We are not colour blind, we are colour deficient. The problem is that CVD rules have been written by colour normal regulators with tests being designed by colour normal, non aviator scientists. Even the head medical officer in ICAO agrees CVD is such an unknown science.
The new CAD test being implemented by CAsA was created by City University in London. City Uni stated that PAPI was the most "safety" important lights in Aviation. The CVD individuals who participated in the CAD development were tested using a PAPI simulator, also developed by City Uni. The applicants had to have a pass mark of more than 96.6% as this was deemed to be the colour normal average. If this was an average, this would indicate that colour normal people were not all passing 96.6%. Another issue with using this simulator is there was not an option for the applicants to ask for the PAPI brightness to be turned up as you can do in the real world environment. This is the issue when you have non aviator scientists developing CVD testing for aviation professionals. Not once has the regulators ever worked with CVD pilots to develop a realistic and accurate form of testing.
The only way to test a candidate is to assess that individual in a pilots environment, not a synthetic environment. PAPI lights are an important aid to approach profile, but we have multiple other aids available to assist a safe approach profile.
Yr Right, all flight deck lights are large and clear. If there was such a problem with red and amber lights there would be multiple accidents daily with traffic lights. We have been born with CVD, so we have learned colours just as you did in school, we might see these colours a little differently to you, but we have still learnt these colours as red and amber, as I've said, we are colour deficient, not colour blind.
It's very worrying and stressful thinking we could be facing losing our ability to feed our families, pay the mortgage etc based on discrimination and unfounded research. I hope this mess gets sorted so we can breath a sigh of relief and sleep at night.