PT3 CHP11 Aeromedical Factors Flashcards
(71 cards)
1
Q
Whose responsibility is it to determine whether their medical condition is under control?
A
Pilot in command (PIC)
2
Q
What are factors that affect pilot performance?
A
- Hypoxia
- Hyperventilation
- Middle and Sinus Problems
- Spatial disorientation and illusions
- Motion sickness
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Stress
- Fatigue
- Dehydration
- Heatstroke
- Drugs
- Alcohol
3
Q
How do the lung works?
A
- Create a lower pressure to “suck” air in
- Oxygen is distributed to the red blood cells so it can be transported to the organs that need it
i. imagine a bus that drops off oxygen and picks up carbon dioxide
4
Q
What is hypoxia and how is it caused?
A
Caused by the lack of oxygen supply to the brain or other body members
5
Q
What are the different types of hypoxias?
A
- Hypoxic: lack of pressure due to altitude
- Stagnant: caused by G-forces
- Hypemic: caused by misshaped or damaged red blood cells
- Histotoxic: the inability of the cells to effectively use oxygen
6
Q
What is hypoxic hypoxia?
A
- Caused by the lack of pressure at higher altitude
- Although the percentage of oxygen remains the same (21%) at all altitudes, the body has more difficulties getting enough air in the lungs
- Concentration is less prevalent, fewer air molecules, but same amount
7
Q
What is stagnant hypoxia?
A
Blood is “not flowing” (similar to when your foot falls asleep)
- Experienced in aviation when operating under lots of G-forces
- Can be counteracted by wearing a G-suit
8
Q
What is hypemic hypoxia?
A
- Occurs when the blood is not able to transport a sufficient amount of oxygen
i. The result of oxygen deficiency in the blood rather than a lack of inhaled oxygen
1. Smaller bus with fewer seats
ii. Can by caused by reduced blood volume (blood donation)
iii. Blood disease (anemia)
iv. Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning
9
Q
What is histotoxic hypoxia?
A
- Occurs due to the inability of the cells to effectively use oxygen
i. There is enough oxygen being transported to the cells, but they are unable to use the oxygen
1. There is some type of toxin in the system (alcohol or drugs like narcotics)
10
Q
What are the symptoms of all types of hypoxias?
A
- Cyanosis (blue fingernails and lips) and tingling
- Headache
- Increase reaction time/impaired judgment
- Euphoria
- Visual impairment
- Drowsiness/dizziness
11
Q
What is the treatment for hypoxia?
A
- Use of supplemental oxygen
i. Avoid flying at high altitude without either oxygen or pressurization
12
Q
During the day, at what altitude is supplemental oxygen recommended?
A
Above 10,000 feet MSL
13
Q
At night, at what altitude is supplemental oxygen recommended?
A
Above 5,000 feet MSL
14
Q
Why is the recommended use of supplemental oxygen different at night compared to during the day?
A
Vision is more impaired at night due to lack of oxygen
15
Q
What is hyperventilation?
A
Rapid rate of breathing and not enough carbon dioxide in the bod
16
Q
The rapid rate of breathing and not enough carbon dioxide in the body is known as what?
A
Hyperventilation
17
Q
When can hyperventilation occur?
A
During emergencies and periods of high stress
18
Q
During emergencies and periods of high stress, what can occur?
A
Hyperventilation
19
Q
What are the symptoms of hyperventilation?
A
- Visual impairment
- Unconsciousness
- Lightheaded or dizzy sensation
- Tingling sensations
- Hot/cold sensations
- Muscle spasms
20
Q
Visual impairment, unconsciousness. lightheaded or dizzy sensation, tingling sensations, hot/cold sensations and muscle spasms are symptoms of what?
A
Hyperventilation
21
Q
What are the treatments for hyperventilation?
A
- Slowing down breathing to restore proper carbon dioxide levels
- Talk aloud
22
Q
What occurs during climbs and descents in relation to gases in your body?
A
Your body will expand or contract
23
Q
What is the result when gases cannot escape?
A
Pressure builds up in the ears or sinuses
24
Q
What can occur if the pressure buildup in the eustachian tube is greater than the pressure in the eardrum?
A
Your eardrum can burst
25
Where are the sinuses located?
Cheeks and forehead
26
What is disorientation?
The lack of orientation with regard to the position, attitude, or movement of the airplane
27
The lack of orientation with regard to the position, attitude, or movement of the airplane is know as what?
Disorientation
28
What are the three systems used to determine orientation and movement in space?
- Vestibular: located in the inner ear
- Somatosensory: nerves and hearing
- Visual system
29
The vestibular, somatosensory and visual systems are used to determine what?
orientation and movement in space
30
What are the vestibular illusions and how does that affect the orientation system?
- The Leans
- Coriolis Illusion
- Graveyard Spiral
- Somtagravic Illusion
- Inversion
- Elevation Illusion
31
What is the Leans illusion?
i. a turn is initiated, the fluid is moving toward the turn, actual movement and perceived movement are the same
ii. you are established in the turn (still turning), the fluid settles and no longer is moving, actual movement is the aircraft turning and perceived movement is straight/level flight
iii. you level the aircraft, the fluid moves left, the actual movement is straight/level flight and perceived movement is turning left
32
What is the Coriolis Illusion?
i. Once established in the turn, the fluid is at rest
ii. Any head movement after that can create the illusion of a turn or acceleration
1. Rely on the instruments
33
What is the Graveyard Spiral illusion?
i. Once established in the turn, the fluid is at rest
ii. Loss of altitude due to the turn leads the pilot to pull on the control, hence tightening the turn, which can lead to a tighter spiral
1. If established in the turn and no adjustment is made (pulling the nose up and add power), if you don’t control the airplane by pulling the plane, then will result in a loss of altitude
2.The pilot will tighten the turn too much and put too many Gs on the aircraft, which can lead to a spiral/spin
a. Rely on the instruments
34
When does is the Somatogravic Illusion occur and what pitch attitude?
i. Occurs when accelerating/decelerating
1. Accelerating: nose-up attitude sensation
2. Decelerating: nose-down attitude sensation
35
When and how does the Inversion illusion occur?
i. Going from climb to straight-and-level gives the illusion of tumbling backwards
1. Leveling off too quickly
36
What is the visual illusion and how is it caused?
It gives a false horizon, which occurs on a hazy day when visibility is low and over a large body of water
Sloping clouds, not level with the ground
1. If used a reference, it will result in flying with a bank angle
ii. dark scenes with lights
1. stars or lights from buildings
37
What is autokinesis and when does it occur?
When flying in the dark, a stationary light may appear to move if stared at for a period of time
38
How do you cope with spatial disorientation?
- Following instruments
- Understand the cause of these illusions
- Always know everything you can about the weather before you take off
- Receive proper training before flying in situations of low visibility or over water
- Don’t fly in conditions you are not proficient in
- Avoid sudden head movements
- Become proficient in flying by reference to the instruments, and TRUST those instruments
39
What are some optical illusions
- Runway width illusion
- Runway and terrain slope illusion
- Featureless terrain illusion
- Water refraction
- Haze/fog
40
What is the Runway width illusion
i. Wider to narrow: if you are used to flying at an airport with a wider runway, and you land at a narrow runway, this will appear you are flying higher than you are, which could result the pilot wanting to fly lower than actual
ii. Narrow to wide: if you are used to flying at an airport with a narrow runway, and you land at a wide runway, this will appear you are flying higher, which could result in overshooting the runway
1.The key to both is to rely on the indicators on the runway
41
What is the Runway and terrain slope illusion
i. Down sloping runway: have the tendency to fly higher than normal
ii. upsloping runway: have the tendency to fly lower than normal
42
When does the Featureless terrain illusion occur?
Happens in areas without ground features to use as a reference point (dark area or snow)
43
What is Water refraction?
i. Rain on the windscreen/shield
ii. Give the sensation of wanting to fly higher
44
How does haze/fog affect visual perception?
Gives the sensation of being at a greater distance and height than actual
45
How is motion sickness caused?
The brain receives conflicting information about the information about the state of the body
46
What are symptoms of motion sickness?
- General discomfort
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Paleness
- Sweating
- Vomiting
47
How can motion sickness be counteracted?
- Fresh air
- Focus an object in the distance
- Avoid abrupt head movement
48
What is carbon monoxide and what in the airplane create?
Colorless, odorless gas created by the engine
49
What is carbon monoxide poisoning?
When carbon monoxide attaches to the red blood cells and prevents them from carrying oxygen
50
What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Loss of muscle power
51
How can carbon monoxide poisoning be avoided?
Use the CO monitor if equipped
52
What must the pilot do if he experiences carbon monoxide poisoning?
- Open all windows and turn off the cabin heater
- Land as soon as possible
- Seek medical treatment upon landing
53
What are the two types of stress?
- Acute stress: short term, results from immediate threats
- Chronic stress: long term, results from something occurring in someone’s life
54
What is the result of fatigue?
Leads to degradation of attention and concentration, impaired coordination, and problems with communication
55
What is acute fatigue and how is it caused?
- Mild hypoxia due to oxygen deficiency
- Physical or psychological stress
- Physical energy depletion
56
How can acute fatigue be prevented?
Proper diet and adequate sleep/rest
57
What is chronic fatigue and how is it caused?
- Extends over a long period of time
- Psychological or disease related
- Weakness
- Tiredness
- Heart palpitations
58
What is dehydration?
The critical loss of water from the body
59
45. What causes dehydration?
- Hot temperatures
- Wind
- Humidity (lack of humidity as well)
- Diuretic drinks (coffee, tea, alcohol, caffeinated soft drinks)
60
What are symptoms of dehydration?
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Cramps
- Sleepiness
- Dizziness
61
How can dehydration be avoided?
a. Drink 2-4 quarts of water every 24 hours
i. Do not wait until you are thirsty
ii. Thirsty feeling happens with 2% of total body weight loss
iii. Limit daily intake of caffeine and alcohol
62
What is a heatstroke?
When your body cannot regulate its temperature
63
What is an early symptom of heatstroke?
a. Dehydration
i. Severe heat stress conditions: drink one quart per hour
ii. Moderate heat stress conditions: drink one pint per hour
64
What is the effect of alcohol?
Drastically reduces the chances of completing a flight without incident
65
When a pilot is experiencing a hangover, is he still under the influence? (Yes/No)
Yes, alcohol can remain in the body for over 16 hours
i. Remember FAA rule: 8 hours bottle-to-throttle or .04 blood alcohol percent
66
What is decompression sickness?
A condition in which inert gases (mostly nitrogen), when exposed to low barometric pressure, comes out and forms bubbles
i. Nitrogen bubbles can happen during rapid cock depressurization or after scuba diving in the joints, brain, spinal cord, or lungs
67
What are the scuba diving recommendations based on altitude?
- Flights below 8,000 ft
i. Uncontrolled ascent – wait 12 hours
ii. Controlled ascent – wait 24 hours
- Flights above 8,000 ft
i. Uncontrolled ascent – wait 24 hours
ii. Controlled ascent – wait 24 hours
68
How does vision work when flying
a. It is the primary method of orientation (responsible for 80% of flight information received)
i. Works similar to a camera focusing light through a lens
ii. Sends signals to the brain via an optic nerve
iii. Subject to visual illusions and contains blind spots
69
What are the rods and cones in the eye?
- Cones (back of the eye): detect color
- Rods (side of the eye): used for low levels of light and use for peripheral vision
i. Optic nerve has no rods or cones and where the blind spot is
70
Explain the relationship between rods and cones in relation to sensitivity and time in darkness
- Cones: after a few minutes, the eyes have adjusted; not sensitive any longer after plateau
- Rods: will take longer to reach the same sensitive as cones, but become better and better
i. After about 20 minutes,
ii. Peripheral vision will be better once greater than cone adaptation
iii. Once subjected to bright light, dark adaption restarts
71
What is the proper method to scan an object?
- Left to right or right to left
- Start from the greatest distance and move inward
- Scan 10 degrees at a time for 2-3 seconds
i. Haze will cause all traffic to appear further than actual
