FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-68/18

Title and Subtitle: The effects of alcohol at three simulated aircraft cabin conditions

Report Date: September 1968

Authors: Higgins EA, Davis AW, Vaughan JA, Funkhouser GE, Galerston EM

Abstract: In a study of 54 human subjects using three alcohol consumption levels and three simulated cabin conditions it was found that alcohol caused an increase in heart rate and an increase in skin temperature. Internal body temperature was lower with alcohol but did increase as blood alcohol levels decreased. The performance tests used apparently were not critical enough to detect differences due to single influences. Blood alcohol determinations for subjects receiving the high level of alcohol yielded significantly higher levels of blood alcohol for subjects at 20,000 ft. than at the other altitudes. However, the readings at 20,000 ft. were not significantly different than readings obtained at the other altitudes for subjects receiving the lower dose of alcohol.

Key Words: Ethanols, ingestion, aviation personnel, performance, aircraft cabins, simulation, low altitude, high altitude, altitude chambers, instrumentation, reaction, oxygen, blood analysis, concentration, skin, temperature, respiration, pulse rate, blood pressure

No. of Pages: 16