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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)
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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

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