Hi FFF,
The VFR limitation was lifted by the CAA persuading the JAA to reword their VCL stamp on all medicals (not that they've re-issued them, mind!) So it seems the CAA can fight for the little man sometimes!
WRT runway lights, I've never experienced them first hand, but it is a known fact that people with colour blindness have better vision in dark/poor vis situations. I doubt I could confuse which end of the runway I was landing on because I can correctly identify the red lights every time, so the only confusion would be between the green threshold lights and the white edge lights. I suspect the aspect ratio would give it away if I was trying to land sideways across the runway!
So I'm now in the slightly paradoxical situation that I can get an IMC rating and fly IFR (thank you CAA), but I can't get a Class 1 medical, and hence an IR. Apart from the ability to fly in Class A airspace and the additional learning/performance requirements, I can't really see what difference there is between operation on an IMC rating and an IR rating!
TPK
