Flight Safety Foundation Human Factors & Aviation Medicine 1992

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November–December 1992

U.S. Studies Say Altitude Chamber Training Offers Important Hypoxia Recognition Training at Low Risk 8 pages. [PDF 42K]

A U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) survey says current regulations should be changed to mandate that all flight crews operating above 10,000 feet should receive comprehensive altitude physiology training, including exposure to altitude chamber flights. A related FAA study says that while altitude chamber training is relatively safe, more than 1,000 physical reactions were reported during the period studied.

September–October 1992

Altitude Chamber Training: Is It Worth the Risk? 8 pages. [PDF 45K]

Thousands of pilots continue to be exposed to altitude chamber training scenarios. However, there is evidence that such training is often not only unnecessary but potentially dangerous.

July–August 1992

Maintain Physical Fitness During Layover 4 pages. [PDF 24K]

The physically fit pilot is less likely to develop a medically disqualifying condition.

May–June 1992

Fine Tuning Sleep During Layover 4 pages. [PDF 23K]

While away from home, look forward to quality sleep — a good book and some masking tape, coupled with a few practical hints provide the special keys to rest.

March–April 1992

Mood Altering and Antidepressant Medications: Do not Mix with Flying 4 pages. [PDF 27K]

Certain medications can affect the human brain and cause less-than-optimum performance in the cockpit.

January–February 1992

Inflight Spatial Disorientation 6 pages. [PDF 31K]

Pilots must learn to recognize the visual and sensory signs of approaching problems interpreting motion, position and attitude and to minimize their effects on the safety of flight.