Check Ride Prep H: Human Factors Flashcards
Hypoxia
-state of oxygen deficiency
-@ cabin altitudes above 10,000’: judgment, memory, alertness, and coordination can be impaired
-can be suffered as low as 5000’ @ night, due to the oxygen requirements for rods in eyes
Symptoms:
Tunnel vision, blue coloration of the fingernails and lips, headaches, drowsiness, dizziness, euphoria
Causes:
HYPOXIC: Insufficient partial pressure of oxygen
-can happen above 10,000’
HYPEMIC: total oxygen content of blood is reduced
-carbon monoxide from exhaust or heavy smoking, inhibits the ability of hemoglobin to release the oxygen bound to it and deliver oxygen to tissues
HISTOTOXIC: Impaired cellular respiration
-small amounts of alcohol and drugs, limit the amount of oxygen that the blood carries to the body tissues
STAGNATE: restriction of flow
-heart disease and G-forces restrict blood flow
Effects: hard to recognize. ability to take corrective action is lost in 20-30 minutes @18000 ft followed by unconsciousness and death
Corrective Actions: increase the concentrating of oxygen or use supplemental oxygen if available and decent below 10,000’
Hyperventilation
-state of breathing faster and/or deeper than necessary, brining about lightheadedness associated with panic attacks.
-reduces the CO2 concentration of the blood to below normal
Symptoms:
light headedness, drowsiness, tingling extremities, feeling anxious, yawing, chest pressure, headache, sweating, vision changes
Causes: stressful situations during flight
Effects: incapacitation can eventually occur
Corrective Actions: controlled breathing in a paper bag, loosen clothes, breath through nose, slow/open window and land as soon as practicable
Middle Ear and Sinus
Middle Ear:
-Ascent, the expanding air in the middle ear pushes the Eustachian tube open, escaped down to the nasal passage.
-Decent: the pilot must periodically open the Eustachian tube to equalize pressure
Sinus: during Ascent and Decent, air pressure in the sinuses equalizes the pressure though small openings that connect the sinuses to the nasal passage
Symptoms:
Middle Ear:
pressure can build up to a level that will hold the Eustachian tube closed
Sinus:
can occur in the frontal sinuses, located above each eyebrow or upper cheek and produce pain
Causes:
flying with a cold, allergies, respiratory infection
Effects:
Middle Ear: Severe pain and hearing loss, rupture of eardrum
Sinus Block:
usually on decent, can cause severe pain over the sinus area and can make upper teeth ache
Corrective Actions:
Middle Ear: swallowing, yawing, Valsalva maneuver
Sinus Block: do not fly with infections
Spatial Disorientation
Perception is not reality, can only be prevented by fixed points on the ground or by reference to flight instruments
Symptoms:
during flight most are fooled by the centrifugal force and indicate to the brain that down is at the bottom of the cockpit no matter what the attitude of the aircraft is.
Fluid in ear canals
Causes:
poor wx with little to no viz
Effects:
drift in inner ear produce errors about axis. Errors build up to the point control of aircraft is lost usually in steep turns, diving turns (graveyard spirals)
Corrective Actions:
-visual reference to fixed points on the ground and flight instruments
-use electronic glide slope
Motion Sickness
When the central nervous system receives conflicting messages from the body affecting balance and equilibrium
Symptoms:
Dizziness, fatigue, cold sweats, headaches, & confusion
Causes:
fatigue, stress, use of substances
Effects:
disorientation and nausea
Corrective Actions:
face forward focus on a point, look at horizon
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas contained in exhaust fumes. When breathed, it reduces the ability of the blood to carry oxygen.
Symptoms:
Headaches, drowsiness, or dizziness, increasing blurred vision
Causes:
exhaust fumes escaping through shroud heaters or through manifold cracks and seals
Effects:
It is cumulative. Unconsciousness and eventual death may occur
Corrective Actions:
turn cabin heat off, increase fresh air intake, open windows, use oxygen, land asap
Stress
with a perceived threat the nervous. body responses with releasing adrenaline and cortisol.
Heart pounds faster, muscles tighten, blood pressure increases, senses become sharper, increase strength and stamina, speed rx time, enhance focus.
Causes:
flying into deteriorating wx or trying o fly outside your comfort zone.
Corrective Actions:
delaying or reschedule
Fatigue
One of the msot treacherous hazards to flight safety. Can be acute or chronic.
Symptoms:
Acute-felt after periods of physical and mental strain
Chronic- not enough time to recover from acute fatigue
Causes:
emotional pressure, mental strain, and lack of sleep
Effects:
Acute- coordination and alertness reduced
Chronic- performance continues to drop and judgement becomes impaired so that unwarranted risks may be taken
Corrective Actions:
Dehydration and Nutrition
-Drink water
-Minimum of 64 ounces
-Signs: headache, fatigue, cramps, sleepiness
Heat stress, heat exhaustion, heat stroke
Hypothermia
-Body temp below 95
-25 times faster in water
-can led to coma or death
-trench foot
-frost bite
Optical Illusions Leading to Spatial Disorientation
(ch 17 phak)
-Coriolis illusion
-graveyard spiral
-somatogravic illusion
-false horizon
-autokinesis
-elevator illusion
-inversion illusion
Dissolved Nitrogen in the blood stream after scuba diving
Symptoms:
localized deep pain in joints, usually dull
Causes:
leaving high pressure environment, ascent from depth, ascent to altitude
Effects:
-nitrogen bubbles expanding and settling in the joints
-microbubbles in blood
Corrective Actions:
-8000’ …12 hours for non decompression dive / uncontrolled ascent
-8000’… 24 hours for decompression dive/ controlled ascent
+8000’….24 hours
Alcohol
-.04% blood alcohol
-8 hours bottle to throttle
-3 hours / 1 ounce
-effects of alcohol can be multiplied by 2 or 3 times at altitude
Drugs
-Over the counter drugs should not be assumed to be safe
- Ask FAA AME
- Antihistamines, sulfa drugs, tranquilizers, motion sickness meds, weightless pills, etc.
Aeronautical Decision Making
Antiauthority: Don’t tell me
- Follow the rules, they are usually right
Impulsivity: Do something quickly
-Not so fast, think first
Invulnerability: It wont happen to me
-It could happen to me
Macho: I can do it
-Taking chances is foolish
Resignation: What’s the use?
- I’m not helpless. I can make a difference
