Human Factors Flashcards
Hypoxia
State of oxygen deficiency in the body
12,000-15,000 ft judgment, memory, alertness, coordination impaired (headache, drowsiness, dizziness)
Worse above 15,000
pilots encouraged to use supp oxygen above 10,000 feet day, 5,000 night
4 forms of hypoxia
Hypoxic- interrupts flow of o2 into lungs (at altitude due to reduction of partial pressure of o2)
Hypemic- interferes with ability of blood to carry oxygen
Stagnant- interferes with normal circulation of blood arriving to cells
Histoxic- interferes with normal utilization of 02 in the cell
Hyperventilation
abnormal increase in volume of air breathed in and out of lungs during stressful situations, significant decrease in carbon dioxide of blood
build up of carbon dioxide can be sped up by controlled breathing in a paper bag
Ear block
expanding of air in middle ear pushes eustachian tube open, escapes down nasal pasages and equalizes with cabin pressure
during descent, must periodically open tube to equalize or pressure can build and cause ear block making equalization difficult or not possible
Spatial disorientation
lack of orientation with regard to position in space and other objects
sensory organs affecting this-
visual, vestibular (motion), postural (nerves)
motion sickeness
continued stimulation of inner ear controlling balance
open air vents, loosen clothing, supp oxygen
Carbon monoxide poisioning
carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, tasteless containted in exhaust fumes
can reduce the ability of blood to carry oxygen
While using heater if detect odor of exhaust + headache, drowsiness, dizziness should suspect carbon monoxide poisoning
immediately shut off heater and open all air vents
Stress
Acute (short term)- immediate threat, fight or flight
Chronic- exceeds ability to cope and causes individual performance to fall sharply
Symptoms of fatigue
reduction in speed & accuracy
lapses of attention and vigilance
delayed reactions
impaired reasoning and decisions
reduced situational awareness
Hypothermia and heat loss in body
body temp less than 95 degrees F
Conduction- primary cause- body comes in contact with something cold
Radiation- 50% lost from head
Convection- Air current blows heat away faster than heat produced by body
Evaporation- sweat moistening clothing, accelerating conduction
Respiration- body loses heat by warming the colder air
Shelter (airplane fuselage) and dry clothing= line of defence
Runway Width Illusion
Narrower than usual- a/c is higher than actually is (pilot flies too low of approach)
Wider than usual- risk of leveling out too high and landing hard or overshooting runway
Runway and Terrain Slopes Illusion
Upsloping, a/c higher alt than it is, flying lower approach
Downsloping, a/c lower and high approach
Featureless Terrain Illusion
absence of ground features (like landing over water, snow)- illusion that a/c is at higher alt than it actually is, lower approach
Water Refraction Illusion
Rain on windscreen illusion of being higher due to horizon appearing lower than it is, pilot flies lower approach
Haze Illusion
Illusion of being at a greater distance and height from runway, tendency fly low on approach
