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Commercial Pilot Oral Questions > Aeromedical Factors > Flashcards

Aeromedical Factors Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the general definition of Hypoxia?

A

Hypoxia means “reduced oxygen” or “lack of oxygen”. Any tissue will die if deprived of oxygen long enough. The greatest concern during flight is hypoxia to the brain.

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2
Q

Name off the different types of hypoxia.

A

Hypoxic Hypoxia
Hypemic Hypoxia
Stagnant Hypoxia
Histotoxic Hypoxia

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3
Q

What is hypoxic hypoxia?

A

It is the result of insufficient oxygen available to the body as a whole. A blocked airway is an obvious example.

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4
Q

What is an example of hypoxic hypoxia as it relates to aviation?

A

Flying at high altitudes without a pressurized cabin or supplemental oxygen can cause hypoxic hypoxia.
It occurs due to the reduction in partial pressure of oxygen molecules. There are fewer oxygen molecules available at the partial pressure required for them to pass between the membranes in the respiratory system, resulting in hypoxia.

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5
Q

What are the 14 CFR Part 91 regulations regarding supplemental oxygen altitude requirements?

A

Above 12,500’ MSL: If flying for more than 30 minutes, the crew members must wear and use supplemental oxygen.
Above 14,000’ MSL: The crew members must wear and use supplemental oxygen at all times.
Above 15,000’ MSL: The passengers must be offered supplemental oxygen.

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6
Q

What is Hypemic Hypoxia?

A

Occurs when the blood is not able to take up and transport a sufficient amount of oxygen to the cells in the body. Hypemic means “not enough blood”. It results from an oxygen deficiency in the blood, rather than a lack of inhaled oxygen.

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7
Q

What are some examples of hypemic hypoxia?

A

Lack of blood (severe bleeding)
Blood disease (anemia)
CO poisoning
Loss of blood due to blood donation

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8
Q

What is stagnant hypoxia?

A

Results when oxygen rich blood in the lungs is not moving to the tissues that need it. Stagnant means “not flowing”.

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9
Q

What is an example of stagnant hypoxia as related to flying?

A

Pulling excessive G’s during flight.

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10
Q

What is Histotoxic Hypoxia?

A

The inability of cells to effectively use oxygen. “Histo” refers to tissues or cells and “toxic” refers to poisonous. Oxygen is being transported to the cells that need it, but they are unable to make use of it.

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11
Q

What can cause histotoxic hypoxia?

A

Alcohol and drugs, such as narcotics. These things impair cellular respiration. Drinking 1 oz of alcohol can equate to an additional 2,000’ of physiological altitude.

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12
Q

What is typically the first symptom of hypoxia?

A

It is usually euphoria and a carefree feeling.

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13
Q

What can occur to your field of vision if hypoxia is present?

A

Your field of vision can start to narrow and make instrument interpretation harder. This is because your eyes use oxygen to function properly.

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14
Q

What are the treatments for hypoxia?

A

Flying at lower altitudes.
Having a pressurized cabin.
Using supplemental oxygen.

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15
Q

What is hyperventilation?

A

Hyperventilation is the excessive rate and depth of respiration leading to abnormal loss of carbon dioxide from the blood. Basic definition: “over-breathing”.

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16
Q

Why can hyperventilation lead to unconsciousness?

A

Hyperventilation can lead to unconsciousness due to the respiratory system’s overriding mechanism to regain control of breathing.

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17
Q

What are causes of hyperventilation?

A

Pilots encountering stressful situations may subconsciously increase their breathing rate.
Flying at higher altitudes may cause the pilot to increase breathing rate.

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18
Q

What are treatments for hyperventilation?

A

Breathing normally is the best treatment.
Breathing into a paper bag.
Talking out loud.

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19
Q

What is the middle ear?

A

The middle ear is a small cavity located in the bone of the skull. It is closed off from the external ear canal by the eardrum.

20
Q

How is the pressure equalized in your middle ear with the outside air pressure?

A

Pressure differences between the middle ear & the outside world are equalized by a tube leading from inside each ear to the back of the throat on each side called the Eustachian Tube.

21
Q

What occurs to your middle ear pressure as you climb?

A

Middle ear air pressure may exceed the pressure of the air in the external ear canal causing the eardrum to bulge outwards.

22
Q

What occurs to your middle ear pressure as you descend?

A

The pressure of the air in the external ear canal increases, while the pressure inside the inner ear is lower pressure, causing the eardrum to bulge inwards.
This condition can be more difficult to relieve due to the fact that the partial vacuum tends to constrict the walls of the Eustachian Tube.

23
Q

What are different ways you can remedy a middle ear problem?

A

Pinch the nostrils shut, close the mouth & lips and gently blow. This opens up the Eustachian Tube & allows pressure to equalize.
It may not be possible to equalize the pressure in the ears if a pilot has a cold, an ear infection, or sore throat.

24
Q

How does the air in your sinuses equalize with the outside air pressure?

A

Air pressure in the sinuses equalizes with the pressure in the flight deck through small openings that connect the sinuses to the nasal passages.

25
Q

What can an upper respiratory infection or nasal allergic condition cause?

A

An upper respiratory infection or a nasal allergic condition can produce enough congestion around an opening to slow equalization. This is known as a “sinus block”.

26
Q

Where can the sinus block occur?

A

Frontal sinuses

Maxillary sinuses

27
Q

How can a sinus block be prevented?

A

Sinus block can be avoided by not flying with an upper respiratory infection or nasal allergic condition.

28
Q

What is spatial disorientation?

A

The lack of orientation with regard to the position, attitude, or movement of the airplane in space.

29
Q

What are the three systems your body uses to determine movement and orientation in space?

A
  1. Vestibular System – Organs found in the inner ear that sense position by the way we are balanced.
  2. Somatosensory System – Nerves in the skin, muscles, and join that, along with hearing, sense position based on gravity, feeling and sound.
  3. Visual System – Eyes, which sense position based on what is seen.
30
Q

What can occur when the visual system is taken away?

A

When the visual system is taken away, false sensations can cause a pilot to quickly become disoriented.

31
Q

What is the remedy to spatial disorientation?

A

Rely completely on the flight instruments.

32
Q

What causes motion sickness?

A

Motion sickness is caused by the brain receiving conflicting messages about the state of the body. Anxiety & stress can contribute to motion sickness.

33
Q

What is the treatment for motion sickness?

A

Open air vents.
Focus on an object outside the aircraft.
Avoid unnecessary head movements.

34
Q

What is carbon monoxide?

A

CO is a colorless gas produced by all internal combustion engines.

35
Q

What occurs during carbon monoxide poisoning?

A

CO can attach itself to hemoglobin 200x more easily than oxygen. This prevents hemoglobin from binding to oxygen molecules in the blood and carrying oxygen to the cells.
Results in hypemic hypoxia.

36
Q

How can CO get into the cockpit?

A

Aircraft heater vents & defrost vents may provide CO a passageway into the cabin. Often times the heater works by taking in fresh air and having it flow through a shroud located on the exhaust pipe. The exhaust gases in the muffler heat up the fresh air that gets blown into the cockpit. If there is a crack in the exhaust pipe, CO is able to freely enter the cockpit.

37
Q

What is the treatment for CO poisoning?

A 
Turn off the heater.
Open fresh air vents.
Open windows.
Use supplemental oxygen.
Land immediately.
38
Q

What is dehydration?

A

A critical loss of water from the body.

39
Q

What can cause dehydration?

A
  1. Hot flight deck
  2. Humidity
  3. Diuretic Drinks
40
Q

What is the most noticeable effect of dehydration?

A

Fatigue

41
Q

How can you prevent dehydration?

A
  1. Drink 2-4 quarts of water every 24 hours.
  2. Drink water even when not thirsty.
  3. Carry a container in order to measure daily water intake.
  4. Limiting daily intake of caffeine and alcohol.
42
Q

If a pilot is experiencing a hangover from a great time at the club, are they still under the influence of alcohol?

A

Yes. Motor and mental response impairment is still present. Alcohol can remain in the body for up to 16 hours.

43
Q

What regulation regards to alcohol?

A

14 CFR 91.17

44
Q

What are the alcohol rules?

A

No person may act or attempt to act as a crew member of a civil aircraft -

  1. Within 8 hours after the consumption of any alcoholic beverage;
  2. While under the influence of alcohol;
  3. While having an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater in a blood or breath specimen. Alcohol concentration means grams of alcohol per deciliter of blood or grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.
45
Q

What is decompression sickness?

A

DCS describes a condition characterized by a variety of symptoms resulting from exposure to low barometric pressures that cause inert gases (mainly nitrogen), normally dissolved in body fluids and tissues, to come out of physical solution and form bubbles.

46
Q

Why can flying after scuba diving cause DCS?

A

Scuba diving subjects the body to increased pressure, which allows more nitrogen to dissolve in body tissues and fluids. The reduction of atmospheric pressure that accompanies flying can produce physical problems for scuba divers and cause DCS.

47
Q

What are the waiting times after scuba diving?

A

Below 8,000’:
- 12 hours after diving that does not require a controlled ascent.
- 24 hours after diving that does require a controlled ascent.
8,000’ or above:
- 24 hours after any dive.

Commercial Pilot Oral Questions (5 decks)

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