Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20; Flight Crew Total 165; Flight Crew Type 164
Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness
Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
I was flying over Decatur (LUD) and practicing approaches in VMC into the non-towered airport. I decided to climb up to 5;500 to practice changing speed during a climb and descent as I had just read in the Instrument Flying Handbook that this is a good exercise to develop skills. I believed that I was well clear to the west of Class B airspace as I spiraled into my climb. I was wearing a new pair of polarized popup tinted lenses over my prescription eyeglasses. I was focused on the G-1000 glass flight instruments displayed in the PFD and was practicing 'see and avoid'. I did not immediately realize that the MFD was substantially obscured by the polarized lenses. Interestingly; the first thing to be obscured on the MFD seemed to be the blue lines - the magenta and green were still visible. During my turn I spotted the jet approaching and glanced at the MFD for traffic and saw that it was almost black. At first I thought it was malfunctioning; but a slight tilt of my head at that moment showed me that the polarized lenses were the problem and had partially obscured the view of the MFD and that I had strayed into KDFW Class B airspace. I immediately began a left turning rapid descent. I was monitoring Regional Approach (118.1) and I heard the conversation about a possible incursion and realized that it was me. While the PFD display was clear; the MFD; (because of the angle of my polarized lenses?) was dim and almost black. I immediately removed the polarized lenses. I was horrified that I had breached Class B airspace. I have never been told that polarized lenses would black out the glass cockpit view. I take full responsibility for my actions; but I am surprised that I had not experienced this before. I have worn other sunglasses and have not experienced this problem. After the flight; I tried the popup shades on my car's GPS screen and did not experience this darkening of the screen. I wonder if there should be some type of advisory for pilots as to the effect of polarized lenses on glass instrument panels. Again; I take full responsibility for my actions and there is no excuse; but I would like to warn other pilots to be careful when flying a glass cockpit and wearing polarized sunshades.
C172 pilot reported an airspace incursion when his polarized sunglass lenses interfered with his G1000 display.