Hello everyone,
its been about 2 years since I posted a message on this exact thread. As a CVD who has succeded in getting past the color vision discrimination (with a lot work) and now has an entry-level flying job, I think we should all be VERY VERY concerned about the NTSB report that come out yesterday. Its about a cargo airliner that crashed short of the runway in Florida. The FO was color defective, had a SODA, and while flying the approach got below glidepath and crashed.
The NTSB has included CVD as part of the probable cause! Furthermore, the recommendations issued to the FAA ask for more stringent color standards.
Since Pape always used the point that no accident was ever attributed to defective color vision, this accident changes everything. I think the long-term political implications of this accident are disastrous for CVD pilots (or future pilots).
It is the first time in aviation history that an accident is blamed in defective color vision. THIS IS VERY BAD NEWS FOR US!
In the US the standards might get stricter. Those with a SODA or LOC might be required to do more tests.
In Europe, where there has been hope for a change, this will inevitable stop everything. the argument: "in the US they give CVD pilots medical and they never crashed because of it" will not work any more. Furthermore, knowing the European mentality (I am european myself) they will immediately say "Let those crazy americans kill themselves by letting colorblind pilots fly... WE will keep our standards high to prevent what happened there".
After this accident I don't think the JAA will EVER relax ther standards.
The airlines themselves might decide to put stricter color vision standards during the hiring medical exam.
Either way, it will eliminate ANY HOPE of a relaxation in color vision standards. Now that all of the aviation community (from AMEs to fellow pilots to airlline executives to government policymakers) will believe that CVD pilots are unsafe, our chances of making it in this industry get slimmer and slimmer.
Sorry for the depressing post guys.
palgia