Office of Aerospace Medicine Technical Reports
FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-70/7
Title and Subtitle: Pilot heart rate during in-flight simulated instrument approaches in a general aviation aircraft
Report Date: April 1970
Authors: Hasbrook AH, Rasmussen PG
Abstract: Eight instrument rated pilots with flying experience ranging from 600 to 12,271 hours each flew 10 simulated ILS instrument approaches in a single engine, general aviation aircraft equipped with a primary flight display arranged in conventional 'T' configuration. Continuous heart rate data were recorded during each approach. Approaches were flown consecutively at approximate 10-minute intervals, with a 1-minute in-flight rest period prior to each approach.
Principal findings were: heart rate increased significantly during each approach; mean increase in heart rate during the approaches was 5.2 beats per minute (BPM) and was of a relatively constant magnitude for each of the 10 approaches; and the overall mean heart rate level decreased on successive approaches for a total of 11.0 BPM for the 10 approaches. The results are discussed in terms of responses to stress introduced by the demands of the task.
Key Words: Pilot performance
No. of Pages: 12
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-70/7
Title and Subtitle: Pilot heart rate during in-flight simulated instrument approaches in a general aviation aircraft
Report Date: April 1970
Authors: Hasbrook AH, Rasmussen PG
Abstract: Eight instrument rated pilots with flying experience ranging from 600 to 12,271 hours each flew 10 simulated ILS instrument approaches in a single engine, general aviation aircraft equipped with a primary flight display arranged in conventional 'T' configuration. Continuous heart rate data were recorded during each approach. Approaches were flown consecutively at approximate 10-minute intervals, with a 1-minute in-flight rest period prior to each approach.
Principal findings were: heart rate increased significantly during each approach; mean increase in heart rate during the approaches was 5.2 beats per minute (BPM) and was of a relatively constant magnitude for each of the 10 approaches; and the overall mean heart rate level decreased on successive approaches for a total of 11.0 BPM for the 10 approaches. The results are discussed in terms of responses to stress introduced by the demands of the task.
Key Words: Pilot performance
No. of Pages: 12
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