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Aviation Physiology

Aviation Physiology. Roadmap. Vision Night Flight Visual Illusions Landing Illusions Spatial Disorientation Hypoxia ADM (Aeronautical Decision Making). Quote of the Day:. “IM SAFE”. Vision. Vision result of light passing through the cornea and striking a lens. Retina Cones Rods.

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Aviation Physiology

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  1. Aviation Physiology “Teaching the Science, Inspiring the Art, Producing Aviation Candidates!”

  2. Roadmap • Vision • Night Flight • Visual Illusions • Landing Illusions • Spatial Disorientation • Hypoxia • ADM (Aeronautical Decision Making)

  3. Quote of the Day: • “IM SAFE”

  4. Vision • Vision • result of light passing through the cornea and striking a lens. • Retina • Cones • Rods

  5. Vision • Cones • perceive color and depth • concentrated in the fovea • Rods • concentrated outside the fovea • dim light and night receivers. • 10,000 time more sensitive to light than cones • Primary receptors to night vision and peripheral vision • Night Blind spot • Anatomical Blind spot

  6. Dark Adaptation • Visual Purple (Rhodopsin) • Light absorbing protein in membrane of rods • Allows rods to detect images in the dark • Night flight • 30 minutes required for full adaptation to dark • Red lights • Rods least affected by red light’s wavelength • Minimal contraction of iris

  7. Night Flight Checklist • Get dark adapted prior to flight • Keep glasses and windscreen clean • Look off to side 15o while scanning • Close one eye if using bright light • Properly use oxygen • Quit Smoking • Vitamin A • Get adequate rest

  8. Visual Illusions • False Horizons • Black Hole Approach • Landing Illusions

  9. Visual Illusions • False Horizons • Natural horizon is obscured or not apparent • Attempting to realign yourself to false horizon can lead to a dangerous flight attitude • Black Hole Approach • Long, straight-in approach at night to a brightly lit runway over featureless and unlit terrain • Pilot attempts to maintain visual angle

  10. Sloping runways Runway width Terrain Weather conditions Visibility Landing Illusions

  11. Illusions

  12. Approach Illusions

  13. Example – Runway Width

  14. Sloping Runway

  15. Disorientation • The incorrect mental image of your position, attitude, or movement • Three sources of input: • Kinesthetic Sense • Vision • Vestibular System

  16. Kinesthetic and Vestibular • Awareness of position obtained from the nerves in your skin, joints, and muscles. • “Fly by the seat of your pants” • Rely upon kinesthetic and vestibular senses in low visibility • Problem: UNRELIABLE • Factors such as fatigue, high workload, alcohol, and anxiety add to susceptibility to disorientation and visual illusions.

  17. What Can I do? • Rely on the instruments • Regardless of how your body feels, maintaining orientation during flight at night or in marginal weather conditions is key.

  18. Illusions Leading to Disorientation • Graveyard Spiral • Turn Tightens as Pilot tries to raise nose • Leans • Desire to turn opposite direction after rolling out of a turn • Inversion Illusion • Abrupt change from climb to straight and level

  19. Hypoxia • Oxygen deficiency in the bloodstream • Symptoms: • Headache, fatigue • Light headed or dizzy sensation, lethargic • Tingling or warming sensations, sweating • Sleepiness • Cyanosis (discoloration of fingernails and lips) • Euphoria • Effects • Lack of clear thinking • After time, unconsciousness

  20. Hyperventilation • Too much Oxygen • Not enough Carbon Dioxide • Symptoms • Dizziness • Hot and cold sensations • Sleepiness • Tingling of hands, legs, and feet • Remedy • Breathe into brown paper bag • Talk Aloud

  21. ADM • Systematic approach to the mental process used to determine best course of action • Dangerous Tendencies • Scud Running • Continuing Visual Flight into IMC • Neglect of Checklists

  22. Attitudes Antiauthority Impulsivity Macho Resignation Antidotes Follow the Rules Think first It could happen to me I’m not helpless Hazardous Attitudes

  23. Any Questions? “Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity, or neglect” -Anonymous

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