What are some of the physiological factors affecting pilot performance at high altitude?

Some important medical factors that a pilot should be aware of include hypoxia, hyperventilation, middle ear and sinus problems, spatial disorientation, motion sickness, carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, stress and fatigue, dehydration, and heatstroke.

What effect does altitude have on takeoff distance in an airplane?

An increase in density altitude adversely affects your aircraft’s performance by increasing takeoff distance, reducing rate of climb, increasing true air speed on approach, landing and increasing landing roll distance. In addition, high density altitude decreases the engine’s horsepower output.

How does flight affect human physiology?

The environmental changes of greatest physiological significance involved in flight are: marked changes in barometric pressure, considerable variation in temperature, and movement at high speed in three dimensions.

Is high or low pressure better for flying?

Lows: Low pressure areas are more important to flying weather than high pressure areas because the lows make the inclemencies that challenge us. The circulation around a low is counter-clockwise in the northern hemisphere and air flows around and into a low and then circulates upward.

Is takeoff or landing distance longer?

Takeoff distances are generally shorter than landing: Just because you can depart from a runway doesn’t mean you can come back around to land on it. Weather elements such as snow and ice increase distance requirements and often eliminates a runway from consideration for use.

What are the six factors that may degrade visual acuity?

Refractive error. Refractive errors will affect visual acuity by causing defocus at the retina.

Why does our night vision acuity degrade with altitude?

Unaided night vision depends on optimum function and sensitivity of the rods of the retina. Lack of oxygen to the rods (hypoxia) significantly reduces their sensitivity. As altitude increases, the available oxygen decreases, degrading night vision.

What is the highest altitude a person can breathe?

An elevation of about 20,000 feet above sea level is the maximum height at which sufficient oxygen exists in the air to sustain us.