To examine the influence of HH on pilot*s flight performance
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Other condition
Synonym
Health condition
Oxygen shortage in body tissue
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
Total flight performance score
Secondary outcome
Self-perceived state of alertness, Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) and squawk
adjustment
Background summary
During flight, the ability of a helicopter pilot to maintain high cognitive and
psychomotor performance is essential for flight safety. In everyday situations
pilots flying in unpressurized cabins are exposed to hypobaric hypoxia (HH).
Currently, the limited data available concerning the influence of normobaric
hypoxia (NH), corresponding with oxygen pressures of 10,000 to 18,000 feet,
suggest a decrease in flight performance. However, there is no published data
examining the influence of HH, the hypoxia condition pilots are exposed to
during real flight, on pilot*s flight performance and physiological adaptations
Study objective
To examine the influence of HH on pilot*s flight performance
Study design
Experimental counterbalanced, single blinded, within-subjects repeated measures
design
Intervention
The pilots will need to fly a flight profile in a flight simulator at three
different simulated altitudes mainly 300, 10000 and 15000 feet. The flight
simulator has been placed in a hypobaric chamber. The pilots will need to fly
one flight per altitude.
Study burden and risks
Each pilot will spend 20 hours in total participating in this study, this
includes travel time, familiarisation sessions, practicing the flight and
completing the test procedure. The 20 hours are spread over four days. After
each flight the pilots will fill in a short questionnaire containing questions
about their state of alertness and subjective evaluation of their performance
during the flight. .
Pilots of RNLAF receive every five years hypoxia training. They are familiar
with the hypobaric chamber and with the symptoms of hypoxia. The pilots will
not be exposed to extreme altitudes or additional risks compared to the normal
hypoxia training they follow during their flight career. Therefore, the
likelihood of adverse effects or serious adverse effects as a result of
participating in this study is marginal.
Kampweg 3
Soesterberg 3769DE
NL
Kampweg 3
Soesterberg 3769DE
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
1. The subjects need to be pilots of the Royal Netherlands Air Force
2. male
3. Age of 22-55 years
4. The pilots need to have passed their mandatory medical examination and declared "fit to fly".
Exclusion criteria
1. The pilots were exposed to altitudes higher then 8000 feet for a period longer then one week in the 3 months prior to applying to the research.
2. pilots who smoke
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL49667.018.14 |