Aeromedical Factors

6. Recognize that the chances of being involved in an can result in death. Aircraft heater vents and defrost vents approach accident increase when an emergency or may provide CO a passageway into the cabin, particularly if other activity distracts from usual procedures. the engine exhaust system has a leak or is damaged. If a strong odor of exhaust gases is detected, assume that CO is present. 7. Maintain optimum proficiency in landing procedures. However, CO may be present in dangerous amounts even if no exhaust odor is detected. Disposable, inexpensive CO In addition to the sensory illusions due to misleading inputs to detectors are widely available. In the presence of CO, these the vestibular system, a pilot may also encounter various visual detectors change color to alert the pilot of the presence of CO. illusions during flight. Illusions rank among the most common Some effects of CO poisoning are headache, blurred vision, factors cited as contributing to fatal aviation accidents. dizziness, drowsiness, and/or loss of muscle power. Any time a pilot smells exhaust odor, or any time these symptoms are Sloping cloud formations, an obscured horizon, a dark scene experienced, immediate corrective action should be taken spread with ground lights and stars, and certain geometric including turning off the heater, opening fresh air vents and patterns of ground light can create illusions of not being windows, and using supplemental oxygen, if available. aligned correctly with the actual horizon. Various surface features and atmospheric conditions encountered in landing Tobacco smoke also causes CO poisoning. Smoking at can create illusions of being on the wrong approach path. sea level can raise the CO concentration in the blood and Landing errors due to these illusions can be prevented by result in physiological effects similar to flying at 8,000 feet. anticipating them during approaches, inspecting unfamiliar Besides hypoxia, tobacco causes diseases and physiological airports before landing, using electronic glideslope or VASI debilitation that can be medically disqualifying for pilots. systems when available, and maintaining proficiency in landing procedures. Stress Stress is the body’s response to physical and psychological Motion Sickness demands placed upon it. The body’s reaction to stress includes Motion sickness, or airsickness, is caused by the brain releasing chemical hormones (such as adrenaline) into the receiving conflicting messages about the state of the body. A blood and increasing metabolism to provide more energy pilot may experience motion sickness during initial flights, but to the muscles. Blood sugar, heart rate, respiration, blood it generally goes away within the first few lessons. Anxiety pressure, and perspiration all increase. The term “stressor” and stress, which may be experienced at the beginning of is used to describe an element that causes an individual to flight training, can contribute to motion sickness. Symptoms experience stress. Examples of stressors include physical of motion sickness include general discomfort, nausea, stress (noise or vibration), physiological stress (fatigue), and dizziness, paleness, sweating, and vomiting. psychological stress (difficult work or personal situations). It is important to remember that experiencing airsickness is Stress falls into two broad categories: acute (short term) and no reflection on one’s ability as a pilot. If prone to motion chronic (long term). Acute stress involves an immediate sickness, let the flight instructor know, there are techniques threat that is perceived as danger. This is the type of stress that that can be used to overcome this problem. For example, triggers a “fight or flight” response in an individual, whether avoid lessons in turbulent conditions until becoming more the threat is real or imagined. Normally, a healthy person can comfortable in the aircraft or start with shorter flights and cope with acute stress and prevent stress overload. However, graduate to longer instruction periods. If symptoms of motion ongoing acute stress can develop into chronic stress. sickness are experienced during a lesson, opening fresh air vents, focusing on objects outside the airplane, and avoiding Chronic stress can be defined as a level of stress that presents unnecessary head movements may help alleviate some of the an intolerable burden, exceeds the ability of an individual discomfort. Although medications like Dramamine can prevent to cope, and causes individual performance to fall sharply. airsickness in passengers, they are not recommended while Unrelenting psychological pressures, such as loneliness, flying since they can cause drowsiness and other problems. financial worries, and relationship or work problems can produce a cumulative level of stress that exceeds a person’s Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning ability to cope with the situation. When stress reaches these CO is a colorless and odorless gas produced by all internal levels, performance falls off rapidly. Pilots experiencing combustion engines. Attaching itself to the hemoglobin in this level of stress are not safe and should not exercise their the blood about 200 times more easily than oxygen, CO airman privileges. Pilots who suspect they are suffering from prevents the hemoglobin from carrying oxygen to the cells, chronic stress should consult a physician. resulting in hypemic hypoxia. The body requires up to 48 hours to dispose of CO. If severe enough, the CO poisoning 17-12