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Aeromedical Factors. Presented by: CW2 Justin Dudley. Objective. To develop the student Instructor Pilot’s understanding of the Aeromedical Factors associated with Army Aviation. References: FM 1-301 AR 40-8. Elements. Fatigue Self-Imposed Stresses Hypoxia Spatial Disorientation
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AeromedicalFactors Presented by: CW2 Justin Dudley
Objective • To develop the student Instructor Pilot’s understanding of the Aeromedical Factors associated with Army Aviation References: FM 1-301 AR 40-8
Elements • Fatigue • Self-Imposed Stresses • Hypoxia • Spatial Disorientation • Middle Ear Discomfort
Fatigue: A Result of Stress • Acute: The loss of both coordination and awareness of errors is the first type of fatigue to develop. • Chronic: This is much more serious and occurs over longer periods of time. In addition to physical tiredness, mental tiredness develops.
Reduction of Fatigue • Good Physical Fitness • Limitations of Self Imposed Stress • Good Living Conditions • Improved Working Conditions • Leave Adequate Time for R&R • Realistic Time for Total Duty and Flying Hours • High Levels of Confidence and Proficiency
Self Imposed Stresses • Drugs • Exhaustion • Alcohol • Tobacco • Hypoglycemia
Hypoxia State of oxygen [O2] deficiency in the blood cells and tissues sufficient to cause impairment of function.
Types of Hypoxia • Hypemic • Stagnant • Histotoxic • Hypoxic
Hypoxic Hypoxia Reduced pO2 in the lungs (high altitude) Red blood cells Body tissue
HypemicHypoxia Inability of the blood to accept oxygen in adequate amounts + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Stagnant Hypoxia adequate oxygen Reduced blood flow Blood moving slowly Red blood cells not replenishing tissue needs fast enough
Histotoxic Hypoxia Inability of the cell to accept or use oxygen adequate oxygen Red blood cells retain oxygen Poisoned tissue
HypoxiaSymptoms Subjective: Feel Air hunger Hot and Cold Flashes Apprehension Euphoria Fatigue Belligerence Nausea Blurred vision Headache Numbness Dizziness Tingling Denial
HypoxiaSigns Objective: See Hyperventilation Cyanosis Mental confusion Poor Judgment Lack of muscle coordination
Stages of Hypoxia • Indifferent Stage • Compensatory Stage • Disturbance Stage • Critical Stage
Indifferent Stage • Altitudes MSL: 0 - 10,000 FEET • Symptoms: Decrease in night vision @ 4000 feet
Compensatory Stage • Altitudes MSL: 10,000 - 15,000 FEET • Symptoms: impaired efficiency drowsiness poor judgment decreased coordination
Disturbance Stage • Altitudes Air: 15,000 - 20,000 FEET
Signs Hyperventilation Cyanosis Disturbance Stage
Mental Memory Judgment Reliability Understanding Disturbance Stagesymptoms
Performance Coordination Flight Control Speech Handwriting Disturbance Stagesymptoms
Time off Oxygen 1 minute 2 minutes 3 minutes 4 minutes 5 minutes 6 minutes put back on oxygen
Critical Stage • Altitudes • MSL:20,000 FEET and above • Symptoms: loss of conscious ness convulsions death
Crew Experience Instructor Pilot - 33 years / 3900 hrs Pilot - 8 years / 472 hrs SI - 13 years / 1100 hrs CE - 16 years / 800+ hrs
Weather • ISP Metar at Takeoff (1832) 14 SC 100 OVC 5 SM BR • HTO Metar at approach (1906) Cig Indef Vertical Vis 0 1/2 SM FG • FOK Metar at approach (1929) 2 OVC 1/2 SM FG • ISP Metar at mishap (2017) Indef Vertical Vis 100’ 1/4 SM FG
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS • Normal Departure from ISP (1832) • VOR Approach to missed at HTO (1906) • LOC Approach to missed at FOK (1927) • LOC Approach to missed at ISP (1957) • 2nd approach at ISP, no commo after FAF • Aircraft crashes (2017)
Aircraft Heading 250o 290o / 400’ from Threshold 300 / 60 X 300 / 60 300 / 70 06 400 / 90 400 / 90 400 / 90 400 / 90 AIRCRAFT PATH NYARTCC RADAR PLOT DATA
12 Visual Illusions • F • F • F • C • R • A • S • H • C • S • A • R
False Vertical/Horizontal Cues(False Horizon) Occurs when the pilot subconsciously chooses the wrong reference point for orientation
Flicker Vertigo Caused by sunlight flickering through rotor blades Rotating beacons reflecting against an overcast sky or against the windscreen
FIXATION/ FASCINATION • Pilot intent on hitting target • Pilot forgets to fly aircraft • Flies into target or ground • Flies through shrapnel
Confusion with Ground Lights • Along seashores or rural areas • Ground lights may be perceived as celestial lights • Celestial lights may be perceived as ground lights
RELATIVE MOTION • Falsely perceived self-motion in relation to the real motion of another object
ALTERED PLANES OF REFERENCE • Inaccurate sense of altitude, attitude, or flight path • Mountains / Valleys
Structural Illusion The phenomenon in which objects become distorted when visual obscurants are present such as rain, snow, sleet, or the curvature of a wind screen
Size- Distance Illusion Am I too Low ? Large Wide Runway 24 Narrow Runway Am I too High ? 24
AUTOKINETIC ILLUSION Occurs when a static light appears to move when it is stared at for several seconds.
Autokinetic Illusion Occurs when a static light appears to move when it is stared at for several seconds
REVERSIBLE PERSPECTIVE At night, an aircraft may appear to be going away when it is actually approaching.
REVERSABLE PERSPECTIVE At night, an aircraft may appear to be going away when it is actually approaching
Crater Illusion CRATER ILLUSION An illusion that the aircraft is landing into a hole or crater, created when the search light is positioned too far under the nose of the aircraft
DEPTH PERCEPTION • Due to lack of of sufficient visual cues pilots may experience the illusion of being higher than they actually are: • Whiteout / Brownout • Flying over desert / water • Hovering over tall grass
Spatial Disorientation • An individual's inaccurate perception of position, attitude, and motion relative to the center of the earth.
THE CONDITION MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION IS -- • During a sudden and unexpected transition from VMC to IMC flight conditions