Monday, July 8, 2019

Ground Lesson 11: Physiology and aeronautical decision making

Aviation physiology
  • Vision in flight
    • Vision is the result of the light striking the retina after entering through the cornea and passes through the lens
    • The retina contains many photosensitive cells called cones and rods, which are connected to the optic nerve
      • Cones 
        • Concentrated in the center of the retina
        • Function well in bright light and are sensitive to color

      • Rods
        • Function well in the dark
        • Responsible for much of your peripheral vision
        • 30 minutes for rods to adapt to the dark
        • Avoid lighted areas before your flight
  • Night vision 
    • 30 minutes for rods to adapt to the dark
    • Avoid lighted areas before your flight
    • The concentration of cones concentrated in the fovea can create a blind spot at night in the center of your vision
        • Use your peripheral vision at night
        • Don't concentrate on an image while flying at night, it may start to fade



  • Visual illusions
    • Autokinesis
      • If you stare at a light for too long it may appear to be moving

    • False horizon
      • The actual horizon may be obscured, and clouds and terrain may form a false horizon

    • Landing illusions 
      • Tendency to fly a lower-than-normal approach at night
      • Narrow runway
        • Looks like you're higher than you actually are

      • Wide runway
        • Looks like you're lower than you actually are

      • Downslope runway
        • Looks like you are lower

      • Upslope runway
        • Looks like you're higher

    • Night myopia
      • Nothing to focus on

    • Flicker vertigo

  • Disorientation
    • Human vestibular system 
      • Motion sensing system in the ears
        • Sense of balance and orientation 
        • Bodies attitude indicator

      • Small hairs surrounded by gelatinous liquid 
      • Hairs move instantly, but liquid lags behind due to inertia 
      • Not able to detect motion less than 2 - 3 degrees per second
      • Can lead to spatial disorientation

    • Spatial disorientation 
      • Not knowing your attitude 
      • Information conflict between your senses
      • Vestibular sense works good with visual visual sense

    • Motion sickness 
      • Conflict between visual sense and other sense
      • Symptoms 
        • Discomfort
        • Nausea
        • Paleness

  • Hypoxia
    • Definition
      • Lack of Oxygen in the body tissues due to decreased quantity and molecular concentration
    • Four types 
      • Hypoxic - lungs
        • Drop in oxygen pressure (altitude)
        • Oxygen requirements  FAR 91.211

      • Hypemic - blood
        • Reduced ability of the blood to carry oxygen (CO)

      • Stagnant - heart
        • Inability of the blood to reach tissue/organs(circulation/g-force)

      • Histotoxic - external
        • Inability of the tissue/organs to obtain oxygen (alcohol/drugs)

    • Symptoms 
      • Impaired judgement
      • Light headed
      • Headache
      • Blue fingernails/lips
      • Reduced vision

    • Corrective action: 
      • Oxygen
      • Don’t smoke
      • Stay healthy
      • Lower altitude

  • Hyperventilation
    • Not enough carbon dioxide in the blood
    • Over breathing reduces CO2 level in the blood
    • Causes
      • Anxiety or stress

    • Symptoms 
      • Similar to hypoxia

    • Correction 
      • Control breathing



Aeronautical decision making - (ground lesson one again)
  • Applying the decision-making process
    • You must make sure it is safe to fly during the whole flight
    • Avoid poor judgment chains
    • Aeronautical decision making models

    • DECIDE model
Detect
Changes in the condition of flight
Estimate
The need for correction action 
Choose
Desired outcome of corrective action 
Identify
Corrective action needed for the situation 
Do
The necessary action 
Evaluate
The effect of the action 



    • PPP model
Perceive →  given set of circumstances 
Process → by evaluating their inspection on flight safety
Perform → implementing the best course of action 



  • Risk assessment  - (next lesson)
    • PAVE model
      • Pilot
      • Aircraft
      • EnVironment
      • External pressure

  • Pilot-in-command responsibility
    • FAR  91.3
    • IMSAFE 
      • Illness
      • Medication
      • Stress
      • Alcohol
      • Fatigue
      • Eat

    • Hazardous flight attitudes

  • Communication
    • Work on effective listening 
      • If unclear, request clarification

    • Think before you transmit 
    • Read back clearances/ runway numbers, traffic

  • Workload management
    • Stay ahead of the aircraft
    • Doing as much as possible in advance will reduce stress during high workload situations 
    • Prioritize 
    • ANC → aviate, navigate, communicate
  • Situational awareness
    • Know your position 
    • Know positions of other aircraft's 
    • Know the terrain
    • Pay attention to ATC
    • Keep track of weather and wind
    • Know your aircraft
    • Keep an eye out for other factors that can affect your flight

  • Resource use
    • Be familiar with the aircraft equipment 
    • Use any available resource provided in the aircraft

  • Applying human factors training
    • Read private pilot handbook 10-39

No comments:

Post a Comment