Flying therapy for flying phobia.

Introduction: Optimum treatment for aircrew who have developed anxiety associated with flight includes a flying phase for desensitization. However, standardized flight profiles are not found in the literature. In this study, a method of desensitization flying, which may increase the probability of a return to productive flying, was devised and assessed.

Thermal strain and G protection associated with wearing an enhanced anti-G protection system in a warm climate.

A flight trial was conducted in Cyprus to assess the thermal strain associated with and the G protection provided by the prototype Eurofighter 2000 aircrew equipment assembly (AEA) in a warm climate. Six subjects flew a standardized sortie four times in a Hawk aircraft: two while wearing the Eurofighter 2000 AEA and two wearing standard Hawk summer AEA. The sortie included high-G turns and simulated air combat.

The assessment of cerebral oxygenation during carotid endarterectomy utilising near infrared spectroscopy.

Near infrared spectroscopy is a non-invasive method for continuous monitoring of tissue oxygenation. In 11 patients undergoing unilateral carotid endarterectomy, changes in cerebral oxygenation following carotid cross-clamping and declamping detected by a near infrared spectrometer were compared with corresponding changes in ipsilateral middle cerebral artery flow velocity measured by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography. Spectroscopic traces were obtained in all patients but adequate Doppler signals in only eight.

Probabilistic laser safety: ocular damage models for Q-switched neodymium and ruby lasers.

International standards for the protection of the eyes from the hazards of laser radiation define a nominal ocular hazard distance as a distance beyond which an individual would not be expected to suffer any adverse biological effects. The nominal ocular hazard distance, and any associated hazard zones, are calculated using a deterministic technique. This technique does not consider the likelihood that an eye will be irradiated, or the probability that if any eye is exposed, then some level of ocular damage will result.

In flight verification of the inversion illusion.

Pilots' sensations of orientation while pushing over (bunting) are inconsistent. We flew 13 aircrew or naive subjects individually in a Hawk or Hunter jet training aircraft. With sun visor down and eyes closed, each was asked to report what the aircraft was doing.

Drugs and the sleep-wakefulness continuum.

The circadian cycle of sleep and wakefulness in humans is controlled by the activity of many neurotransmitters. Studies of the effects of drugs on the central nervous system have elucidated some of the mechanisms that may be involved. Some transmitters are concerned with the basic control of sleep and wakefulness, influencing both alertness during the day and the pattern of nocturnal sleep.

Influence of polar route schedules on the duty and rest patterns of aircrew.

The duty and rest periods of aircrew operating the polar route from London via Anchorage were recorded during five schedules which involved 1-, 2- or 3-day sojourns in Japan. Sleep throughout each schedule was fragmented, with naps before duty and short sleeps after arrival at a new location. Sleep disturbance rather than cumulative sleep loss appeared to be the overriding problem, and the shorter schedules had the most marked disturbances in sleep during the trip and during the immediate recovery period.

Jet lag and motion sickness.

Jet lag. Present day aircraft operating round northern and southern latitudes cross time zones at almost the same rate as the earth rotates, and it is these rapid transmeridian transitions that lead to the syndrome commonly referred to as jet lag. On arrival at their destination, individuals find themselves out of synchrony with the social and time cues of their new environment and, until they adapt, may experience symptoms such as malaise, gastrointestinal disturbance, loss of appetite, tiredness during the day and poor sleep.

Phasic skin conductance activity and motion sickness.

Sweating is commonly associated with motion sickness. Previous studies have attempted to relate sweating or the associated electrodermal activity to the degree of motion sickness symptoms. This study was aimed at improving methodology by study of 1) recording site--palmar finger versus forehead; and 2) signal analysis--tonic skin conductance level (SCL) versus phasic skin conductance responses (SCRs).

Airline pilot incapacitation survey.

A survey, replicating one originally conducted by the International Federation of Airline Pilots' Associations (IFALPA) in 1967, was carried out to investigate the aetiology of inflight incapacitation on commercial flight decks. The questionnaire was constructed by IFALPA and distributed worldwide by its member associations. Since response to the questionnaire was voluntary, no control of the sample population was possible.

Sedation and histamine H1-receptor antagonism: studies in man with the enantiomers of chlorpheniramine and dimethindene.

1. The effects of 10 mg (+)- and (-)-chlorpheniramine and 5 mg (+)- and (-)-dimethindene on daytime sleep latencies, digit symbol substitution and subjective assessments of mood and well-being were studied in 6 healthy young adult humans. Each subject also took 5 mg triprolidine hydrochloride as an active control and two placebos.

Non-invasive blood pressure measurement under G.

A new commercially available device (Finapres) which allows the continuous monitoring of blood pressure has been evaluated against measurements taken intra-arterially. It was found that Finapres tends to underestimate both systolic and diastolic blood pressure and differs significantly from, but correlates well, with intra-arterial line measurements. In general, the slope of the relationship between Finapres and intra-arterial values is close to unity.

Presynaptic alpha 2-adrenoceptor function and sleep in man: studies with clonidine and idazoxan.

The effects of an alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist, clonidine and an antagonist, idazoxan, were studied on nocturnal sleep in man. Clonidine increased non-rapid eye movement sleep and idazoxan reduced slow wave sleep and increased awake activity. Changes in the continuity of sleep with clonidine were similar to, and those with idazoxan opposite to, the effects of maprotiline, an inhibitor of the uptake of noradrenaline, used as an active control.

Circadian rhythmicity and sleep of aircrew during polar schedules.

Sleep and circadian rhythms of aircrew were studied during a 7-d polar schedule operated between London and Tokyo. Sleep, rectal temperature, and subjective alertness were recorded for 2 d before departure during the schedule, and for 10 d after the return. Changes in sleep during the early part of the trip were due to sleep loss on the outward journey, but later these changes were related to the displacement of the circadian rhythm.

Central effects of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril. II. Electroencephalogram and body sway.

1. Effects of single doses of captopril (12.5, 25 and 50 mg) on the electroencephalogram (EEG) and on body sway were studied in fourteen healthy male subjects.

Performance and quality of sleep wearing NBC protective clothing.

Two separate studies were carried out to investigate the effect of wearing nuclear-biological-chemical aircrew equipment assembly (NBC AEA) protective clothing on performance and on overnight sleep. Performance at a series of tasks was measured, in six male subjects, during the day (0800-2000 hours) and at night (2000-0800 hours). Wearing the NBC assembly did not lead to significant decrements in performance compared with the normal aircrew equipment assembly (AEA).

Medication and skilled work.

There is increasing interest in the way in which drugs impair performance. This has arisen because some may impair day-to-day skills of those whose occupations demand vigilance and motor skill, and of those who are involved in decision making or where interpersonal relations are crucial. For many years the position was adopted, at least in certain occupations where impaired performance could be a danger to others, that the use of any drug should preclude employment.

Hypnotics and occupational medicine.

The appropriate use of hypnotics requires an understanding of the nature of the patient's insomnia and lifestyle. In the context of occupational medicine, the potential effects of these drugs on job skills and the persistence of such effects are also important considerations. This report reviews the factors that must be considered in the investigation of impaired performance due to hypnotics and the pharmacokinetic properties that determine the persistence of action of these drugs.

Dopaminergic transmission and the sleep-wakefulness continuum in man.

Modulation of dopaminergic transmission on daytime alertness and performance and on nocturnal sleep were studied in man using 30, 60 and 90 mg pemoline, a dopamimetic drug, and 2, 4 and 6 mg pimozide, a dopamine receptor antagonist. Pemoline lengthened daytime sleep latencies and improved attention, and increased wakefulness during nocturnal sleep. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep was reduced with 90 mg pemoline, but this was due entirely to increased wakefulness.

Visual display lowers detection threshold of angular, but not linear, whole-body motion stimuli.

The influence of a visual display, fixed relative to the subject, on thresholds for detection (at 75% correct) of discrete Y-axis linear movements and of discrete Z-axis angular movements, was determined in a group of 12 subjects. Both the linear and the angular, whole-body, motion stimuli had a cosine bell velocity trajectory with a duration of 2.6 s.

Modulation of rapid eye movement sleep in humans by drugs that modify monoaminergic and purinergic transmission.

Modulation of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is a well-established effect of many centrally acting drugs. However, there is uncertainty concerning the nature of the changes and their significance, and it is in this context that we have analyzed the effects of several groups of drugs that alter monoaminergic or purinergic transmission on sleep in humans. The analysis shows that drugs that modulate noradrenergic and serotonergic transmission lead to marked suppression of REM sleep, irrespective of any increase or decrease in sleep duration.

Glare in aviation.

The control of high-speed aircraft is a demanding task in which rapid decisions, based on visually acquired information, must frequently be made. Glare, both direct and veiling, is a prime cause of visual degradation in flight. The visual effects of glare are discussed together with means of reducing its consequences.

Thresholds for the perception of whole body angular movement about a vertical axis.

Thresholds for the detection (at p = 0.75 correct) of the direction of discrete angular movements about a vertical Z axis, having a cosine bell velocity trajectory and a duration of 3.3 s, were determined using an adaptive psychophysical procedure.