Flight Safety Foundation Human Factors & Aviation Medicine 1988

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November–December 1988

Lyme Disease and Aircrew Health 4 pages. [PDF 20K]

Ticks, small insects found outdoors, but commonly associated with pets, can cause infections capable of grounding pilots. Only recently identified, Lyme disease is an illness carried by specific ticks and it can be diagnosed incorrectly and cause the grounding of a pilot. During treatment for illness, patients need to inform their physicians if they know they were bitten by ticks, or if they were outdoors in a tick-infested area. Once identified, treatment is straightforward and effective.

September–October 1988

Assessing Pilot Fitness by Modern Techniques 4 pages. [PDF 22K]

Aerospace medicine specialists, with their in-depth knowledge of the aerospace environment and the work requirements of aircrew, can integrate the clinical and work environment data, and make a judgment relative to whether or not an individual with a given condition can be returned to duty with no impairment of flight safety.

July–August 1988

Special Medical Issuances Go to Pilots With Cardiovascular Conditions 4 pages. [PDF 20K]

Developments in aerospace medicine along with progress in medical technology, including diagnostic and therapeutic methodology, have made it possible to waive previously uncertifiable conditions in pilots who do not meet the basic medical standards.

May–June 1988

Visual Fatigue Reduces Pilot Performance 4 pages. [PDF 22K]

Unimpaired vision is essential to safe flight, and visual fatigue is a common experience among pilots. The authors discuss prevention, recognition and treatment of visual fatigue, while reminding aviators that hindrances to vision are a liability in the cockpit.

March–April 1988

Caffeine Can Pick You Up or Let You Down 4 pages. [PDF 24K]

This popular natural stimulant is found in coffee, cola drinks and prescription drugs. It can be an aid against fatigue, but it can create unwanted side-effects too.

January–February 1988

Pilots Must Be As Airworthy As Their Aircraft 4 pages. [PDF 19K]

Medical airworthiness is more than maintaining good health, says the author, and it is only one link in the human factors chain. No chain is stronger than its weakest link; medical airworthiness derives its strength from education and training.