PRACTICAL COLOR VISION TESTS FOR ALL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL APPLICANTS: EN ROUTE CENTER AND TERMINAL FACILITIES

Two practical color vision tests were developed and validated for use in screening Air Traffic Control Specialists (ATCS) applicants for work at en route center or terminal facilities. The development of the tests involved careful reproduction/simulation of color-coded materials from the most demanding, safety critical color task performed in each type of facility. The tests were evaluated using 106 subjects with normal color vision and 85 with color vision deficiency. The en route center test required the identification of critical red/black coding in computer printing and handwriting on flight progress strips. The terminal option test simulated red/green/white aircraft lights that must be identified in night ATC tower operations. Color coding is a non-redundant source of safety-critical information in both tasks. The high job-relevance , validity, and reliability of these tests increases the effectiveness and fairness of ATC color vision testing.

• Record URL:
  http://www.faa.gov/data_research/research/med_humanfacs/oamtechreports/1990s/media/AM95-13.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Civil Aeromedical Institute

  Office of Aviation Medicine, 6500 South MacArthur Blvd
  Oklahoma City, OK  United States  73128
• Authors:
  • Mertens, H W
  • Milburn, N J
  • Collins, W E
• Publication Date: 1995-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 15 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air traffic control; Air traffic controllers; Color blindness; Color vision; Personnel; Tests
• Old TRIS Terms: Aviation personnel; Test evaluation
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Operations and Traffic Management; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00719164
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT-FAA-AM-95-13
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 24 1996 12:00AM