FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-72/17

Title and Subtitle: High temperature and performance in a flight task simulator

Report Date: May 1972

Authors: Iampietro PF, Melton CE, Higgins EA, Vaughan JA, Hoffman SM, Funkhouser GE, Saldivar JT

Abstract: The effects of high cockpit temperature on physiological responses and performance were determined on pilots in a general aviation simulator. The pilots (all instrument rated) 'flew' an instrument flight while exposed to each of three cockpit temperatures: 25.0C (77F), 43.3C (110F), 60.0C (140F). Each flight lasted about 50 minutes.

Performance was scored as the deviations in heading from the pre-determined flight path. Deviations were scored for seven segments of the flight. Physiological parameters recorded were: heart rate, deep body temperature, skin temperature and urine output and sweat loss. Results are discussed in terms of the complexity of the flight segment being 'flown.'

Key Words: Physiological Responses to Heat, Simulator Performance, Water Exchanges, Heart Rate, Body Temperature, Skin Temperature

No. of Pages: 8