Aerospace Medicine Technical Reports
FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-67/15
Title and Subtitle: In-flight physiological monitoring of student pilots
Report Date: August 1967
Authors: Melton CE, Wicks M.
Abstract: Records of heart rate (ECG), lateral eye movements (EOG) and vocal interchange between student and instructor were taken on magnetic tape during all of every flight throughout a conventional private pilot training syllabus. Six men (33-45 years of age) and two women (29 and 28 years of age) were studied. Records were analyzed for heart rate, frequency of lateral eye movements and number of words spoken.
Heart rates were higher on solo (112 bpm) than on dual flights (106 bpm) and higher on check flights than on solos (120 bpm). Over the entire syllabus in-flight heart rates showed increases corresponding to the two main goals of the student, i.e., first solo and the check flight, with a plateau between the two events. Low airspeed maneuvers gave rise to the highest heart rates for every subject; six showed peak heart rates during short field procedures (114-174 bpm), one during stalls (127 bpm), and one during normal landings (166 bpm). Frequency of eye movements was higher on solo than on dual flights and was characteristic for each subject. Word counts were useless as a predictor of success in the program as judged by the instructor's grade.
Key Words: pilots, stress (psychology), medical examination, psychophysiology, pulse rate, electrophysiology, anxiety, fear, verbal behavior, electrocardiography, students, instructors, civil aviation, aviation medicine, monitors.
No. of Pages: 16
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-67/15
Title and Subtitle: In-flight physiological monitoring of student pilots
Report Date: August 1967
Authors: Melton CE, Wicks M.
Abstract: Records of heart rate (ECG), lateral eye movements (EOG) and vocal interchange between student and instructor were taken on magnetic tape during all of every flight throughout a conventional private pilot training syllabus. Six men (33-45 years of age) and two women (29 and 28 years of age) were studied. Records were analyzed for heart rate, frequency of lateral eye movements and number of words spoken.
Heart rates were higher on solo (112 bpm) than on dual flights (106 bpm) and higher on check flights than on solos (120 bpm). Over the entire syllabus in-flight heart rates showed increases corresponding to the two main goals of the student, i.e., first solo and the check flight, with a plateau between the two events. Low airspeed maneuvers gave rise to the highest heart rates for every subject; six showed peak heart rates during short field procedures (114-174 bpm), one during stalls (127 bpm), and one during normal landings (166 bpm). Frequency of eye movements was higher on solo than on dual flights and was characteristic for each subject. Word counts were useless as a predictor of success in the program as judged by the instructor's grade.
Key Words: pilots, stress (psychology), medical examination, psychophysiology, pulse rate, electrophysiology, anxiety, fear, verbal behavior, electrocardiography, students, instructors, civil aviation, aviation medicine, monitors.
No. of Pages: 16
Last updated: Friday, June 1, 2012