overturned). They fly into London for a night on their 200 - 400 seat jet, but aren't allowed to take a Cessna out after the sun goes down once they get there because of the strict regulations... It's ironic, nonsensical, and exemplifies the problem with this standard. Why not just change the colors of PAPI's? I think pretty much everyone can see Blue and White difference. Maybe that could drop the error rate to 0. But again, the PAPI is just redundant... The shape of the runway and 3d environment conveys most of the information required for a safe landing. Regardless, this is a great thing for people that have the 'problem', and the majority that do only have the mild to moderate deutran deficiency... Which isn't all that different from normal color vision anyway. (Current office based color vision tests only determine those who have ANY deficiency at all.. not how mild or extreme.)
Oh - and I also remember reading something about condensation on the PAPI lights that can make the red look pink (closer to the whites), and same thing with certain transition angles... Something to consider.