Predictive Validity of the Aviation Lights Test for Testing Pilots With Color Vision Deficiencies

Abstract : The color filters of the Farnsworth Lantern (FALANT) were changed to meet the Federal Aviation Administration s signal color specifications, thereby creating a job-sample color vision test called the Aviation Lights Test (ALT) that is used for secondary screening of air traffic control specialist applicants in the terminal option. The purpose of this experiment was two-fold: to determine whether the ALT could be used in place of the FALANT for testing pilots and whether the altered filters in the ALT (primarily, a more highly saturated red) improved its predictive validity with the criterion instrument called the signal light gun (SLG). The SLG is used by air traffic controllers to communicate with pilots in aircraft experiencing radio failure within the airport terminal area. Method. Participants were 145 individuals with moderate to strong red-green color vision deficiency, 10 individuals with minimal color vision anomalies, and 227 individuals with normal color vision, as classified by a Nagel anomaloscope. Participants identified 3 series of 9 pairs of colored lights of the FALANT and the ALT. A subset of 82 participants also identified the color-coded signals of the signal light gun test (SLGT). Results. The frequency of confusing white and green lights was similar for all tests; however, as predicted, errors involving red targets were reduced for the color deficient sample for the ALT relative to the FALANT. Compared with the FALANT, the use of signal colors in the ALT had little effect on cross-tabulated pass/fail outcomes with the SLGT, K(82)= .70 and .675. Conclusions. Results suggest that if the ALT is administered and scored with procedures identical to the FALANT, the incidence of passes and failures for pilots with color vision deficiencies will be essentially the same for the two tests.