Thursday, August 16, 2007; Posted: 5:15 p.m. (CDT)
Oklahoma City -- The National Transportation Safety Board has solicited two local groups for a major study on how color blindness affects pilots. The groups have been helping set national safety standards for decades. KSBI-TV's Kealey McIntire gives us a look at the latest project.
Researchers at the Federal Aviation Administration's Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) are giving volunteers several vision tests. Subjects must identify the colors on the screen. It may sound easy, but most are color blind to a degree and that's part of the study.
"We're looking at that altitude to see if there might be an affect," says Nelda Milburn, Research Engineering Psychologist.
Researchers are determining whether color identification difficulty develops, worsens or stays the same at high altitudes. Pilots use color coding in several key elements in planes these days, meaning a pilot could have problems if he can't see properly.
"Warning lights may be in red or amber and certainly the lights they use to land with are red and white lights," says Milburn.
Milburn says their findings will help set standards for who should and shouldn't operate an aircraft.
Advancia Corp. first screens volunteers by giving them a vision test. They've worked with CAMI for several years on several projects. National safety standards are set at CAMI, meaning many who set foot in an airport have a connection to Oklahoma City.
Renee Porter, Advancia Corp. Director of Corporate Strategies, says they're proud to be involved in such meaningful work.
"Every airline passenger day in and day out. Think about their work and how we support it affecting everyday travelers is exciting," says Porter.
Advancia Corp. is still looking for several more volunteers. They're looking for color blind males, ages 18-59, you must be a non-smoker and in good health. Participants will receive $15 per hour. For more information click on the link below.
