Aeromedical Factors (GA) Flashcards
(29 cards)
What is the
I’M SAFE Checklist?
Illness
Medication
Stress
Alcohol
Fatigue
Eat
What are some examples in the
I’M SAFE Checklist?
Illness - Do I have any symptoms?
Medication - Have I been taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs?
Stress - Am I under psychological pressure from the job? Worried about financial matters, health problem, or family discord?
Alcohol - Have I been drinking within 8 hours? Within 24 hours?
Fatigue - Am I tired and not adequately rested?
Eat - Am I adequately nourished?
What are the three types of
Medical Certificates?
3RD CLASS (private or recreational) - 60 months or 24 months if over 40
2ND CLASS (commercial pilots, copilot) - 12 months
1ST CLASS (Airline Transport Pilot, captain) - 6 months
* Valid periods under which class you’re operating. Bill has a 1st class medical but is working under 3rd class so his first class is valid for 60 months.
What is
Hypoxia?
Hypoxia means “reduced oxygen” or “not enough oxygen.”
A lack of oxygen in the body for any reason.
What are the
Four Types of Hypoxia?
Hypoxic Hypoxia
Hypemic Hypoxia
Histotoxic Hypoxia
Stagnant Hypoxia
What is
Hypoxic Hypoxia?
Lack of air pressure to push oxygen molecules through lungs. Lack of oxygen in the blood stream.
What is
Hypemic Hypoxia?
Blood is unable to carry sufficient oxygen to cells.
Caused by genetic disorders or external factors (Anemic, smoking, inhaling fumes, giving blood).
What is
Histotoxic Hypoxia?
The inability of cells to use oxygen.
Caused by drugs and alcohol such as narcotics and poisons.
Drinking 1 oz. of alcohol can equate to about 2,000 ft of physiological altitude (altitude your body thinks it’s at).
What is
Stagnant Hypoxia?
Poor circulation of blood or pooling.
Caused by G-forces, lack of blood circulation, shock, and even sitting positions.
What are the
Symptoms of Hypoxia?
Cyanosis (blue fingernails and lips)
Headache
Decreased reaction time
Impaired judgment
Euphoria
Visual Impairment
Drowsiness
Lightheaded or dizzy sensation
Tingling in fingers and toes
Numbness
Since symptoms are broad in range and different for everyone, the FAA recommends altitude chamber experience.
What are the
Treatments for Hypoxia?
Treatment of hypoxia includes flying at lower altitudes and/or using supplemental oxygen in non-pressurized aircraft.
What are the
FAR Part 91.211 Oxygen Use Requirements
for Non-pressurized Aircraft?
>12500-14000- Minimum flight crew must have oxygen if at those levels for more than 30 minutes.
14000-14999- Minimum flight crew at those levels.
>15000- Everyone one board must have access to supplemental oxygen.
What are the
FAR Part 91.211 Oxygen Use Requirements
for Pressurized Aircraft?
FL250- 10 minute supply for everyone, for emergency descent.
FL350- Quick donning. Don’t have to put it on unless only 1 pilot is flying.
FL410- Both pilots must wear a mask.
What is
Hyperventilation?
Hyperventilation is the excessive rate and depth of respiration leading to abnormal loss of carbon dioxide from the blood.
What are the
Common Symptoms of Hyperventilation?
Visual impairment
Unconsciousness
Lightheaded or dizzy sensation
Tingling sensations
Hot and cold sensations
Muscle spasms
What are the
Treatment Options for Hyperventilation?
The treatment for hyperventilation involves restoring the proper carbon dioxide level in the body.
Breathing normally is both the best prevention and the best cure for hyperventilation.
In addition to slowing the breathing rate, breathing into a paper bag or talking aloud helps to overcome hyperventilation.
Recovery is usually rapid once the breathing rate is returned to normal.
Middle Ear and Sinus Problems
Occurs normally during climbs and descents (especially when sick or having sinus issues).
Blockage in the inner ear causes pressure change during flight and causes air in the nasal cavity to push against the inner ear, causing severe pain.
Treatment could include leveling off and trying the Valsalva technique or even climbing back up in altitude to alleviate the excess outside pressure when Valsalvaing.
Motion Sickness/ Spacial Disorientation
Three senses:
- Somatosensory/Kinesthetic (seat of pants flying)
- Visual system
- Vestibular system (inner ear)
When these three systems have conflicting information your body can become disoriented.
A pilot can reduce susceptibility to disorienting illusions through training and awareness, and learning to rely totally on flight instruments.
Vestibular Illusions
The Leans - abrupt recovery or rapid bank correction interpreted as roll and prompts you to re-enter bank.
Coriolis Illusion - during a constant rate turn you turn your head quickly giving an overwhelming sense of tilt, rotation or turn (most dangerous).
Graveyard Spiral - loss of altitude in a prolonged constant-rate turn. Interpreted as wings level descent.
Somatogravic Illusion - rapid acceleration that produces the illusion of nose-high altitude and prompts you to enter a dive.
Inversion Illusion - an abrupt change from climb to level creates a tumbling back illusion.
Elevator Illusion - an abrupt upward vertical acceleration, as can occur in an updraft, can stimulate the otolith organs to create the illusion of being in a climb.
Visual Illusions
False Horizons - A sloping cloud formation, an obscured horizon, an aurora borealis, a dark scene spread with ground lights and stars, and certain geometric patterns of ground lights can provide inaccurate visual information, or false horizon, for aligning the aircraft correctly with the actual horizon. The disoriented pilot may place the aircraft in a dangerous attitude.
Autokinesis - In the dark, a stationary light will appear to move about when stared at for many seconds. The disoriented pilot could lose control of the aircraft in attempting to align it with the false movements of this light.
Optical Illusions
Runway Width illusion - A narrower-than-usual runway can create an illusion the aircraft is at a higher altitude than it actually is, especially when runway length-to-width relationships are comparable. The pilot who does not recognize this illusion will fly a lower approach, with the risk of striking objects along the approach path or landing short. A wider-than-usual runway can have the opposite effect, with the risk of the pilot leveling out the aircraft high and landing hard, or overshooting the runway.
Runway and Terrain Slopes Illusion - An upsloping runway, upsloping terrain, or both, can create an illusion that the aircraft is at a higher altitude than it actually is. The pilot who does not recognize this illusion will fly a lower approach. Downsloping runways and downsloping approach terrain can have the opposite effect.
Featureless Terrain Illusion - An absence of surrounding ground features, as in an overwater approach, over darkened areas, or terrain made featureless by snow, can create an illusion the aircraft is at a higher altitude than it actually is. This illusion, sometimes referred to as the “black hole approach,” causes pilots to fly a lower approach than is desired.
Water Refraction - Rain on the windscreen can create an illusion of being at a higher altitude due to the horizon appearing lower than it is. This can result in the pilot flying a lower approach.
Haze - Atmospheric haze can create an illusion of being at a greater distance and height from the runway. As a result, the pilot will have a tendency to be low on the approach. Conversely, extremely clear air (clear bright conditions of a high altitude airport) can give the pilot the illusion of being closer than he or she actually is, resulting in a high approach, which may result in an overshoot or go around. The diffusion of light due to water particles on the windshield can adversely affect depth perception. The lights and terrain features normally used to gauge height during landing become less effective for the pilot.
Fog - Flying into fog can create an illusion of pitching up. Pilots who do not recognize this illusion will often steepen the approach quite abruptly.
Ground Lighting Illusions - Lights along a straight path, such as a road or lights on moving trains, can be mistaken for runway and approach lights. Bright runway and approach lighting systems, especially where few lights illuminate the surrounding terrain, may create the illusion of less distance to the runway. The pilot who does not recognize this illusion will often fly a higher approach.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Excess of CO2.
CO2 sticks to hemoglobin more than it should (200x more than O molecules).
Nausea, headache, dizziness, weakness, etc.
Open vents/ windows (non-pressurized aircraft), oxygen mask on, descend ASAP.
Stress
Stress is the body’s response to physical and psychological demands placed upon it.
Stress falls into two broad categories, acute (short term) and chronic (long term).
Acute stress involves an immediate threat that is perceived as danger. This is the type of stress that triggers a “fight or flight” response in an individual, whether the threat is real or imagined.
Chronic stress can be defined as a level of stress that presents an intolerable burden, exceeds the ability of an individual to cope, and causes individual performance to fall sharply.
Fatigue
Fatigue is frequently associated with pilot error. Some of the effects of fatigue include degradation of attention and concentration, impaired coordination, and decreased ability to communicate. These factors seriously influence the ability to make effective decisions. Physical fatigue results from sleep loss, exercise, or physical work. Factors such as stress and prolonged performance of cognitive work result in mental fatigue.
Acute fatigue is short term and is a normal occurrence in everyday living. It is the kind of tiredness people feel after a period of strenuous effort, excitement, or lack of sleep. Rest after exertion and 8 hours of sound sleep ordinarily cures this condition.
Chronic fatigue, extending over a long period of time, usually has psychological roots, although an underlying disease is sometimes responsible. Continuous high-stress levels produce chronic fatigue. Chronic fatigue is not relieved by proper diet and adequate rest and sleep, and usually requires treatment by a physician.
If suffering from acute fatigue, stay on the ground. If fatigue occurs in the flight deck, no amount of training or experience can overcome the detrimental effects. Getting adequate rest is the only way to prevent fatigue from occurring. Avoid flying without a full night’s rest, after working excessive hours, or after an especially exhausting or stressful day. Pilots who suspect they are suffering from chronic fatigue should consult a physician.