CASA has proposed a new solution for assessing the impact of colour-vision deficiency (CVD) in pilots.
Pilots with CVD have been subject to a three-stage testing process in the past, which organisations such as the Colour Vision Deficiency Pilots Association (CVDPA) have long railed against because it was purely diagnostic.
Now CASA is proposing that the impacts of CVD be assessed in flight also.
"Research in recent years has shown relying on diagnostic tests alone may be unnecessarily limiting when considering the impact of colour vision deficiency on aviation safety," said CASA Director of Aviation Safety and CEO Shane Carmody in his February CASA Briefing newsletter.
"Advances in technology, operating techniques and human factors training can now mitigate many of the safety risks of colour vision deficiency. Technology to assist pilots has developed significantly and the impact of colour vision deficiency on aviation safety should take these changes into account.
"These factors have been recognised overseas, most recently in New Zealand where a new approach to colour vision deficiency came into effect in May 2019, which includes an operational colour vision assessment. This assessment comprises a ground-based assessment and an in-flight assessment which looks at a pilot’s ability to interpret visual information. A separate assessment is done for day flying and for night flying."
The CVDPA has been critical of the Aviation Colour Perception Standard that was put in place around 90 years ago, saying the testing was "inherently flawed" and that there is now evidence that CVD doesn't impact a pilot's operational ability to the extent that CASA has presumed.
CASA has said it is working on an Australian operational assessment system, which it hopes to complete by mid-2020, but in the meantime is prepared to accept the NZ test in lieu of the third tier of testing currently in place.