EASA technical information

Safety elements requiring normal colour vision of cabin crew

31.01.2011

INTRODUCTION
The enclosed technical information is provided on request of the EC in order to
describe the elements that require a normal colour vision to allow cabin crew to
appropriately perform the required safety checks as well as any required action
during normal, abnormal and/or emergency circumstances.
This shows that in case a cabin crew member has a colour vision abnormality,
there may be a risk that the situation is not correctly assessed and, consequently,
the
required
safety
actions/procedures
cannot
be
adequately
completed/implemented, which may effect the safety of the flight and/or
passenger safety depending on the type of circumstances encountered.

1. FIRE EXTINGUISHER (Halon 1211)

Operational status of the device (liquefied gas under pressure) is indicated
in pressure gauge by position of the needle in relevant coloured zone.

2. FIRE / SMOKE
In case of fire / smoke crew members must amongst providing other
vital information specify COLOUR of smoke/flames, which could indicate
the source of fire.

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EASA technical information

Safety elements requiring normal colour vision of cabin crew

31.01.2011

3. PORTABLE BREATHING EQUIPMENT Scott Smoke Hood

Operational status of the device is checked by visual inspection of
Humidity Indicator (in picture below marked with arrow - window).
Humidity Indicator is BLUE in colour. Device cannot be used if Humidity
Indicator changes colour from BLUE to PINK this indicates
non-operational/functional status of the device.

4. LAVATORY AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM

A) A300 / A310 is equipped with temperature plate which enables cabin
crew to check the status of the device. The colour of temperature plate dot
is white. Change of colour indicates that fire extinguisher operated after an
unusual increase of temperature and the device is empty.

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B) A318/A319/A320/A321/A330/A340 is equipped with an installed

device, content of which is indicated by a position of needle in a coloured
area of the pressure gauge.

C) B777 is equipped with temperature indicator containing several GREY

dots. Dots turn BLACK when exposed to high temperatures. If any of the
dots changed colour and the nozzle tip of the extinguishing device
changed colour, the device has discharged.

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EASA technical information

Safety elements requiring normal colour vision of cabin crew

31.01.2011

5. LAVATORY SMOKE DETECTION SYSTEM

A centralised smoke detection system consists of aural and coloured visual
warning system (light indications on the panel inside / outside the affected
toilet; on Cabin Management System panel (FAP / CMS) / Cabin crew
panels (Additional Attendant Panel - AAP); Area Call Panel (ACP);
Interphone handset station). The system is energised when smoke is
detected in lavatory and respectively according to aircraft type during
mandatory pre-flight check of the system.
A) A300 / A310 outer lavatory wall panel

B) A300 / A310 coloured SMOKE LAV indication on FAP and AAP and
non-coloured SMOKE LAV TEST push-button on FAP for conduct of preflight smoke detection system check.

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C) A318/A319/A320/A321 lavatory smoke detection system; apart from

aural indications, the following visual indications will be observed once
smoke is detected:
- flashing amber light on ACP (Area Call Panel)
- flashing red light on AIP (Area Indication Panel)
- flashing amber light outside the affected lavatory
- integral lights (small dots) coloured in red on SMOKE LAV button on
FAP (Forward Attendant Panel)

D) A330/A340 lavatory smoke detection system indications (include

SMOKE LAV button on FAP / AAP and the relevant indication page on
FAP)

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E) B777 smoke detector inside lavatory

1.
2.
3.
4.

indicates operational status of smoke detector

selt-test switch to activate aural/visual indications
illuminates when presence of smoke has been detected
suppresses all alarm indications once pushed

6. LAVATORY WATER HEATER

Indication of unit in ON position

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EASA technical information

Safety elements requiring normal colour vision of cabin crew

31.01.2011

7. DOORS / EXITS
A)
-

A318/A319/A320/A321/A330/A340
safety pin preventing arming/disarming lever from accidental
movement (when door/exit is disarmed) is equipped with a
coloured flag indicating an alert to cabin crew of the disarmed
mode of the door/exit
double coloured slide control lever window indicating the status of
the slide armed/disarmed
double coloured door visual indicators indicating the status of the
door locked/unlocked
door electrical warning system consisting of differently coloured
warning lights SLIDE ARMED / CABIN PRESSURE
escape slide/slide raft contains three devices for different
purposes therefore each coloured differently - manual inflation
handle / detach handle / mooring line

slide raft contains various coloured survival equipment

survival equipment day/night flares - each side of the device
producing differently coloured smoke or flame to be used during
day or night; sea dye marker significantly fluorescent coloured
chemical

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Day and Night flare:

B) B777
- Armed / Disarmed function and operation

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- Readiness of overwing ramp slide indicated by BARBER POLE; visibility

of the barber pole is indication that the overwing ramp slide is ready
for evacuation. Passengers must not be allowed onto the wing until slide
is fully inflated indicated by barber pole.

C) A340 readiness of overwing ramp slide indicated by fluorescent STOP

flag

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8. OXYGEN SYSTEM
a)Flight crew oxygen system
Cabin crew are required to know the function/operation of flight crew
oxygen system in case of pilot incapacitation. The difference between the
pictures below and the real devices is the colour of the hose which is grey
(green here).

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b)Cabin drop-down oxygen system

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9. CABIN CREW ASSISTING OPERATING PILOT IN CASE OF PILOT

INCAPACITATION
In case of pilot incapacitation, cabin crew may be required to assist the
operating pilot in preparation for / during landing. Cockpit
instruments/panels consist of differently coloured warning
lights/indications; aerodrome landing navigation facilities consist of
differently coloured navigation elements. Unaffected colour vision is vital.

10. COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Communication system consists of aural and coloured visual alerting
indications. Differently coloured lights indicate who/where initiated a call
and in which mode normal/emergency; signal an alert in case of smoke
detection in lavatory; signal emergency call from flight crew compartment.
Example of communication indications on A318/A319/A320/A321/A330/
A340
Flight Crew Calls FWD/AFT Cabin crew station normal call:
i) Chime - 1 Hi-Lo chime (via respective loudspeakers).
ii) ACP - Steady Pink light at respective ACP.
iii) AIP - Steady green light at respective AIP and CAPTAIN CALL
text message.
Flight Crew Emergency Call to Cabin Crew):
i) Chime - 3 Hi-Lo chime (via all cabin loudspeakers).
ii) ACP - Flashing Pink light at all ACP.
iii) AIP- Flashing Red light at all AIP and text message EMERGENCY
CALL.
a) Different versions of Area Call Panel (ACP)

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b) Passenger call from lavatory indication light

11. LIFE JACKETS

Differently coloured:
INFANT dark orange in colour
CHILD / ADULT orange-yellow in colour
CREW red-orange in colour

12.CABIN CREW PANELS

a)

Cabin Management System / FAP (Forward Attendant Panel)

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b) Area Indication Panel (AIP) indicates system information (lavatory

smoke location; hijack alarm; interphone system - normal/emergency
calls; public announcement; passenger calls)

13. SECURITY
In case of suspicious item being discovered and/or upon receipt of a bomb
threat a thorough search is to be conducted. Crew members must provide
detailed description of the device. Below is an example of action after
transferring suspicious device to the least risk bomb location in aircraft cabin.
Layers of various materials (of numerous colours) will be created, colours may
represent indications.

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14.FLIGHT CREW COMPARTMENT SECURITY DOOR

Flight crew compartment security door access panel consists of differently
coloured indication lights each specifying a different status of the door.

15.MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
-

Heart attack skin colour may turn blue/grey; finger tips/lips may
turn blue;
External bleeding colour of blood indicates rapture of vein or
artery;
Internal bleeding colour of exposed blood indicates area of
medical problem (e.g. bright red blood coming out from mouth
indicates lungs problem; brown vomited blood indicates stomach
problem; blood in urine indicates problem with bladder, etc.)
Stroke caused by Cerebral haemorrhage or Cerebral Thrombosis
will be indicated by flushed (red) face;
Epilepsy stage 2 person may become blue;
Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

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31.01.2011

Miscellaneous:
Airline may have a policy to use differently coloured seals indicating the
status of particular equipment (e.g. red seals on Emergency Medical Kit
(EMK) containing life saving equipment / Aeromedic First Aid Kit (FA)
indicate that EMK/FA was used and device needs to be changed /
replenished by Maintenance; yellow/green seals on the above mentioned
equipment indicate that device is new / unused, etc.)

16.DANGEROUS GOODS
Coloured labelling of packages / items

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