PPL and CPL Human Factors

What are the key features of good and safe airmanship

Skill and knowledge applied to aviation

Good decision making both on the ground and in the air

Define professionalism in aviation

High standards of conduct

Productive and efficent environment

Taking accountability

Team work

High level of training

Destinguish between piloting for personal reasons and for hire / reward

Personal:

Feaxability in schedual

Lower / less expectations

Less time pressure and other stressors

No monetary incentive to fly

For Hire / Reward:

Higher expectations

Strict schedual

More time pressure

Monetary incentive to fly

Who is the pilot responsible for when carrying out their duties

Themself

Other flight crew

Cabin crew

Passengers

People on the gound [ground staff and bystanders]

Define human factors as used in a professional aviation context

Aa general term which broadly encompasses the medical, psychological and ergonomic / engineering aspects associated with piloting an aircraft

Explain the role of human factors in promoting aviation safety [including flight opperations requiring a CPL]

Emphasis has gone from ‘What happened’ to ‘why did it happen’ and ‘how can we prevent this from happening again’.

Involves learning how to minimise threats to safety that can happen from the human part of the equation.

[shel] Liveware hardware

Relationship between the pilot and the cockpit / controls

mismatches may never be discovered [eg seat not far forward enough] due to people getting used to the improper positioning.

[shel] liveware software

Pilots ability to remember procedures, checklists and their usage of different computer programs

Hard to resolve a possible mismatch due to its intangable nature, like misinterpretations

[shel] liveware environment

helping pilots get used to or adapt to different environments that humans are not really designed to be in [g suits, pressurised cabins etc]

issues may arise from the natural sensations and perceptions of the environment, such as visual and sensatinal illusions

[shel] liveware liveware

the interpersonal relationships between pilots and their team

issues may arise when there is lack of leardership, co-operation and personality clashes, which can make a team more inefficent and can pose a risk to flight safety.

What is the importance of an effective human factors program in operations requiring a CPL

75% of accidents happen dure to human error, not mechanical falt.

Encourages pilots to understand themselves. This enables them to foster an efficent and safe environment for themselves and others

State the gases and their percentages that make up the atmosphere

78% Nitrogen

21% Oxygen

1% Trace gases, but mostly Argon

Describe the variations of pressure as altitude increases

Total air pressure reduces to 50% of its sea level value by about 10,000 ft and 25% by 34,000 ft [exponential decrease]

What is the partial pressure of oxygen at MSL

160 mm Hg

What is the partial pressure of oxygen in the lungs

103 mm Hg

what is the partial pressure of oxygen at 10,000 ft

55 mm Hg

How does the respratory system work

The trachea divides into two bronchi, which split into many bronchioles.

At the end of the bronchiloes there are avioli, which have a combined surfacr area of 70m²

Each alveoli is covered in capillaries

The pressure gradient between the surface of the alveoli means that oxygen readily diffuses into the blood stream and carbon dioxide is deffused out.

The diffusion rate is dependent on the pressure differnential between each side of the alveoli, and how thick the alveoli membrane is.

Oxygen is attracted to the haemoglobin in the red blood cells

This is how oxygen is transported to the organs and tissues in the body and how carbon dioxide is transported out.

How does the circulatory system work

The heart is a pump made of four chambers, two atriums [suction chambers] and two ventricles [discharge chambers].

Oxygen rich blood is drawn through the pulmonary veins into the left atrium.

The blood is them transferred to the left ventricle and discharged to all parts of the body.

oxygen is diffused into tissues and organs via the capillaries.

carbon dioxide is transferred to the blood, where is is transported as carbonic acid.

It is then drawn into the right atrium and discharged by the right ventricle back to the lungs where the blood is reoxygenated.

What is hypoxia

when there is not enough oxygen supplied to the brain

what is the mechanical effect of partial pressure of oxygen on oxygen transfer in the lungs

the pressure differential allows air to be drawn in and expelled out of the lungs.

at 10,000ft the partial pressure of oxygen is 55mm Hg, and is the min acceptable level allowed in aviation.

Above 10,000ft without supplimentation of oxygen, the body would experience hypoxia

The low partial pressure of oxygen is no longer enough to diffuse a sufficent amount of it into the body.

What are the causes of hypoxia

flying too high without any oxygen

if the body and brain dont get enough oxygen then they will not function properly

The most complex parts of the brain need the most oxygen and thus are the first to be affected by hypoxia.

what are the primary physiological and behavioural consequences of hypoxia for flight crew and passengers

Lack of judgment and euphora may cause pilots to make the wrong choices, putting other people in danger. In addition, they may not be able to identify that they are suffering from hypoxia due to their euphoric state.

fine muscular control deteriorates, making flying the aircraft harder to to, cabin crew might have a lack of coordination.

Loss of color perception and night vision can pose a real danger because pilots may not be able to carry out their look out scans effectivly.

What are the common symptoms of hypoxia

Breathlessness

Tiredness

Fatigue

Hyperventilation

personality changes [euphoria]

drunken like state

feeling fuzzy or thick

lack of judgment

lack of fine motor skills

lack of color perception and night vision

cyanosis

blurred vision

why can hypoxia be difficult to identify

symptoms are progressive so early stages of hypoxia may not be detected as easily

early hypoxia and hyperventillation can be difficult to distinguish between. if in doubt, treat for hypoxia

How can you prevent hypoxia

have oxygen is flying at high altitudes

if you dont have oxygen, dont gly above 10,000 ft

how can someone develop tolerance to hypoxia

if you live in high altitudes or are a mountaineer. you can become aclimatised to higher altitudes, although after long periods of time not being aclimatised, you can lose your tolerance very quickly

what can make you more seceptable to hypoxia

cold conditions

during physical activity

if you are sick or feverish

fatigue

drugs and alcohol

smoking

how can you treat hypoxia

administer oxygen

decend to a lower altitude [below 10,000 ft]

what is the time of useful consciousness

the time available to recognise that hypoxia exists and to be able to do something about it

what is the time of useful consciousness at 18,000 ft

15-30 mins

what is the time of useful conciousness at 25,000 ft

3-5 mins

what is the time of useful consciousness at 36,000 ft

45-60 seconds

what is the oxygen paradox

whe you administer oxygen to a mildly or moderaly hypoxic person, their condition worses for a moment, then it gets better

what are the symptoms of hyperventilation

light-headedness

numbness and tingling in the hands, feet and around the mouth

increased anxiety

muscle spasms

black out / fainting

how can you treat hyperventilation

make a conscious effort to slow doen breathing

breathing into a paper bag or rolled up newspaper to help build up carbondioxide levels in the lungs

what is the difference between hypoxia and hyperventilation

hypoxia is a lack of oxygen in the brain, and hyperventilation is mostly caused by stress.

what is barotrauma

pain induced by pressure differences in the body due to barometric changes

what is the cause of barotrauma

gases in the body that cant escape expanding or contracting due to pressure differentials.

what are the symptoms of barotrauma

pain and discomfort

what parts of the body are most effected by barotrauma

ears

sinuses

gastrointesional tract

teeth

how can you treat barotrauma

valsalva technique

chewing

yawning

swallowing