Transcript Document 7109340

Aviation Physiology
“Teaching the Science, Inspiring the Art, Producing Aviation Candidates!”
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
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
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
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
Visual Illusions
False Horizons
Black Hole
Approach
Landing Illusions
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
Landing Illusions
Sloping runways
Runway width
Terrain
Weather conditions
Visibility
Illusions
Approach Illusions
Situation
Illusion
Result
Up-sloping Runway
Higher
Lower Approaches
Narrow Runway
Higher
Lower Approaches
Featureless Terrain
Higher
Lower Approaches
Rain on Windshield
Higher
Lower Approaches
Haze
Higher
Lower Approaches
Down-sloping Runway
Lower
Higher Approaches
Wider Runway
Lower
Higher Approaches
Bright Runway
Closer
Higher Approaches
Example – Runway Width
Sloping Runway
Disorientation
The incorrect mental
image of your
position, attitude, or
movement
Three sources of
input:
 Kinesthetic Sense
 Vision
 Vestibular System
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
Hazardous Attitudes
Attitudes
Antidotes
 Antiauthority
 Follow the Rules
 Impulsivity
 Think first
 Macho
 It could happen to
me
 I’m not helpless
 Resignation
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