Part One - The Human Condition

Question 1

Over what percentage of aircraft accidents are caused by pilot error?

Answer 1

80%

Question 2

BMI Formula

Answer 2

BMI = Weight in Kilos / Height in meters squared

Question 3

Above what BMI is considered overweight?

Answer 3

25

Question 4

Above what BMI is considered obese?

Answer 4

30

Question 5

How much blood does your heart pump per day?

Answer 5

7600L

Question 6

What is the single most common cause of pilot incapacitation during flight?

Answer 6

Gastro-intestinal upsets caused by contamination of food or drink.

Question 7

What range is the human body most comfortable operating in?

Answer 7

21 - 27 degrees at 50% relative humidity

Question 8

Above what temperature is the first type of heat stress likely to occur?

Answer 8

32 degrees

Question 9

What is the most noticeable effect of the first type of heat stress?

Answer 9

Tiredness

Question 10

What causes heat exhaustion?

Answer 10

Circulatory system cannot compensate for blood vessels that have dilated to increase flow of heat out of your body via the skin.

Question 11

What is the best antidote for the first type of heat stress?

Answer 11

Drinking water

Question 12

What causes the second type of heat stress?

Answer 12

Too much sun prior to a flight without adequate protection or lack of sufficient liquid intake.

Question 13

What is the effect of the second type of heat stress?

Answer 13

Concentration may be lowered leading to a decline in decision making.

Question 14

What causes the third type of heat stress?

Answer 14

Temperatures below about 10 degrees.

Question 15

What does the third type of heat stress cause?

Answer 15

It is possible for your body to lose more heat than it can produce which can cause shivering, drowsiness and poor concentration - all having adverse effects on performance.

Question 16

What is hypothermia?

Answer 16

Body can no longer maintain its core temperature.

Question 17

What are the symptoms hypothermia?

Answer 17

Impairment of thinking, apathy and eventually unconsciousness and death.

Question 18

Cause of hypothermia?

Answer 18

Long immersion in cold water or unprotected exposure to very cold environmental temperatures.

Question 19

What does dehydration eventually lead to?

Answer 19

A malfunction of almost every bodily process including emotional disturbances and irrational decision making.

Question 20

Dehydration remedy?

Answer 20

Drink more water.

Question 21

Early symptoms of dehydration?

Answer 21

Drying of the nasal passages and a prickly sensation in the eyes.

Question 22

How long after a blood donation does CASA recommend you stay on the ground for?

Answer 22

24 hours

Question 23

What can a blood donation cause in individuals?

Answer 23

Tiredness and a lowering of blood pressure.

Question 24

What does smoking cause in individuals and why?

Answer 24

Moderate to heavy smoker is effectively several thousand feet higher than his/her actual level suffering the effects of Hypoxia. This is because the carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke reduces the blood’s oxygen carrying capacity. Effects include reduced visual sensitivity and reduced mental alertness.

Question 25

During a climb, what happens in regards to the ear?

Answer 25

Outside air pressure drops which causes the eardrum to bulge outwards. The Eustachian tube provides a passage to allow the air behind the eardrum to leak out into the nasal cavity to equalise the pressure on either side of the eardrum.

Question 26

During a descent, what happens in regards to the ear?

Answer 26

Air pressure rises and the eardrum bulges inwards. The Eustachian tube allows air to flow from the nasal cavity back to the inside of the eardrum to equalise the pressure.

Question 27

If the Eustachian tube is blocked, what will happen during climb or descent?

Answer 27

Air can no longer flow freely along this passage which causes unequal pressures cause the eardrum to stretch causing sever pain and even rupture of the eardrum.

Question 28

Does air flow in or out of the Eustachian tube more easily?

Answer 28

Air flows out of the Eustachian tube much more easily than it flows back in.

Question 29

Is it easier to equalise pressure on a climb or a descent?

Answer 29

Climb

Question 30

What is the pain and discomfort associated with pressure differences called?

Answer 30

Barotrauma

Question 31

What is pressure vertigo?

Answer 31

Dizziness caused by pressure affecting the ear’s balance mechanism.

Question 32

If you supper any injury or any other condition that may impair your ability to fly, what does CASR 67.265 say you must do?

Answer 32

Advice CASA or a DAMA as soon as possible and not fly until advised by a DAME that you fully meet the prescribed standards.

Question 33

What are the main deterioration’s associated with aging?

Answer 33

Hearing (especially higher frequencies in men) and presbyopia, or long sightedness which is a natural age related change caused by the weakening of the muscles controlling the eye’s lens.

Question 34

When is it generally recommended for a pregnant woman to stop flying?

Answer 34

After the sixth month.

Question 35

What can obesity be a contributing factor towards?

Answer 35

Hypertension, gout, diabetes and heart disease.

Question 36

What can too much salt lead to?

Answer 36

Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Question 37

What kind of foods release gases during digestion which can subsequently cause pain or discomfort when they expand in the lower ambient pressure at high altitude?

Answer 37

Green vegetables.

Question 38

What does too little iron in the diet lead to?

Answer 38

Blood disorders such as Anaemia.