AVIATION COLOUR VISION STANDARDS A CVD Pilot’s Perspective Capt. John O’Brien CVDPA Director
“You’re colour blind. You’ll never be a commercial pilot.”
MY CAREER JOURNEY • Grade 1 Flight Instructor (Multi Engine IFR + Night) • Multi Engine Charter Pilot (Single Pilot IFR + Night) • Regional Airline Senior Base Pilot • Dash 8 Simulator Instructor • Dash 8 Check and Training Captain • CASA Flight Examiner (ATPL, IR, TR testing) • Regional Airline Head of Training & Checking • 7000 hours flight time Operational Tests Passed > 60 (all first attempt) Clinical CVD Tests Passed = 0
OVERVIEW • The ICAO CVD standard • Colour usage in aviation • The Australian CVD experience • The future – where to from here?
THE ICAO COLOUR VISION STANDARD “The applicant shall be required to demonstrate the ability to perceive readily those colours the perception of which is necessary for the safe performance of duties .” (ICAO Annex 1, Chapter 6)
What else does ICAO say about CVD standards? “The problem with colour vision standards for pilots and air traffic controllers is that there is very little information which shows the real, practical implications of colour vision defects on aviation safety.” ICAO Manual of Civil Aviation Medicine 2012, Section 11.8.29
COLOUR IN THE COCKPIT
COLOUR IN THE COCKPIT
COLOUR IN THE COCKPIT
Colour Vision vs Visual Perception What other cues does the brain use to process information? Brightness Movement
Colour Vision vs Visual Perception What other cues does the brain use to process information? Brightness Movement Symbology
Colour Vision vs Visual Perception What other cues does the brain use to process information? Brightness Movement Symbology Text
Colour Vision vs Visual Perception What other cues does the brain use to process information? Brightness Movement Symbology Text Sound Context is vital!
EFIS display in full colour EFIS display with 50% reduction in colour
THE AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCE: What does the evidence say? JUDICIAL PROCESS: 3 Pivotal Independent Reviews 1. 1987: DoA v Dr Arthur Pape 2. 1989: CAA v Jonathan Denison 3. 2015: CASA v John O’Brien
THE AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCE: What does the evidence say? 1. Arthur Marinus Pape and Secretary, Department of Aviation (9 October 1987)
THE AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCE: What does the evidence say? 2. Hugh Jonathan Denison and Civil Aviation Authority (7 April 1989) Million dollar publicly funded test case. Hearings lasted over 35 days. The tribunal considered every conceivable use of colour inside and outside the cockpit World’s largest independent examination of aviation colour vision standards.
THE AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCE: What does the evidence say? 2. Hugh Jonathan Denison and Civil Aviation Authority (7 April 1989)
THE AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCE: What does the evidence say? 3. John Gary O’Brien and Civil Aviation Safety Authority (20 February 2015)
THE AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCE: What does the evidence say? 3. John Gary O’Brien and Civil Aviation Safety Authority (20 February 2015)
THE AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCE: What does the evidence say? 3. John Gary O’Brien and Civil Aviation Safety Authority (20 February 2015) “The information obtained by CASA from [CAD] testing of Mr O’Brien is little more than that to which they were already aware, having had the diagnosis of protanopia confirmed in previous tests.” “With this pilot’s impeccable flying record one would have thought that if Mr O’Brien had encountered difficulties, there would be a record of such.” “It is significant that in all of those years when many pilots with various forms of CVD have flown there has been little research made available to us upon which that contention was based [increased safety risk].”
THE AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCE: What does the evidence say? ATSB and CASA confirms: NOT A SINGLE RECORDED INCIDENT OR ACCIDENT by a CVD pilot in Australia. Evidence given to Senate Estimates Committee, November 2013
THE AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCE: What changed in 2014?
THE AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCE: What changed in 2014? PRE - 2014 POST - 2014 PPL Yes Restricted CPL Yes Restricted NVFR Yes No IFR Yes No ATPL No Yes*
THE AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCE: What changed in 2014?
Science or Prejudice? Australian Society of Aerospace Medicine (ASAM) Annual Scientific Meeting Brisbane, Australia, September 2014
Science or Prejudice?
Science or Prejudice?
Science or Prejudice?
Science or Prejudice? Do you know what we call opinion in the absence of evidence? We call it prejudice. Michael Crichton
Science or Prejudice? Left to Right: Dr Pooshan Navathe, Dr Dougal Watson, Dr Michael Drane
THE FUTURE: Where to from here? The Civil Aviation Safety Regulations state that three levels of colour vision testing are available: CASR 67.150 (6): a. Ishihara Plate test CLINCIAL TESTS b. Farnsworth Lantern test c. A test, determined by CASA, which simulates an operational situation
THE FUTURE: An operational test…
THE FUTURE: What test do CASA use that “simulates an operational situation” ? “CASA considers the creation of new aviation- specific tests (such as the CAD test) are better suited than the previously used practical tests for detecting colour vision deficiency due to their direct relevance to aviation specific tasks and aviation safety concepts.” Evidence given to Senate Estimates Committee, February 2014 Colour Assessment and Diagnosis (CAD) Test
Prof John Barbur (CAD Test Inventor) Evidence given at O’Brien AAT Hearing: “The CAD system wasn’t designed specifically for aviation . It was designed for assessing colour vision , for detecting deficiency, both congenital as well as acquired, for quantifying the severity of colour vision loss, and for classifying accurately the class of colour deficiency involved. So from that point of view the CAD test, which is based on findings from camouflage studies some 25 years ago is an extremely good colour vision test and that’s as far as we go.” “…the CAD test was not intended in any way to use direct information on operational tasks.” “…that does not make the CAD an operational test.”
THE FUTURE: What should the testing regime be? Start (Class 1 or 2) CVD Screening (Ishihara) CVD Clinical Diagnosis (Farnsworth or CAD) CASA Flight Test (Night, IFR, ATPL etc)
THE FUTURE: What about the NZ CAA Panel Report? CAA Director Graeme Harris and the CAA Board have accepted the findings of the 2016 independent panel’s report. Restrictions such as no night flying and no IFR flying will be removed from medical certificates. A collaborative approach between all aviation industry stakeholders and the CAA is in progress for completion of the policy.
THE FUTURE: What about the NZ CAA Panel Report? Competency demonstrated by a CVD pilot in any CAA flight test, rating issue or renewal will satisfy the required ICAO standard. Changes should be in place within approximately 6 months. Consequences will include Australian CVD pilots being eligible to hold unrestricted NZ CPL and ATPL’s.
CONCLUSION Standards must be based on valid and compelling evidence. CASA should be proud of Australia’s experience over the past 25 years. The changes which occurred in 2014 need to be reversed and proper operational testing must be introduced to comply with the CASR’s. Australia can join New Zealand in becoming world leaders!
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