Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 45; Flight Crew Total 5000; Flight Crew Type 2400
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Environment - Non Weather Related; Airspace Structure; Human Factors; Procedure
While on the KEPEC3 arrival into LAS we were temporary blinded by bright lights (reflections) from the ground. These reflections; coming from the new solar power station were so bright that any attempt to look outside the plane was met with pain and temporary blindness even when looking back inside. Any attempt to see and avoid was useless and trying to find the airport during this time was painful as well. Exposure lasted about 5 minutes. We notified ATC and were told that they get a lot of complaints about these reflections.
The reporter stated that he was in the left seat and viewed the mirror reflections for only seconds then was able to get his head sheltered below the glareshield and away from the light. However even after the brief exposure; he had blue dots in his vision for about 5 minutes. The First Officer had no way to avoid the light even while not looking directly at it. The First Officer was literally blind for a greater than five minutes and neither pilot's vision was capable of detecting objects outside of the cockpit for a period of time. When the crew reported the event to ATC; the response was 'Yes; we get lots of complaints.'
A Captain flying the LAS KEPEC3 arrival near the CLARR waypoint reported his vision distortion and First Officer's temporary blindness after encountering the intense sunlight reflection at 13;000 FT.