1. “ Teaching the Science, Inspiring the Art, Producing Aviation Candidates!” Aviation Physiology

2. RoadmapRoadmap  Vision  Night Flight  Visual Illusions  Landing Illusions  Spatial Disorientation  Hypoxia  ADM (Aeronautical Decision Making)  Vision  Night Flight  Visual Illusions  Landing Illusions  Spatial Disorientation  Hypoxia  ADM (Aeronautical Decision Making)

3. Quote of the Day:  “IM SAFE”

4. VisionVision  Vision  result of light passing through the cornea and striking a lens.  Retina  Cones  Rods  Vision  result of light passing through the cornea and striking a lens.  Retina  Cones  Rods

5. VisionVision  Cones  perceive color and depth  concentrated in the fovea  Rods  concentrated outside the fovea  dim light and night receivers.  10,000 time more sensitive to light than cones  Primary receptors to night vision and peripheral vision  Night Blind spot  Anatomical Blind spot  Cones  perceive color and depth  concentrated in the fovea  Rods  concentrated outside the fovea  dim light and night receivers.  10,000 time more sensitive to light than cones  Primary receptors to night vision and peripheral vision  Night Blind spot  Anatomical Blind spot

6. Dark Adaptation  Visual Purple (Rhodopsin)  Light absorbing protein in membrane of rods  Allows rods to detect images in the dark  Night flight  30 minutes required for full adaptation to dark  Red lights  Rods least affected by red light’s wavelength  Minimal contraction of iris  Visual Purple (Rhodopsin)  Light absorbing protein in membrane of rods  Allows rods to detect images in the dark  Night flight  30 minutes required for full adaptation to dark  Red lights  Rods least affected by red light’s wavelength  Minimal contraction of iris

7. Night Flight Checklist  Get dark adapted prior to flight  Keep glasses and windscreen clean  Look off to side 15 o while scanning  Close one eye if using bright light  Properly use oxygen  Quit Smoking  Vitamin A  Get adequate rest  Get dark adapted prior to flight  Keep glasses and windscreen clean  Look off to side 15 o while scanning  Close one eye if using bright light  Properly use oxygen  Quit Smoking  Vitamin A  Get adequate rest

8. Visual Illusions  False Horizons  Black Hole Approach  Landing Illusions  False Horizons  Black Hole Approach  Landing Illusions

9. Visual Illusions  False Horizons  Natural horizon is obscured or not apparent  Attempting to realign yourself to false horizon can lead to a dangerous flight attitude  Black Hole Approach Long, straight-in approach at night to a brightly lit runway over featureless and unlit terrain  Pilot attempts to maintain visual angle  False Horizons  Natural horizon is obscured or not apparent  Attempting to realign yourself to false horizon can lead to a dangerous flight attitude  Black Hole Approach Long, straight-in approach at night to a brightly lit runway over featureless and unlit terrain  Pilot attempts to maintain visual angle

10. Landing Illusions  Sloping runways  Runway width  Terrain  Weather conditions  Visibility  Sloping runways  Runway width  Terrain  Weather conditions  Visibility

11. IllusionsIllusions

12. Approach Illusions SituationIllusionResult Up-sloping Runway Higher Lower Approaches Narrow Runway Higher Lower Approaches Featureless Terrain Higher Lower Approaches Rain on Windshield Higher Lower Approaches HazeHigher Down-sloping Runway Lower Higher Approaches Wider Runway Lower Higher Approaches Bright Runway Closer Higher Approaches

13. Example – Runway Width

14. Sloping Runway

15. DisorientationDisorientation  The incorrect mental image of your position, attitude, or movement  Three sources of input:  Kinesthetic Sense  Vision  Vestibular System  The incorrect mental image of your position, attitude, or movement  Three sources of input:  Kinesthetic Sense  Vision  Vestibular System

16. Kinesthetic and Vestibular  Awareness of position obtained from the nerves in your skin, joints, and muscles.  “Fly by the seat of your pants”  Rely upon kinesthetic and vestibular senses in low visibility  Problem: UNRELIABLE  Factors such as fatigue, high workload, alcohol, and anxiety add to susceptibility to disorientation and visual illusions.  Awareness of position obtained from the nerves in your skin, joints, and muscles.  “Fly by the seat of your pants”  Rely upon kinesthetic and vestibular senses in low visibility  Problem: UNRELIABLE  Factors such as fatigue, high workload, alcohol, and anxiety add to susceptibility to disorientation and visual illusions.

17. What Can I do?  Rely on the instruments  Regardless of how your body feels, maintaining orientation during flight at night or in marginal weather conditions is key.  Rely on the instruments  Regardless of how your body feels, maintaining orientation during flight at night or in marginal weather conditions is key.

18. Illusions Leading to Disorientation  Graveyard Spiral  Turn Tightens as Pilot tries to raise nose  Leans  Desire to turn opposite direction after rolling out of a turn  Inversion Illusion  Abrupt change from climb to straight and level  Graveyard Spiral  Turn Tightens as Pilot tries to raise nose  Leans  Desire to turn opposite direction after rolling out of a turn  Inversion Illusion  Abrupt change from climb to straight and level

19. HypoxiaHypoxia  Oxygen deficiency in the bloodstream  Symptoms:  Headache, fatigue  Light headed or dizzy sensation, lethargic  Tingling or warming sensations, sweating  Sleepiness  Cyanosis (discoloration of fingernails and lips)  Euphoria  Effects  Lack of clear thinking  After time, unconsciousness  Oxygen deficiency in the bloodstream  Symptoms:  Headache, fatigue  Light headed or dizzy sensation, lethargic  Tingling or warming sensations, sweating  Sleepiness  Cyanosis (discoloration of fingernails and lips)  Euphoria  Effects  Lack of clear thinking  After time, unconsciousness

20. HyperventilationHyperventilation  Too much Oxygen  Not enough Carbon Dioxide  Symptoms  Dizziness  Hot and cold sensations  Sleepiness  Tingling of hands, legs, and feet  Remedy  Breathe into brown paper bag  Talk Aloud  Too much Oxygen  Not enough Carbon Dioxide  Symptoms  Dizziness  Hot and cold sensations  Sleepiness  Tingling of hands, legs, and feet  Remedy  Breathe into brown paper bag  Talk Aloud

21. ADMADM  Systematic approach to the mental process used to determine best course of action  Dangerous Tendencies  Scud Running  Continuing Visual Flight into IMC  Neglect of Checklists  Systematic approach to the mental process used to determine best course of action  Dangerous Tendencies  Scud Running  Continuing Visual Flight into IMC  Neglect of Checklists

22. Hazardous Attitudes  Attitudes  Antiauthority  Impulsivity  Macho  Resignation  Attitudes  Antiauthority  Impulsivity  Macho  Resignation  Antidotes  Follow the Rules  Think first  It could happen to me  I’m not helpless

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