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Aviation PhysiologyAviation PhysiologyAviation PhysiologyAviation Physiology

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VisionVisionNight FlightNight FlightVisual IllusionsVisual IllusionsLanding IllusionsLanding IllusionsSpatial DisorientationSpatial DisorientationHypoxiaHypoxiaADM (Aeronautical Decision Making)ADM (Aeronautical Decision Making)

VisionVisionNight FlightNight FlightVisual IllusionsVisual IllusionsLanding IllusionsLanding IllusionsSpatial DisorientationSpatial DisorientationHypoxiaHypoxiaADM (Aeronautical Decision Making)ADM (Aeronautical Decision Making)

Quote of the Day:Quote of the Day:Quote of the Day:Quote of the Day:

““IM SAFE”IM SAFE”““IM SAFE”IM SAFE”

VisionVisionVisionVisionVision Vision

result of light passing through the cornea result of light passing through the cornea and striking a lens.and striking a lens.

RetinaRetinaConesConesRodsRods

Vision Vision result of light passing through the cornea result of light passing through the cornea

and striking a lens.and striking a lens.

RetinaRetinaConesConesRodsRods

VisionVisionVisionVision

Cones Cones perceive color and depth perceive color and depth concentrated in the foveaconcentrated in the fovea

RodsRods concentrated outside the fovea concentrated outside the fovea dim light and night receivers. dim light and night receivers. 10,000 time more sensitive to light than cones10,000 time more sensitive to light than cones Primary receptors to night vision and peripheral Primary receptors to night vision and peripheral

visionvisionNight Blind spot Night Blind spot Anatomical Blind spotAnatomical Blind spot

Cones Cones perceive color and depth perceive color and depth concentrated in the foveaconcentrated in the fovea

RodsRods concentrated outside the fovea concentrated outside the fovea dim light and night receivers. dim light and night receivers. 10,000 time more sensitive to light than cones10,000 time more sensitive to light than cones Primary receptors to night vision and peripheral Primary receptors to night vision and peripheral

visionvisionNight Blind spot Night Blind spot Anatomical Blind spotAnatomical Blind spot

Dark AdaptationDark AdaptationDark AdaptationDark Adaptation

Visual Purple (Rhodopsin) Visual Purple (Rhodopsin) Light absorbing protein in membrane of rodsLight absorbing protein in membrane of rods Allows rods to detect images in the dark Allows rods to detect images in the dark

Night flightNight flight 30 minutes required for full adaptation to dark30 minutes required for full adaptation to dark

Red lightsRed lights Rods least affected by red light’s wavelengthRods least affected by red light’s wavelength Minimal contraction of irisMinimal contraction of iris

Visual Purple (Rhodopsin) Visual Purple (Rhodopsin) Light absorbing protein in membrane of rodsLight absorbing protein in membrane of rods Allows rods to detect images in the dark Allows rods to detect images in the dark

Night flightNight flight 30 minutes required for full adaptation to dark30 minutes required for full adaptation to dark

Red lightsRed lights Rods least affected by red light’s wavelengthRods least affected by red light’s wavelength Minimal contraction of irisMinimal contraction of iris

Night Flight ChecklistNight Flight ChecklistNight Flight ChecklistNight Flight Checklist

Get dark adapted prior to flightGet dark adapted prior to flightKeep glasses and windscreen cleanKeep glasses and windscreen cleanLook off to side 15Look off to side 15oo while scanning while scanningClose one eye if using bright light Close one eye if using bright light Properly use oxygenProperly use oxygenQuit SmokingQuit SmokingVitamin AVitamin AGet adequate restGet adequate rest

Get dark adapted prior to flightGet dark adapted prior to flightKeep glasses and windscreen cleanKeep glasses and windscreen cleanLook off to side 15Look off to side 15oo while scanning while scanningClose one eye if using bright light Close one eye if using bright light Properly use oxygenProperly use oxygenQuit SmokingQuit SmokingVitamin AVitamin AGet adequate restGet adequate rest

Visual IllusionsVisual IllusionsVisual IllusionsVisual Illusions

False HorizonsFalse HorizonsBlack Hole Black Hole

ApproachApproachLanding IllusionsLanding Illusions

False HorizonsFalse HorizonsBlack Hole Black Hole

ApproachApproachLanding IllusionsLanding Illusions

Visual IllusionsVisual IllusionsVisual IllusionsVisual Illusions False HorizonsFalse Horizons

Natural horizon is Natural horizon is obscured or not apparent obscured or not apparent

Attempting to realign Attempting to realign yourself to false horizon yourself to false horizon can lead to a dangerous can lead to a dangerous flight attitudeflight attitude

Black Hole ApproachBlack Hole Approach Long, straight-in Long, straight-in

approach at night to a approach at night to a brightly lit runway brightly lit runway over featureless and over featureless and unlit terrainunlit terrain

Pilot attempts to maintain Pilot attempts to maintain visual anglevisual angle

False HorizonsFalse Horizons Natural horizon is Natural horizon is

obscured or not apparent obscured or not apparent Attempting to realign Attempting to realign

yourself to false horizon yourself to false horizon can lead to a dangerous can lead to a dangerous flight attitudeflight attitude

Black Hole ApproachBlack Hole Approach Long, straight-in Long, straight-in

approach at night to a approach at night to a brightly lit runway brightly lit runway over featureless and over featureless and unlit terrainunlit terrain

Pilot attempts to maintain Pilot attempts to maintain visual anglevisual angle

Landing IllusionsLanding IllusionsLanding IllusionsLanding Illusions

Sloping runwaysSloping runwaysRunway widthRunway widthTerrainTerrainWeather conditionsWeather conditionsVisibilityVisibility

Sloping runwaysSloping runwaysRunway widthRunway widthTerrainTerrainWeather conditionsWeather conditionsVisibilityVisibility

IllusionsIllusionsIllusionsIllusions

Approach IllusionsApproach IllusionsApproach IllusionsApproach IllusionsSituationSituation IllusionIllusion ResultResult

Up-sloping RunwayUp-sloping Runway HigherHigher Lower ApproachesLower Approaches

Narrow RunwayNarrow Runway HigherHigher Lower ApproachesLower Approaches

Featureless TerrainFeatureless Terrain HigherHigher Lower ApproachesLower Approaches

Rain on WindshieldRain on Windshield HigherHigher Lower ApproachesLower Approaches

HazeHaze HigherHigher Lower ApproachesLower Approaches

Down-sloping RunwayDown-sloping Runway LowerLower Higher ApproachesHigher Approaches

Wider RunwayWider Runway LowerLower Higher ApproachesHigher Approaches

Bright RunwayBright Runway CloserCloser Higher ApproachesHigher Approaches

Example – Runway WidthExample – Runway WidthExample – Runway WidthExample – Runway Width

Sloping RunwaySloping RunwaySloping RunwaySloping Runway

DisorientationDisorientationDisorientationDisorientation

The incorrect mental The incorrect mental image of your image of your position, attitude, or position, attitude, or movementmovement

Three sources of Three sources of input:input: Kinesthetic SenseKinesthetic Sense VisionVision Vestibular SystemVestibular System

The incorrect mental The incorrect mental image of your image of your position, attitude, or position, attitude, or movementmovement

Three sources of Three sources of input:input: Kinesthetic SenseKinesthetic Sense VisionVision Vestibular SystemVestibular System

Kinesthetic and VestibularKinesthetic and VestibularKinesthetic and VestibularKinesthetic and Vestibular

Awareness of position obtained from the Awareness of position obtained from the nerves in your skin, joints, and muscles.nerves in your skin, joints, and muscles.

““Fly by the seat of your pants”Fly by the seat of your pants”Rely upon kinesthetic and vestibular Rely upon kinesthetic and vestibular

senses in low visibilitysenses in low visibilityProblem: UNRELIABLEProblem: UNRELIABLE

Factors such as fatigue, high workload, Factors such as fatigue, high workload, alcohol, and anxiety add to susceptibility alcohol, and anxiety add to susceptibility to disorientation and visual illusions.to disorientation and visual illusions.

Awareness of position obtained from the Awareness of position obtained from the nerves in your skin, joints, and muscles.nerves in your skin, joints, and muscles.

““Fly by the seat of your pants”Fly by the seat of your pants”Rely upon kinesthetic and vestibular Rely upon kinesthetic and vestibular

senses in low visibilitysenses in low visibilityProblem: UNRELIABLEProblem: UNRELIABLE

Factors such as fatigue, high workload, Factors such as fatigue, high workload, alcohol, and anxiety add to susceptibility alcohol, and anxiety add to susceptibility to disorientation and visual illusions.to disorientation and visual illusions.

What Can I do?What Can I do?What Can I do?What Can I do?

Rely on the instruments Rely on the instruments Regardless of how your Regardless of how your

body feels, maintaining body feels, maintaining orientation during flight at orientation during flight at night or in marginal night or in marginal weather conditions is key.weather conditions is key.

Rely on the instruments Rely on the instruments Regardless of how your Regardless of how your

body feels, maintaining body feels, maintaining orientation during flight at orientation during flight at night or in marginal night or in marginal weather conditions is key.weather conditions is key.

Illusions Leading to Illusions Leading to DisorientationDisorientation

Illusions Leading to Illusions Leading to DisorientationDisorientation

Graveyard SpiralGraveyard SpiralTurn Tightens as Pilot tries to Turn Tightens as Pilot tries to

raise noseraise nose

LeansLeansDesire to turn opposite Desire to turn opposite

direction after rolling out of a direction after rolling out of a turnturn

Inversion IllusionInversion IllusionAbrupt change from climb to Abrupt change from climb to

straight and levelstraight and level

Graveyard SpiralGraveyard SpiralTurn Tightens as Pilot tries to Turn Tightens as Pilot tries to

raise noseraise nose

LeansLeansDesire to turn opposite Desire to turn opposite

direction after rolling out of a direction after rolling out of a turnturn

Inversion IllusionInversion IllusionAbrupt change from climb to Abrupt change from climb to

straight and levelstraight and level

HypoxiaHypoxiaHypoxiaHypoxiaOxygen deficiency in the bloodstreamOxygen deficiency in the bloodstreamSymptoms:Symptoms:

Headache, fatigueHeadache, fatigue Light headed or dizzy sensation, lethargicLight headed or dizzy sensation, lethargic Tingling or warming sensations, sweatingTingling or warming sensations, sweating SleepinessSleepiness Cyanosis (discoloration of fingernails and lips)Cyanosis (discoloration of fingernails and lips) EuphoriaEuphoria

EffectsEffects Lack of clear thinkingLack of clear thinking After time, unconsciousness After time, unconsciousness

Oxygen deficiency in the bloodstreamOxygen deficiency in the bloodstreamSymptoms:Symptoms:

Headache, fatigueHeadache, fatigue Light headed or dizzy sensation, lethargicLight headed or dizzy sensation, lethargic Tingling or warming sensations, sweatingTingling or warming sensations, sweating SleepinessSleepiness Cyanosis (discoloration of fingernails and lips)Cyanosis (discoloration of fingernails and lips) EuphoriaEuphoria

EffectsEffects Lack of clear thinkingLack of clear thinking After time, unconsciousness After time, unconsciousness

HyperventilationHyperventilationHyperventilationHyperventilationToo much OxygenToo much OxygenNot enough Carbon DioxideNot enough Carbon DioxideSymptomsSymptoms

DizzinessDizziness Hot and cold sensationsHot and cold sensations SleepinessSleepiness Tingling of hands, legs, and Tingling of hands, legs, and

feetfeet

RemedyRemedy Breathe into brown paper bagBreathe into brown paper bag Talk AloudTalk Aloud

Too much OxygenToo much OxygenNot enough Carbon DioxideNot enough Carbon DioxideSymptomsSymptoms

DizzinessDizziness Hot and cold sensationsHot and cold sensations SleepinessSleepiness Tingling of hands, legs, and Tingling of hands, legs, and

feetfeet

RemedyRemedy Breathe into brown paper bagBreathe into brown paper bag Talk AloudTalk Aloud

ADMADMADMADM

Systematic approach to the mental Systematic approach to the mental process used to determine best course process used to determine best course of action of action

Dangerous TendenciesDangerous TendenciesScud RunningScud RunningContinuing Visual Flight into IMCContinuing Visual Flight into IMCNeglect of ChecklistsNeglect of Checklists

Systematic approach to the mental Systematic approach to the mental process used to determine best course process used to determine best course of action of action

Dangerous TendenciesDangerous TendenciesScud RunningScud RunningContinuing Visual Flight into IMCContinuing Visual Flight into IMCNeglect of ChecklistsNeglect of Checklists

Hazardous AttitudesHazardous AttitudesHazardous AttitudesHazardous Attitudes

AttitudesAttitudes AntiauthorityAntiauthority

ImpulsivityImpulsivity

MachoMacho

ResignationResignation

AttitudesAttitudes AntiauthorityAntiauthority

ImpulsivityImpulsivity

MachoMacho

ResignationResignation

AntidotesAntidotes Follow the RulesFollow the Rules

Think firstThink first

It could happen to It could happen to meme

I’m not helplessI’m not helpless

AntidotesAntidotes Follow the RulesFollow the Rules

Think firstThink first

It could happen to It could happen to meme

I’m not helplessI’m not helpless

Any Questions?Any Questions?Any Questions?Any Questions?

““Aviation in itself is not inherently Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is degree than the sea, it is unforgiving of any carelessness, unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity, or neglect”incapacity, or neglect”

-Anonymous-Anonymous

““Aviation in itself is not inherently Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is degree than the sea, it is unforgiving of any carelessness, unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity, or neglect”incapacity, or neglect”

-Anonymous-Anonymous