Details:

Creators:
Milburn, Nelda J. ; Gildea, Kevin M. ; Perry, Deborah L. ; Roberts, Carrie A. ; Peterson, Linda
Milburn, Nelda J. ; Gildea, Kevin M. ; Perry, Deborah L. ; Roberts, Carrie A. ; Peterson, Linda Less -
Corporate Creators:
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Subject/TRT Terms:
[+]
Approach Color Blindness Feasibility Analysis Human Subject Testing Landing Aids Light Emitting Diodes Vision Tests
Publication/ Report Number:
DOT/FAA/AM-14/6
Resource Type:
Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:
United States
Corporate Publisher:
United States. Office of Aerospace Medicine
Abstract:
To save energy, the FAA is planning to convert from incandescent lights to light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in

precision approach path indicator (PAPI) systems. Preliminary work on the usability of LEDs by color vision-waivered pilots (Bullough, Skinner, & Milburn, 2012) indicated that red weak (protan) individuals made a few

errors identifying red. Hence, this follow-up study explored whether clustering LEDs of different chromaticities

of the same hue would aid users with color vision deficiencies (CVD).

Participants, aged 18-33 years, included 45 with normal color vision (NCV). Additionally, 48 were diagnosed

using the Colour Assessment and Diagnosis (CAD) test as 27 deutans (including five subjects with potential

deutan deficiencies), 11 protans, two tritans, and eight subjects evidencing both red-green and yellow-blue

deficiencies. Participants completed the Dvorine pseudoisochromatic plate test, the Signal Light Gun Test (which

is the secondary test for issuing color vision waivers), the Cone Contrast Test, and a simulation of the PAPI

system. Participants were asked to name the colors of a 4-light, color-coded PAPI simulation using typical red (R)

and white (W) light configurations resulting in five possible patterns (WWWW, WWWR, WWRR, WRRR, and

RRRR) composed of either incandescent lights, or clusters of three monochromatic or three heterochromatic

5mm cylindrical LEDs.

Analyses did not indicate any significant differences between the incandescent, monochromatic, and

heterochromatic conditions. A between-group analysis found that a group comprised of those with both red-green

and yellow-blue deficiencies performed significantly worse than all other color vision groups. Performance was

not significantly different among all other groups. The protan group performed perfectly on all light sources, even

on the 16 trials without comparative color luminance cues.

This finding suggests that color vision-waivered pilots will perform the same on red and white LED PAPI

systems as with the current incandescent system.


Format:
PDF
Collection(s):
FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute US Transportation Collection
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:c8c529257219113b3aefe290f8a33b1f9eb1f8564c150f6ca59a7df92f53b06c
Download URL:
https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/27427/dot_27427_DS1.pdf
File Type:

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