Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T14:03:17.782Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Colour Dependence and Surplus Information in Airport Visual Aids During VFR Operations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 October 2009

Robert K. McKelvey
Robert K. McKelvey
Affiliation:
(Independent Consultant, Melbourne, Australia)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Airport visual aids are examined for failure of transfer from chromatic (i.e. normal) to achromatic viewing situations which would suggest a non-redundant use of colour, and for their information value during VFR (visual flight rule) operations as a function of the airport operating classification for which they were designed. From photographs taken under visual meteorological conditions at night, slide sequences representing the visual presentations associated with aircraft movements during taxi-out, take-off, approach and landing operations were prepared and shown to experienced pilots in a time-stressed forced-choice procedure. The results suggest that among displays in current use only the signal light from the control tower is completely colour-dependent. Also, the information value of some taxi-way and approach lighting components might be questioned. An argument is presented for a ‘building-blocks’ review of the airport visual-aids system that could in some cases result in improved relationships between economy of display content and information value.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Navigation , Volume 40 , Issue 2 , May 1987 , pp. 206 - 226
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Navigation 1987

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1Watkins, R. D. (1971). The Colour Vision Requirements of Civil Aviation Pilots. Aviation Medicine Memorandum, no. 29. Department of Civil Aviation, Melbourne.Google Scholar
2Gibbons, H. L. and Lewis, M. F. (1969). Color Signals and General Aviation. Clinical Aviation and Aerospace Medicine.Google Scholar
3McKelvey, R. K. (1978). Development of abstract measures of driver cognitive stereotypes. Australian Road Research Board Proceedings, Vol. 9, 304–312.Google Scholar
4McKelvey, R. K. (1985). Cognitive stereotypes in response to diagrammatic analogues of driving tasks. Journal of Safety Research, 16, 23–35Google Scholar
5Roscoe, S. N. and Williges, R. C. (1975). Motion relationship in aircraft attitude and guidance displays: a flight experiment. Human Factors, 17, 374 – 387.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6Williges, R. C. and Roscoe, S. N. (1975). Aircraft simulator motion and the order of merit of flight attitude and steering guidance displays.Human Factors, 17, 388 – 400.Google Scholar
7McKelvey, R. K. (1982). The information value of airport lighting systems in an achromatic environment, Aviation Medicine Memorandum, No. 35, Australian Department of Aviation.Google Scholar
8Hill, J. and Brown, G. et al. (1986). Visual Landing Simulator Study of Three Lined Runway Lighting Patterns. Aviation Research and Development Service, Federal Aviation Agency, Atlantic City, N.J.Google Scholar
9McKelvey, R. K. and Brown, G. S. (1964). Simulator Comparison of Netherlands Landing Zone Lighting Patterns. System Research and Development Service, Federal Aviation Agency, Report no. RD–64–25.Google Scholar
10McKelvey, R. K. and Brown, G. S. (1964). Analysis of Approach Lighting Configurations for Visual Transition under Category II Operating Conditions. Systems Research and Development Service, Federal Aviation Agency, Atlantic City, N.J. Report no. RD–64–154.Google Scholar
11McKelvey, R. K. and Brown, G. S. (1964). Analysis of Runway Marking Configurations for Bright Daylight Contact for Operations. Systems Research and Development Service, Federal Aviation Agency, Atlantic City, N.J. Sept. 1964. Report no. RD–64–154.Google Scholar
12McKelvey, R. K. and Brown, G. S. (1965). Effectiveness of Distance Coded Touchdown Zone Marking as a Function of Visibility. Federal Aviation Agency, Atlantic City, N.J.Google Scholar
13McKelvey, R. K. and Brown, G. S. (1966). Interaction between Runway Distance Marking Concept and Visual Range. Federal Aviation Agency, Atlantic City, N.J.Google Scholar
14McKelvey, R. K. and Brown, G. S. (1966). A Configuration Design Concept for Distance Coded Marking of Category II and III A Runways. Federal Aviation Agency, Atlantic City, N.J. Report no. RD–66–37.Google Scholar
15McKelvey, R. K.Ontiveros, R.et al (1961). Simulator Comparison of Narrow Gauge Landing Zone Lighting Patterns in Longitudinal vs Lateral Arrays. Aviation Research and Development Service, Federal Aviation Agency, Atlantic City, N.J.Google Scholar
16McKelvey, R. K. and Ontiveros, R. (1961). Longitudinal Spacing Variables in 3:2.1 patterns for Touchdown Zone Lighting. Systems Research and Development Service, Federal Aviation Agency, Atlantic City, N.J.Google Scholar
17McKelvey, R. K. and Ontiveros, R. (1962). Interaction between Visual Range and Longitudinal Spacing of Elements in Distance Coded Runway Lighting Arrays.Systems Research and Development Service, Federal Aviation Agency, Atlantic City, N.J.Google Scholar
18Siegel, S. (1956). Non - parametric Statistics for the Behavioural Sciences.McGraw - Hill: New York.Google Scholar
19 Applied Psychology Corporation (1961). Aircraft Flight Attitude Information as Indicated by Exterior Paint Patterns.Arlington, Va. Technical Report no. 3.Google Scholar
20 Applied Psychology Corporation (1961). Field Study of Threshold Ranges for Aircraft Detection and Color Identification.Arlington, Va. Technical Report no. 4.Google Scholar
21 Applied Psychology Corporation (1961). Pilot Judgements of Simulated Collisions and Misses.Arlington, Va. Technical Report no. 5Google Scholar
22 Applied Psychology Corporation (1963). Conspicuity of Tall Towers and Television Towers under Visual Flight Rules Weather.Arlington, Va.Google Scholar
23Sulzer, R. L. (1964). Lighting and Marking of Obstructions to Air Navigation.Systems Research and Development Service, Federal Aviation Agency, Atlantic City, N.J. Report RD–64–70.Google Scholar
24Bowman, K. J. and Cole, B. L. (1979). Recognition of the Aircraft Navigation Light Color Code.University of Melbourne College of Optometry, Melbourne.Google Scholar
25Projector, T. H. and Robinson, J. E. (1958). Midair Collision Avoidance with Navigation Light Systems. Applied Psychology Corporation, Arlington, Va.Google Scholar
26Seary, J. (1979). Assessment of aircraft collision threats. Unpublished Honors Thesis. Monash University.Google Scholar
27Luder, C. B. and Barber, P. J. (1984). Redundant color coding on airborne CRT displays. Human Factors, 26, 19–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
28Sarlanis, K. and Lewis, E. M. (1970). Eye Illumination and Contrast Requirements of Visual Signals: a Literature Review. Injury Control Research Laboratory, U.S. Public Health Service. Report no. ICRL–RR–70–1.Google Scholar
29Robinson, T. W. and McKelvey, R. K. (1963). A Building Blocks Concept for VFR Airport Lighting. Systems Research and Development Service, Federal Aviation Agency, Atlantic City, N.J. Interim Memorandum Report Project 421–16 R.Google Scholar
30Virnelson, J. and Vaughan, W. S. (1961). Heliport Lighting Design Solutions and Pilot Information Requirements.Human Sciences Research, Inc., Arlington, Va. Contract FAA/BRD-401.Google Scholar
31Walters, D. L., Rollins, W. F.et al. (1964). Flight Analysis of Approach and Landing Guidance Elements of Heliport Lighting Patterns.Human Sciences Research, Inc., McLean, Va. Report No. RD–64–93 (Contract FAA/BRD–401).Google Scholar
32Edwards, A. L. (1968). Experimental Design in Psychological Research, 3rd ed. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.Google Scholar
33Vaughan, W. S., Rollins, W. F. et al. (1963). Laboratory Studies of the Ability of Observers to Perform Three Visual Tasks Required of Pilots in Approach and Landing.Human Sciences Research Inc., McLean, Va. Contract FAA/BRD–401.Google Scholar
34Whittenberg, J. A., Vaughan, W. S.et al. (1964). Airport Heliport Marking and Lighting Systems: Human Sciences Research, Inc. McLean, Va. Report no. RD 64 – 94 (Contract FAA/BRD–401).Google Scholar