Ageing

Question 1

What are the effects of the normal process of human ageing on sensitivity, acuity of the sensory system and muscular strength?

Answer 1

• Sensitivity and acuity of sensory system decreases
• Older pilots may be working closer to their bodies maximum ability
• Flexibility is lost, may have difficulty dealing with a trim malfunction and neck movement restriction affects lookouts

Question 2

What are the effects of the normal process of human ageing on resilience and reaction times?

Answer 2

Resilience decreases while reaction times are increased due to loss of muscular ability and loss of memory.

Question 3

What are the effects of the normal process of human ageing on sleep/wakefulness patterns?

Answer 3

• Elderly people find it harder to get back to sleep after a disruption and are more affects by light and noise.
• Older pilots need more time between shift as their body won’t recover as quickly as younger pilots
• Need to be more aware of fatigue

Question 4

What are the effects of the normal process of human ageing on cognitive and mental function.

Answer 4

• Both decrease and can lead to forgetfulness, decreased ability to maintain focus and decreased problem solving capacity.

Question 5

What are the effects of the normal process of human ageing on acquisition, retention and retrieval of information and rate of processing.

Answer 5

• Memory declines with age, retrieval of information may be slower and reaction time is longer - takes more time to learn and acquire new skills.
• Fluid intelligence = ability to think and reason abstractly and solve problems - declines with age
• Crystallised intelligence = learning from past experience, is maintained as we age and accumulate new knowledge and understanding.

Question 6

What are the effects of the normal process of human ageing on insight and self-awareness of your individual capabilities?

Answer 6

• Age related impairments happen gradually, pilots learn to adapt and compensate for these over time. There comes a point where all of these minor impairments add up to cause a significant decrease in your performance as a pilot.

Question 7

What are methods by which age-related changes in memory and speed of information processing can be moderated by older pilots>

Answer 7

• Currency
• Thinking ahead
• Using checklists and writing down clearances to overcome memory issues
• Be organised on the ground

Question 8

What are changes that would indicate early dementia or age related cognitive impairment in another pilot?

Answer 8

• Recent memory loss that affects day to day functions
• Difficulty performing familiar tasks
• Problems with language
• Disorientation to time and place
• Poor or decreased judgement
• Problems with abstract thinking
• Misplaced thing
• Changes in mood or behaviour, personality and loss of initiative