Office of Aerospace Medicine Technical Reports
FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-78/5
Title and Subtitle: Three reports relevant to stress in aviation personnel: 1. Development of the Aviation Stress Protocol--Simulation and Performance, Physiological, and Biochemical Monitoring Systems: Phase I, 2. Assessment of Cardiovascular Function after Exposure to the Aviation Stress Protocol- Simulation, 3. The Relationship between Stress-Related Metabolites and Disqualifying Pathology in Air Traffic Control Personnel
Report Date: February 1978
Authors: Higgins EA, Lategola MT, Melton CE
Abstract: In development of the aviation stress protocol--simulation (ASPS), the following conclusions were reached:
Cardiovascular and pulmonary parameters were assessed under simulated +Gz and exercise conditions in normal males after exposure to the ASPS. Some parameters were displaced to a statistically significant degree, but such displacements are of doubtful physiological significance because of the unavoidable time lapse between altitude exposure and assessment. These preliminary experiments served to demonstrate that meaningful physiological assessments can only be made during exposure to the altitudes specified in the ASPS.
Thirty-six controller subjects from previous stress studies were identified who subsequently suffered medical conditions severe enough to require waiver or retirement. These subjects' stress indices were compared with those of subjects who had no known pathology to see if any of the stress indicators were predictive of pathological conditions. The data showed that controllers who developed gastrointestinal pathology had significantly (p 0.01) higher (c(st) than did their normal counterparts. At Miami ARTCC, c(ne) was significantly elevated (p 0.05) in the cardiovascular group.
Key Words: Aviation stress protocol simulation, Aeromedical certifcation, Aeromedical standards, Cardiovascular function, Physiological monitoring, Biochemical monitoring, Stress, Air traffic controller
No. of Pages: 34
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-78/5
Title and Subtitle: Three reports relevant to stress in aviation personnel: 1. Development of the Aviation Stress Protocol--Simulation and Performance, Physiological, and Biochemical Monitoring Systems: Phase I, 2. Assessment of Cardiovascular Function after Exposure to the Aviation Stress Protocol- Simulation, 3. The Relationship between Stress-Related Metabolites and Disqualifying Pathology in Air Traffic Control Personnel
Report Date: February 1978
Authors: Higgins EA, Lategola MT, Melton CE
Abstract: In development of the aviation stress protocol--simulation (ASPS), the following conclusions were reached:
- In experiments using the ASPS, cardiovascular testing will be conducted in parallel, but separately;
- The time of exposure to altitude will be limited to 2 h; and
- Measurements such as visual accommodation, internal body temperature, blood glucose, blood drug or alcohol level, and others will be included in the ASPS only when appropriate.
Cardiovascular and pulmonary parameters were assessed under simulated +Gz and exercise conditions in normal males after exposure to the ASPS. Some parameters were displaced to a statistically significant degree, but such displacements are of doubtful physiological significance because of the unavoidable time lapse between altitude exposure and assessment. These preliminary experiments served to demonstrate that meaningful physiological assessments can only be made during exposure to the altitudes specified in the ASPS.
Thirty-six controller subjects from previous stress studies were identified who subsequently suffered medical conditions severe enough to require waiver or retirement. These subjects' stress indices were compared with those of subjects who had no known pathology to see if any of the stress indicators were predictive of pathological conditions. The data showed that controllers who developed gastrointestinal pathology had significantly (p 0.01) higher (c(st) than did their normal counterparts. At Miami ARTCC, c(ne) was significantly elevated (p 0.05) in the cardiovascular group.
Key Words: Aviation stress protocol simulation, Aeromedical certifcation, Aeromedical standards, Cardiovascular function, Physiological monitoring, Biochemical monitoring, Stress, Air traffic controller
No. of Pages: 34
Last updated: Friday, June 1, 2012