Aviation Human Factors

LECTURE 2: FLIGHT
1

Learning Objectives
By end of this session, you will be able to:
Understand how the body and mind can
be affected in flight as well as why they
are affected in flight.
Be knowledgeable about the physiology
of the body in the flight environment.

Why Important?
Flight physiology and human factors
both have an impact on flight.
More than 70 percent of aviation
accidents and incidents are in some
way related to human factors.
An accident is one incident too many.
No accident occurs without a series
of incidents happening beforehand.

What is Physiology?
The study of human systems'
integrated functions and the
processes by which they maintain
the body functions.

Flight physiology
Flight physiology is how the body and mind
work in the flying environment.
It includes
How our organs function,
What keeps them from functioning in a
abnormal environment,
What the pilot can do to protect these functions
before and during flight.

Flight physiology, therefore, is an integral

part of human factors and safe flight, and it
has a direct effect on human performance.

Remember
Knowing flight physiology, being aware
of its effects on performance, and
maintaining a high index of suspicion
when performance becomes poor will
continue to make everyone a better
and safer pilot.
Suspicion = a feeling that something is
possible

SHELL Model
Model developed by ICAO
This model explain why the physiology of
flight is important, since the human
element is obviously crucial and central
and every aspect of physiology will affect
every other interaction as defined in the
model.
Human factors are how these interfaces
and interactions ultimately affect
performance.

SHELL MODEL

H
H
SS

LL
LL

EE

L- L I V E W A R E
(Human)
Core of the model
comprised of human
operators, most flexible
and critical component
in the system.

S - Software (procedures, documentation)

H - Hardware (technology, machine,
equipment)
E - Environment (weather, temperature, noise
L - Liveware (human)

Objectives of Understanding
Flight Physiology
To prevent incapacitation or
impairment, whether mental or physical .
Incapacitation incapable of performing
expected normal activity.
Mental incapacitation is the minds
inability to use proper judgment,
reasoning, and decision making.

Incapacitation
Beyond that, mental incapacitation turns
into neurological incapacitation,
whereby the signals from the brain fail to
use the sensory information and data
from the eyes, ears, touch, smell, and
the like.
Physical incapacitation refers to the
bodys inability to function in an expected
way.
The end result of both mental (mind) and
physical (body) incapacitations is an unsafe
and poorly performing pilot.

Human Body System

Human Body System

Respiratory System
Circulatory System
Nervous System (Brain)

Respiratory System
Respiration is the exchange of gases
between the body and its tissues and
the outside ambient air.
The main objective of respiration is
to add oxygen and remove carbon
dioxide.

Functions of Respiratory
System
Intake of Oxygen [O2]
Removal of Carbon Dioxide [CO2]
Maintenance of body heat balance
Maintenance of body acid base balance
[pH]

Respiration
Breathing out

Breathing in

diaphragm
descends

diaphragm
relax

Active Phase
INHALATION
air inflates the lungs

Passive Phase
EXHALATION

air is forced out

What is the
functions of
Human Lung?

The Lung
Function of Lung: To transport of oxygen to the rest of body.
Exchange oxygen O2 and Carbon Dioxide CO2 .

The Lung
Air enters through
the nose, mouth,
trachea to the
bronchial tree.
Distribute to the
ALVEOLI (air sacs),
where blood
brought with
OXYGEN molecules.
Amount of OXYGEN
from Alveoli into
red blood cells
depends on
pressure gradient.

The Lung
Within the red blood cell, there is
Hemoglobin, which function as
specialized oxygen transport system
that allows far more oxygen to be
carried by blood
At high altitude, we need to increase
rate and depth of breathing in order
to get enough oxygen into our lung.

Effects of reduced Pressure

As the pressure decreases at high
altitude the movement of oxygen
into the blood is impaired.
The result is hypoxia , or oxygen
deprivation.

Hypoxia
State of blood when it has an not
enough supply of oxygen for the
requirements of the tissues and body
cells
This can cause impairment of body
function especially brain.
Death will follow if oxygen lack
continues.

Pressure Decrease With

Altitude
PRESSURE

ALTITUDE
FEET

mm/HG

ATMOSPHERES

760

18,000

380

1/2

34,000

190

1/4

48,000

95

1/8

63,000

47

1/16

Pressure Decrease With

Altitude
The air pressure is 30%
lower at the higher altitude
due to the fact that the
atmosphere is less dense-that is, the air molecules
are farther apart.

Circulation System
FUNCTIONS:
Carries the blood, which in turn transports
oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and
waste products.
Assists in temperature regulation.
REMEMBER
Any change in oxygen levels to the cells
immediately changes the performance of
many organs, especially the brain

Low pressure effect to

Vascular System
At high altitudes, the lower air
pressure makes it more difficult for
oxygen to enter our vascular
systems.

Vascular
System

The link between

the heart, lungs,
brain, and other
parts (blood
vessels)
Function: To
maintain blood
supply to all
tissues of the body

The Heart
The heart is an
organ that
pumps the
blood through
the circulatory
system by
contraction and
dilation.

The Heart at high Altitude

At higher altitudes, our bodies initially
develop inefficient physiological
responses.
There is an increase in breathing and heart
rate to as much as double even while
resting.
Pulse rate and blood pressure go up sharply
as our hearts pump harder to get more
oxygen to the cells.
These are stressful changes, especially for
people with weak hearts.

The Heart at high Altitude

The heart muscle requires oxygen for
energy
The heart can fail or become less effective
if oxygen does not reach the heart muscle.
Total blockage of blood to the heart muscle
leads to death of some of the tissues
Dead heart tissue lead to heart attack.

The Brain

1st Part of Brain (4 lobes)

-Frontal lobes: thoughts,
decisions, and judgments
-Parietal lobes: senses and send
information for processing.
-Temporal lobes: Speech center
location and where the brain
computes information (for
written and spoken
communications).
-Occipital lobes: are where
information from the eyes is
processed.

The Brain
2nd part of brain (Midbrain):
Hypothalamus, which produces
hormones that affect temperature,
growth, and other physiological
activities.
3rd part of brain (Hindbrain): The center
of regulation of many of the bodys basic
functions, including breathing, blood
pressure, heart rate, and many others.

Effect of lack oxygen to Brain

Lack of oxygen to the brain, lead to the
failure of the brain function such as
Inability to do normal physical activities,
Distorted vision
Difficulty with memorizing
Difficulty in judgment and decision
making
Loss of thinking ability
Fail to communicate and write well

TYPES OF HYPOXIA

Hypoxic Hypoxia
A
deficiency
in
Alveolar
oxygen
exchange

Reduced
pO2
in the lungs
(high
altitude)
Red
blood cells

Body tissue

Hypoxic Hypoxia
Hypoxic hypoxia occurs when not enough
oxygen is in the air or when decreasing
atmospheric pressures prevent the
diffusion of O2 from the lungs to the

bloodstream.

The partial pressure of oxygen as it is

presented to the blood within the lungs is
too low to effectively carry and transfer
enough oxygen to the cells of the tissues.

Hypemic Hypoxia
An oxygen
+
deficiency
+
due
to
+
+
reduction
+
+
+
n
i
+
+ b
+
in
the
o
l
+ g
+
oxygen
o +
m
e
carrying
a
H
+
capacity
of
+
w
o
the blood
L

Hypemic Hypoxia
Hypemic hypoxia is caused by a reduction in the
oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.
Can cause anaemia, a condition in which there is a
deficiency of red cells or haemoglobin in the
blood.

less capacity for blood to carry

oxygen.

Means

Hemoglobin (Hgb) physically carries 75 times

more oxygen molecule.
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Stagnant
Hypoxia

Adequate
oxygen

Blood
moving
slowly

Reduced
blood
flow

F
G

r
o

s
e
c

Red blood cells

not replenishing
tissue needs
fast enough

Stagnant hypoxia
In stagnant hypoxia, the oxygen-carrying capacity of
the blood is adequate but,

inadequate.

circulation is

Such decrease in blood flow results from the heart failing

to pump effectively.
Such conditions as heart failure, arterial problem, and
blockage of a blood vessel predispose the individual to
stagnant hypoxia.
More often, when a crew member experiences extreme
gravitational forces, disrupting blood flow and causing the
blood to stagnate.
40

Histotoxic Hypoxia
Inability of the
cell to accept
or use oxygen

Adequate
oxygen

Poisoned tissue

c
l
A

h
o

l
o

Red blood cells

retain oxygen

Histotoxic Hypoxia
Histotoxic means the target cell expecting and
needing oxygen is abnormal and unable to
take up the oxygen that is present.
This abnormality has been created as a result
of a toxins present/absorbed by the cell (ex:
Alcohol becomes a toxin to the cell)

Alcohol, narcotics, and certain poisons

interfere the use of Oxygen by body
tissues.
42

Importance to know hypoxia

No matter what the reason for oxygen not getting to
the cell the lack of oxygen (hypoxia) results in a variety
symptoms.
The danger of hypoxia is that the pilot is probably
unsuspecting that he/she is hypoxic.

The key to flying safe at high altitude is to

recognize:
The conditions under which you could be hypoxic.
The physical and mental symptoms that indicate you
are hypoxic.
When a crewmate is susceptible to hypoxia in those
conditions.

Why important to
recognize?
Because the nervous system tissues have a heavy
requirement for oxygen, especially the brain (and eyes),
most hypoxic symptoms are directly or indirectly related
to the nervous system (brain).
If hypoxia is prolonged, serious problems develop with
ultimate death . In extreme cases (prior to death), some
brain cells are actually killed, and they cannot be
regenerated.
The single most dangerous characteristic of hypoxia is
that if the crewmember is hypoxic and engrossed in flight
duties, the pilot might not even notice the impairment.

Symptoms of hypoxia
Apparent personality change
change in outlook and behavior
Impaired judgment loss of thinking
ability with the individual unaware of
reduced performance.
Memory impairment -short term
memory is lost early.

Symptoms of hypoxia
Sensory loss- vision, especially for color, is
affected early, and then touch, orientation, and
hearing are impairment.
Impairment of consciousness- as hypoxia
progresses the individuals level of
consciousness drops until he becomes
confused, then semiconscious, and
unconscious. Unless he is rescued he will die
and at high altitude death can occur within a
few minutes.

How to prevent
Reduce tolerance to altitude (descends)
By enriching the inspired air with oxygen
from an appropriate oxygen system
(Oxygen Tank & Mask)
By maintaining a comfortable, safe cabin
pressure altitude (Cabin Pressurization)