Aeromedical FactorsAeromedical Factors
CW2 Steve JonesCW2 Steve Jones
ObjectiveObjective To develop the student Instructor To develop the student Instructor
Pilot’s understanding of the Pilot’s understanding of the Aeromedical Factors associated Aeromedical Factors associated with Army Aviation.with Army Aviation.
ReferencesReferences FM 1-301FM 1-301 AR 40-8AR 40-8 FM 1-240FM 1-240 AIMAIM
ScheduleSchedule Self-Imposed StressesSelf-Imposed Stresses HypoxiaHypoxia Spatial DisorientationSpatial Disorientation Visual IllusionsVisual Illusions Vestibular IllusionsVestibular Illusions
Self-Imposed StressesSelf-Imposed Stresses
RUGSRUGSXHAUSTIONXHAUSTIONLCOHOLLCOHOLOBACCOOBACCOYPOGLYCEMIAYPOGLYCEMIA
DDEEAATTHH
HypoxiaHypoxia
HypoxicHypoxic– lack of oxygen in the air lack of oxygen in the air
HypemicHypemic– oxygen carrying capacity of the bloodoxygen carrying capacity of the blood
StagnantStagnant– inadequate blood circulationinadequate blood circulation
HistotoxicHistotoxic– interference with the use of oxygeninterference with the use of oxygen
Types of Types of HypoxiaHypoxia
Hypoxia (con’t)Hypoxia (con’t)
IndifferentIndifferent– altitude 0 - 10,000 feetaltitude 0 - 10,000 feet
CompensatoryCompensatory– altitude 10,000 - 15,000 feetaltitude 10,000 - 15,000 feet
DisturbanceDisturbance– altitude 15,000 - 20,000 feetaltitude 15,000 - 20,000 feet
CriticalCritical– altitude 20,000 - 25,000 feetaltitude 20,000 - 25,000 feet
Stages of HypoxiaStages of Hypoxia
Spatial DisorientationSpatial Disorientation An individual's inaccurate An individual's inaccurate
perception of position, attitude, perception of position, attitude, and motion relative to the center and motion relative to the center of the earth.of the earth.
THE CONDITION MOST THE CONDITION MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO SPATIAL SUSCEPTIBLE TO SPATIAL
DISORIENTATION IS --DISORIENTATION IS -- During a sudden and unexpected During a sudden and unexpected
transition from VMC to IMC flight transition from VMC to IMC flight conditionsconditions
SENSES OF BALANCESENSES OF BALANCE Visual SystemVisual System Vestibular SystemVestibular System Proprioceptive SystemProprioceptive System
VISUAL ILLUSIONSVISUAL ILLUSIONSwhich lead to landing errorswhich lead to landing errors
Runway Width IllusionsRunway Width Illusions Runway and Terrain Slope Runway and Terrain Slope
IllusionsIllusions Featureless Terrain IllusionsFeatureless Terrain Illusions Atmospheric IllusionsAtmospheric Illusions Ground Lighting IllusionsGround Lighting Illusions
VESTIBULAR SYSTEMVESTIBULAR SYSTEM
Semicircular CanalsSemicircular Canals Otolith OrgansOtolith Organs
SEMICIRCULAR CANALSSEMICIRCULAR CANALS Right angles to each otherRight angles to each other Contains endolymph fluidContains endolymph fluid
Vestibular IllusionsVestibular Illusions
LeansLeans Graveyard SpinGraveyard Spin Coriolis IllusionCoriolis Illusion
SomatogyralSomatogyral
MostMost common form of Spatial Disorientation common form of Spatial Disorientation
THE LEANSTHE LEANS
Motion is usually undetected during a subthreshold Motion is usually undetected during a subthreshold maneuver (less than 2maneuver (less than 2oo))
Pilot corrects attitude and compensates for the Pilot corrects attitude and compensates for the false sensation of turning in the opposite directionfalse sensation of turning in the opposite direction
This illusion seldom affects This illusion seldom affects both pilots at the same both pilots at the same timetime
CORIOLIS ILLUSIONCORIOLIS ILLUSION Pilot enters a turn stimulating one Pilot enters a turn stimulating one
semicircular canalsemicircular canal Pilot makes a head movement in a Pilot makes a head movement in a
different geometrical planedifferent geometrical plane Stimulating a 2nd / 3rd semicircular canal Stimulating a 2nd / 3rd semicircular canal Results in overwhelming sensation of Results in overwhelming sensation of
Yaw, Pitch, or Roll Yaw, Pitch, or Roll
THE CORIOLIS ILLUSION
The most deadly illusionThe most deadly illusion
SOMATOGRAVIC ILLUSIONSOMATOGRAVIC ILLUSION
Illusions created by the Otolith organs Illusions created by the Otolith organs as a result of linear accelerationas a result of linear acceleration
FUNCTION OF THE OTOLITH ORGANS
FORWARD ACCELERATION CENTRIFUGAL /CENTIPUAL FALSE SENSATION OF BACKWARD FALSE SENSATION OF UPRIGHT
UPRIGHT TILT FORWARD TILT BACKWARDTRUE SENSATION TRUE SENSATION TRUE SENSATION
ELEVATOR ILLUSIONELEVATOR ILLUSION Occurs during sudden upward accelerationOccurs during sudden upward acceleration Pilot perceives a nose up attitudePilot perceives a nose up attitude Tendency to “nose over” aircraftTendency to “nose over” aircraft
OCULOAGRAVICOCULOAGRAVIC
Upward movement of the eyes during Upward movement of the eyes during weightlessness, caused by rapid weightlessness, caused by rapid downward motion of the aircraftdownward motion of the aircraft
UPRIGHT
UPRIGHT
EXTREMEAFT TILT
AFT TILT
NOSE HIGH NOSE HIGH SENSATIONSENSATION
OCULOGRAVIC ILLUSIONOCULOGRAVIC ILLUSION
ConclusionConclusion
Questions?Questions?