Flying Safety

Question 1

Five factors influence passenger survival in crashes, described by the acronym CREEP. There are:

Answer 1

Crashworthiness (aircraft structure and design)
Restraint (seat belts)
Environment (surrounding surfaces and area that the body may strike)
Energy Absorption
Postcrash factors (fire, EMS response, Toxins off-gassing)

Question 2

Which of the following is the only effective source of orientation information for a pilot?

a) Semicircular canals
b) Otolith organs
c) Proprioceptors
d) Vision
e) Hearing

Answer 2

Vision

Question 3

Fatigue is a threat to flying safety because it can cause performance decrement. All of the following are true of fatigue EXCEPT:

a) There are several tests (urinary catecholamines, 17-ketosteroids) which will reliably measure degree of fatigue and the point of onset of performance decrement.
b) To lessen the risk of fatigue, the major airlines restrict aircre to only flying 80-120 hours per a 30 day period.
c) Fatigue may cause a rise in sed rate, decreased leukocyte and eosinophil count, and an increased polymorphonuclear leukocyte count.
d) With fatigue, there is usually a decrease in blood pressure, increase in pulse, and a decrease in pulse pressure.

Answer 3

a) A is incorrect. It’s precise measurement remains obscure.

Question 4

Aircraft Accident rates are frequently described in terms of accidents per 100,000 flying hours. What is the potential problem with comparing rates between types of aircraft and categories of aviation using this statistic?

Answer 4

Using flying hours per 100,000 flying hour does not equally assess risk between types of aircraft in that the higher risk phases of flight are take off and landing. Exposure to these phases of flight per 100,000 flying hours is much greater in fighter aircraft and small general aviation with short flying times.

Question 5

In general, during forward crash impact, the five point harness has an advantage over a four point restraint harness in that it:

Answer 5

Prevents the lap belt from riding up and the occupant from “submarining” under the lap belt.

Question 6

The mental and physical well being of the flight crews is a very important pre-requisite for flying safety. As a physician concerned with accident prevention, one should monitor the health of which of the following groups?

Answer 6

Flight crews, Air Traffic Controllers, Maintenance Personnel

Question 7

Aviation safety is primarily the realm of:

a) human factors specialists
b) flight surgeons or AME
c) aviation pathologists
d) safety specialists
e) All the above

Answer 7

e) All of the above

Question 8

Aviation safety campaigns frequently fail to modify or strengthen safety attitudes because:

a) they lack direct reinforcement
b) campaigns are repetitive and boring
c) most mishaps are single factor mishaps
d) they do not attempt to modify group attitude

Answer 8

a) they lack direct reinforcement

Question 9

Aircraft mishap and incident investigations are a key component in an aviation safety program because:

Answer 9

Lessons learned provide a basis for prevention programs

Question 10

Air carrier cabin safety studies reveal most of the injuries and deaths in survivable or partially survivable aircraft mishaps are related to:

a) Toxic fumes from burning materials
b) failure of cabin furnishings or restraints
c) failure to follow safety procedures
d) inability to find exits
e) cabin attendant inadequacies

Answer 10

B) 58.4% of survivable or partially survivable mishaps during the years 1970 to 1980 were found to be due to failures of cabin furnishings: passengers became missiles because of poor restraints, direct trauma, passengers tripped or had other egress problems because of obstacles in the way.