Besides complacency, the lack of adequate training and educational resources have been part of the reason all pilots and especially certified flight instructors are not acquainted with, let alone knowledgeable about, flight physiology, hence this textbook. This text is tailored for the beginning pilot, although many civilian pilots are still “beginners” when it comes to flight physiology education. The pilot readers will not only become knowledgeable about the physiology of flight but will also be able to explain why certain things happen to the mind and body in flight, often only in flight.
When learning to fly, simply knowing how to move the stick and rudder does not make a pilot safe or proficient. The more the pilot recognizes why the stick and rudder work, along with airfoils, engines, weather, hydraulics, and the like, the better and safer that pilot will be. The same holds true with understanding how the body and mind can be affected in flight as well as why they are affected in flight.
The chapters are organized to lead the reader from the basics of physiology and physics of flight into the rigors of flight that require a healthy, competent, proficient, and “airworthy” pilot. There is obviously much crossover between the topics. Furthermore, it is common for many physiological situations to be occurring at the same time, which is not a very comforting thought if the pilot isn’t even aware of what’s happening.
The text is not meant to be a comprehensive explanation of all topics. This is not a medical text. After all, medical doctors require many years of education and training just to learn basic medicine. Furthermore, there are many opinions on the same subject. The opinions stated in this text are those shared by many, but there will always be exceptions or disagreement. When there is disagreement or what is stated doesn’t ring true with what you feel is correct, then look for other resources to confirm your interpretation. This is medicine; it’s not an exact science, it’s the “practice of medicine.”
The objective for the reader is to get a clear understanding and overview of the many and varied physiological situations that can interfere with safe flight. Bookshelves are full of supplemental resources to further elaborate on any given topic.
Take hypoxia; the basics of atmospheric physics coupled with the essentials of the body’s circulation system will give the pilot enough information to be respectful and knowledgeable about hypoxia. Further information on the atmosphere to better quantify how hypoxia can severely affect the body is easily found in weather books. The same is true about the circulatory system. This opens the door for expansion on any topic covered in this text; additional references are listed in the recommended reading appendix.
The military has long been the expert in flight physiology and in providing effective training aids. This text is not meant to “reinvent the wheel” and therefore uses some material already presented in military publications. Civilian pilots are constructed the same as military pilots, so the information is somewhat generic. This text presents the material in a logical order for the classroom and concentrates on the situations that arise in civilian operations.
The reader will also find various “reviews” of flight physiology in many books on human factors, basic flying “how-to,” and aviation medicine. Many good articles also appear in trade magazines; however, none seem to take these subjects in depth and relate them to flight for the beginning pilot. Beyond this basic overview of flight physiology, there will be a continuing need to access resources as every pilot matures in flying. This text is also meant to be a resource in a pilot’s personal flying library for future situations dealing with human factors and flight physiology. Time constraints in commercial training do not always adequately reinforce the importance of these essential issues. It’s often up to the pilot to search out the information that will prevent impairment and reduce the risk of a human factors–related incident or accident.
Flight will be more enjoyable and the pilot will be more confident when he or she knows more about how the body and mind function in flight and the many ways that flying skills and safety can be compromised through unintentional, but controllable, abuses of health and fitness to fly.
- The Author -
Contents
- Foreword
- Foreword from first edition
- Introduction
- Chapter 1. Human Factors Defined
- Chapter 2. Basic Human Anatomy
- Chapter 3. The Atmosphere
- Chapter 4. Situation Awareness
- Chapter 5. Altitude Physiology
- Chapter 6. Hearing and Vibration
- Chapter 7. Vision
- Chapter 8. Orientation
- Chapter 9. Self-Imposed Medical Stresses
- Chapter 10. Environmental Stresses
- Chapter 11. Sleep, Jet Lag, and Fatigue
- Chapter 12. Acceleration
- Chapter 13. Crew Resource Management (CRM)
- Chapter 14. Human Factors of Automation
- Chapter 15. In-Flight Medical Emergencies
- Chapter 16. Health Maintenance Program
- Chapter 17. Medical Standards, Regulation, and Certification
- Glossary
- Recommended resources for aerospace medicine and flight physiology
- Index
About the author
- Richard O. Reinhart, M.D., was the President of Human Factors Resources, a company that provided resources and training for FAA medical certification and on the human factors of flight. He is an instrument-rated pilot, a senior FAA aviation medical examiner (AME), and a retired US Air Force/National Guard flight surgeon. Dr. Reinhart was also the medical editor of Business and Commercial Aviation Magazine and publisher of The Airworthy Aviator.
Product Details
- Hardcover: 311 pages
- Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional; 3 edition (October 22, 2008)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 007149488X
- ISBN-13: 978-0071494885
- Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
List Price: $59.95