Lessons learned from transport airplane accidents

http://accidents-ll.faa.gov/

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has established a one-of-a-kind online safety library that teaches “lessons learned” from some of the world’s most historically significant transport airplane accidents — especially how that knowledge can help maintain today’s extraordinary aviation safety record.…Why study aircraft accidents that happened as long as 40 years ago? The FAA believes many of the lessons learned from these tragedies are timeless, and are relevant to today’s aviation community. By learning from the past, aviation professionals can use that knowledge to recognize key factors, and potentially prevent another accident from occurring under similar circumstances, or for similar reasons, in the future.
The FAA’s Lessons Learned library, in its initial release, lists 11 major airplane accidents that made an impact on the way the aviation industry and the FAA conduct business today. The FAA’s goal is to stock the library with 40 more historically significant accidents by the end of 2009.

What works in delivering improved health and safety outcomes

http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr654.pdf

What works in delivering improved health and safety outcomes?
The following interventions were found to be effective at some level: using face to face communication to educate and inform; new interventions involving Occupational Health Service (OHS) provision, especially in relation to prevention and cure of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs); regulation among employers and workers who comply; tools and Safety and Health Awareness Days (SHADs) are helpful for willing and committed employers; worker involvement techniques such as worker health and safety representatives can be effective in disseminating health and safety messages and generating behavioural change; targeted initiatives can behelpful in enabling setting objectives and encouraging progress towards sectoral health and safety improvements.
What are the knowledge gaps?
The largest overall knowledge gap identified where further research is required was to identify which levers are most effective in obtaining behavioural change in health and safety practice at an individual and corporate level. This gap has a number of aspects including: which groups are most influential on changing worker behaviour, the power of supply chains, economic and financial incentives and the effects of sanctions including adverse publicity and restorative justice, understanding the roles of industry partnerships and intermediaries, assessing the impact of interventions used in combination with each other, identifying ‘what works’ in LA enforced sectors and/or those with migrant workers, understanding work process design and identifying the effects of targeting interventions.
How could HSE improve its use and generation of evidence?
A number of barriers to better use and generation of evidence in HSE were identified. These included time pressures, political pressures, knowledge management problems and use of analysts.
The suggestions put forward by HSE staff for making evidence accessible were making more use of workshops/seminars; written summaries; electronic media. Many also emphasised that proactive evidence supply was as important as format. Interviewees made very little use of existing documented evidence in the form of commissioned research reports and externally published evidence and relied on statistics and their own networks for evidence.
HSE could improve how it uses evidence by: agreeing on what constitutes ‘good enough’ evidence, implementing multiple channels for dissemination and access to evidence eg flexible searches of HSE databases, a web-based set of resources on evidence-based policy making and case studies of good practice, internal seminars to disseminate tacit knowledge, provide short email digests and summaries targeted by topic/sector/programme. HSE could improve how it generates evidence by introducing a rigorous commissioning process for interventions and research, building on the Science Planning Process. This would require:
■ consideration of a broader evidence base before and during commissioning of research, design, delivery and evaluation of policy interventions; developing closer working between analysts and internal policy clients; making greater use of longitudinal independent checks on behavioural change in evaluations; potentially undertaking fewer, more focussed evaluations, for example restricting evaluations to interventions where full ex-ante appraisal of intervention choices has been made and a quantifiable impact on outcomes is anticipated; undertaking more small scale studies, secondary reviews or meta-analyses of ‘what works’.

Flammability of coveralls for offshore use

http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/hsl_pdf/2007/hsl0725.pdf


Objectives
To assess the effect of adding a disposable coverall over the top of a flame retardant coverall with respect to flame spread, using the method outlined in ISO 15025:2002 (Protective clothing – Protection against heat and flame – Test method for limited flame spread), and more specifically, to determine the following:
- Does the use of a disposable FR coverall impair the effectiveness of a FR coverall worn underneath?
- Does the use of a disposable FR coverall provide effective protection from flame spread with a non-FR coverall beneath?
- Is the effectiveness of a FR coverall impaired when a disposable non-FR coverall is used over the top?
- Could a disposable FR coverall be used without any form of additional protection, thereby limiting the potential for heat stress?
Main Findings
Disposable FR coveralls do not appear to adversely affect the protection offered by a FR coverall when worn over the top.
Any other combination of FR and non-FR coveralls does not appear to offer adequate protection.
A disposable coverall on its own does not continue to burn, but it also does not offer any protection to the user.
Recommendations
Dual layers of coveralls (disposable worn over non-disposable) should not be worn in areas where flame retardant clothing is required unless BOTH coveralls are flame retardant.
Disposable FR coveralls should not be worn as the only means of protection.
The manufacturer’s instructions on how coveralls should be deployed should be followed at all times.

Alertness and Fatigue videos

http://www.hep.afrl.af.mil/HEPF/Publications/Tech_Videos/index.html

2 videos
Efficacy of modafinil for sustaining alertness and simulator flight performance of F-117 pilots during 37 hours of continuous wakefulness
Effects of 37 hours of continuous wakefulness on alertness performance of F-117 a pilots

Attention, awareness and occupational stress

http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr644.pdf


Symptoms associated with occupational stress, such as muscular pain and fatigue, are common in the working population. These types of symptoms have been termed idiopathic; in other words, it is difficult to link these symptoms to a definite physical cause. To complicate matters further, idiopathic symptoms are often associated with psychological variables such as anxiety and depression. Despite these difficulties, idiopathic symptoms represent an important index of occupational health and play a significant role in the decision to seek medical consultation. However, the origins of these symptoms are not well understood particularly with respect to the influence of psychological factors.
This project is primarily concerned with the influence of attentional factors on the perception of
idiopathic symptoms associated with occupational stress. Attention is fundamentally goal-driven and selective. We attend to a certain category of stimuli to reinforce existing beliefs. If a person has negative beliefs about health, they are inclined to actively monitor bodily signs and symptoms for evidence of illness. A person who is experiencing an uncomfortable or troubling symptom also tends to direct attention internally to the body, at the expense of attending to events in the external world. By directing attention internally, the person experiences a higher level of body consciousness or awareness. Attention and awareness of the body influences the perception of symptoms. If a person has negative health beliefs that elevate body consciousness, they tend to report a higher frequency of symptoms compared to the general population. Symptoms of occupational stress, being idiopathic and ambiguous with respect to psychological/physical origins, may be particularly susceptible to this kind of
psychological inflation. Also, the bodily experience of occupational stress tends to increase autonomic activity at a physiological level. For example, heart rate and blood pressure may be elevated for a stressed person. The registration of bodily symptoms by the brain is achieved via a neurological process called interoception. It has been argued that stress tends to intensify the experience of bodily signs and symptoms via elevated autonomic activity. Therefore, the experience of occupational stress may amplify symptoms at the physiological as well the psychological level.
To summarise, the experience of occupational stress may inflate symptom perceptions in two ways; (a) the psychological route by creating a negative bias and amplifying symptoms by directing attention to the body, and
(b) the physiological route whereby awareness of symptoms is magnified and intensified by
elevated autonomic activity.
The role of attention and awareness during the perception of stress-related symptoms was studied via an experiment and a number of survey exercises. The first was a laboratory study to investigate the influence of stress on the physiological process of interoception. This process was studied using a standard protocol known as the heartbeat detection task wherein participants must correctly distinguish between live (accurate) and delayed (inaccurate) aural feedback of the heart rate. It was predicted that exposure to stress would increase participants’ accuracy on the heartbeat detection task. It was also assumed that participants who exhibited higher levels of interoceptive sensitivity on this task would report a higher frequency of symptoms (because they had a higher level of awareness of bodily activity). Both hypotheses were not supported by the study; exposure to stress actually diminished performance on the heartbeat detection task for females and we found no evidence for any association between performance on the heartbeat detection task and symptom reporting.

Individualized Biomathematical Modeling of Fatigue and Performance

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA482265&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf


Fatigue from sleep loss and circadian misalignment jeopardizes the cognitive performance and safety of individuals during sustained Air Force operations. Mathematical models of fatigue and performance provide a useful tool for the prediction of cognitive impairment resulting from sleep loss and circadian disruption. However, currently available models do not accurately predict the effects of chronic sleep restriction, and do not make reliable predictions at the level of persons or small teams. In this project, a new model for the sleep/wake homeostatic regulation of fatigue was developed to improve predictions of performance deficits under conditions of chronic sleep loss. Furthermore, Bayesian forecasting was implemented to predict performance responses to sleep loss and circadian displacement for individuals. This project resulted in significant advances in fatigue and performance modeling, addressing the Air Force’s need to understand and help mitigate the effects of fatigue on cognitive capability.

Stress and Psychological Support in Modern Military Operations (Stress et aide psychologique dans les operations militaires modernes)

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA485624&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf

NATO Task Group HFM-081/RTG on "Stress and Psychological Support in Modern Military Operations" has produced, in the form of a Military Leaders Guide, a series of guidelines for psychological support in military operations across the deployment cycle. The guidelines are based on best practices identified by psychological support professionals and confirmed by military leaders.

Measurement of Learning Processes in Pilot Simulation

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA486372&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf
There are few human activities as complex as safely piloting an aircraft. All human capabilities and resources are put to the test on a frequent basis in flight, and there are multiple examples of accidents and incidents that have been caused when those capabilities and resources were not sufficient to the task. This chapter shows decades of research and experience have yielded significant advances in the area of pilot performance measurement, yet there is still much to be learned about how to measure and analyze this dynamic realm of human behavior. This chapter concentrates on measurement for the training function mainly in simulators.

Maximising Benefit from Defence Research: A Review of Defence Research and Technology for Alignment, Quality and Exploitation

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA485712&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf

The Defense Industrial Strategy emphasized the need to ensure our research is aligned to capability needs, that it is of the necessary quality, properly exploited and that we get best value for money from our investment. We announced in the Strategy that we had set in place an evidence-based peer review of research alignment, quality and exploitation, net as a one-off exercise, but to set a benchmark for future biennial reviews of our research programme. This report sets out the results of the review. Through the use of external peer reviewers to assess the quality of our research, we ensured the study was as independent and objective as possible. The resulting assessment of our research programme is therefore particularly welcome for its assurance that the vast majority of the work we commission is relevant to detect needs and at high quality. This does not mean we can be complacent. Inevitably, there are things we can do better and the study has made a number of useful suggestions for how we can improve yet further on our current performance. We will attend to these as rapidly as possible. Most importantly, we have now established a proven methodology we can use in future reviews of the research programme and a benchmark against which we can regularly measure our performance in this vital area of defense activity. This will help ensure we continue to provide our world-class Armed Forces with the leading edge capabilities they need.

General Procedure for Protective Cooling and Equipment Evaluations Relative to Heat and Cold Stress

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA486216&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf

As part of the U.S. Army materiel development and acquisition process, clothing and individual equipment (CIE) must undergo a Health Hazard Assessment (HHA) conducted by the U. S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine. Scientists at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) are world experts in thermal physiology, biophysics, and biomedical modeling and are uniquely capable of providing technical measurements and subject matter expertise for thermal stress associated with CIE. A comprehensive evaluation of thermal stress involves: (1) biophysical measurements of the thermal insulation and moisture permeability of textiles using a guarded hot plate, and of garments using thermal manikins; (2) biomedical modeling to predict physiological (body temperatures, sweating rate and heart rate) strain expected of Soldiers wear the CIE under conditions of environmental (temperature, humidity, air motion, radiant lead) and metabolic (work, rest) stressors; and (3) human volunteer testing of CIE worn by persons exposed to a variety of controlled (laboratory or field) environmental and metabolic stressors.

The Identification of Fatigue Resistant and Fatigue Susceptible Individuals

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA486022&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf

The present study was designed to target two specific areas regarding fatigue. The primary purpose was to begin investigations into possible genetic markers linked to fatigue resistance and fatigue susceptibility. This study provided a resistant or susceptible listing of individuals to a genetics research group that is correlating the rankings to the participant's genetic material. The secondary focus was to follow up past research in order to quantify fatigue's effects on a team performing a complex Command, Control, and Communications (C3) type task. Participants completed two, four-hour training sessions prior to experiencing a 48-hr period of sustained wakefulness. During the testing session participants iteratively took part in various cognitive performance tasks as well as a complex air battle management task (either as an individual or team depending on their assignment). At the end of the 48 hours, performance on all measures showed significant effects of fatigue. In order to determine which participants were fatigue resistant/susceptible, a percent change score was used for the various cognitive tasks in order to rank the participants. The lower the percent change, the more resistant a participant was to fatigue on that task. Participants rankings were then averaged across all of the cognitive tasks in order to produce an overall ranking. When this list is correlated to demographics, the amount of weekday sleep a participant receives significantly impacts the results (r (90) =.36). To remove this potential confounding factor, a second ranking of resistance/susceptibility was created that took into account the amount of sleep the participants reported during the week. In addition to the two fatigue resistant/susceptibility lists, the study found that team productivity was about the same as individual productivity on the complex air battle management task. Also, performance on the complex air battle management tasks (regardless of being a team or individual)

Visual-Spatial Abilities of Pilots

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA485893&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf

US Air Force pilots and control subjects participated in five experiments, each of which assessed a different type of visual-spatial ability. Although pilots judged metric spatial relations better than did nonpilots, they did not judge categorical spatial relations better than did nonpilots. Pilots mentally rotated objects better than did nonpilots, but pilots did not extrapolate motion, scan images, or extract visual features from objects obscured by visual noise better than did nonpilots. The results imply that efficient use of specific processing subsystems is especially important for, and characteristic of, pilots. The possible neuropsychological bases for the enhanced abilities and their susceptibility to change are discussed.

TNO Contribution to the Quest 303 Trial - Human Performance Assessed by a Vigilance and Tracking Test, a Multi-Attribute Task, and by Dynamic Visual .

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA485753&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf

A multi-national sea trial on the effects of ship motions on human performance was performed off the coast of Canada, in early 2007. Primary goal: To obtain subjective and objective measures for human task performance, possibly affected by real ship motion. TNO participated with a Vigilance and Tracking Test, a Multi-Attribute Task, and a Dynamic Visual Acuity test. The experiment was conducted in three phases: a pre-exposure phase in harbour, an exposure phase at sea, (sea conditions varying from calm to low sea state six) and a post-exposure phase in sheltered waters to re-examine baseline performance. Experiment schedule and protocol are described, motions and wave conditions encountered during the trial, and the results of the Dutch tests are presented. Results: Cognitive performance and visual acuity are impaired by ship motion. This seems to be caused by seasickness in particular, possibly even more so than by ship motion per se. Tracking was affected only by sickness, and not by motion itself. Apart from showing that DVA is of value to further quantify human performance, these data also support the development of an onsite fit-to-perform screening tool based on DVA.

Decreased Arousal as a Result of Sleep Deprivation: The Unraveling of Cognitive Control

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA486024&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf

This chapter discusses recent efforts at developing mechanisms for capturing the effects of fatigue on human performance. We describe a computational cognitive model developed in ACT-R, that performs a sustained attentional task called the psychomotor vigilance (PVT). We use neurobehavioral evidence from research on sleep deprivation, in addition to previous research from within the ACT-R community, to select and to evaluate a mechanism for producing fatigue effects in the model. Fatigue is represented by decrementing a parameter associated with arousal in ACT-R, while also reducing a threshold value in the architecture to capture attempts at compensating for the negative effects of decreased arousal. These parameters are associated with the production utility computation in ACT-R, which controls the selection/execution cycle to determine which production (if any) to execute on each cognitive cycle. In ACT-R, this mechanism is linked to the basal ganglia and the thalamus. In turn, portions of the thalamus show heightened activation in attentional tasks under conditions of sleep deprivation. The model we describe closely captures the performance of human participants on the PVT, as observed in a laboratory experiment involving 88 hours of total sleep deprivation.

General Procedure for Protective Cooling and Equipment Evaluations Relative to Heat and Cold Stress

As part of the U.S. Army materiel development and acquisition process, clothing and individual equipment (CIE) must undergo a Health Hazard Assessment (HHA) conducted by the U. S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine. Scientists at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) are world experts in thermal physiology, biophysics, and biomedical modeling and are uniquely capable of providing technical measurements and subject matter expertise for thermal stress associated with CIE. A comprehensive evaluation of thermal stress involves: (1) biophysical measurements of the thermal insulation and moisture permeability of textiles using a guarded hot plate, and of garments using thermal manikins; (2) biomedical modeling to predict physiological (body temperatures, sweating rate and heart rate) strain expected of Soldiers wear the CIE under conditions of environmental (temperature, humidity, air motion, radiant lead) and metabolic (work, rest) stressors; and (3) human volunteer testing of CIE worn by persons exposed to a variety of controlled (laboratory or field) environmental and metabolic stressors.

Defense Health Care: Oversight of Military Services' Post-Deployment Health Reassessment Completion Rates Is Limited

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA486360&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf



PDHRA (post-deployment health reassessment) is a screening tool for military servicemembers; it is designed to identify and address their health concerns including mental health concerns 90 to 180 days after return from deployment. Although DOD established PDHRA requirements and policies, it gave the military services discretion to implement them to meet their unique needs as long as the services adhere to the requirements and policies. DOD oversees the military services compliance with PDHRA requirements through its deployment health assessment quality assurance program and is required to report on the quality assurance program annually to the Armed Services Committees of the House of Representatives and Senate. The Senate Committee on Armed Services directed us to review DOD's oversight of PDHRA, and the House Committee on Armed Services and 11 senators also expressed. In this report, we focus on how DOD ensures that servicemembers complete the PDHRA. Specifically, we discuss how well DOD's quality assurance program oversees the military services' compliance with the requirement that they ensure that servicemembers complete the PDHRA.

Uncovering Physiologic Mechanisms of Circadian Rhythms and Sleep/Wake Regulation Through Mathematical Modeling

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA486280&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf


Mathematical models of neurobehavioral function are useful both for understanding the underlying physiology and for predicting the effects of rest-activity-work schedules and interventions on neurobehavioral function. In a symposium titled Modeling Human Neurobehavioral Performance I: Uncovering Physiologic Mechanisms at the 2006 Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics/Society for Mathematical Biology (SIAM/SMB) Conference on the Life Sciences, different approaches to modeling the physiology of human circadian rhythms, sleep, and neurobehavioral performance and their usefulness in understanding the underlying physiology were examined. The topics included key elements of the physiology that should be included in mathematical models, a computational model developed within a cognitive architecture that has begun to include the effects of extended wake on information-processing mechanisms that influence neurobehavioral function, how to deal with interindividual differences in the prediction of neurobehavioral function, the applications of systems biology and control theory to the study of circadian rhythms, and comparisons of these methods in approaching the overarching questions of the underlying physiology and mathematical models of circadian rhythms and neurobehavioral function. A unifying theme was that it is important to have strong collaborative ties between experimental investigators and mathematical modelers, both for the design and conduct of experiments and for continued development of the models.

Combat and Operational Stress: Minimizing Its Adverse Effects on Service Members

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA485474&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf

Stress and stressors are an inherent part of warfare because of the violence and physical conditions of warfare, and the often long duration of operations. Stress represents "the mobilization of the body and mind to counteract stressors." It can be positive or negative. A stressor is any event or situation that requires an unusual change in the way a person responds. This study examines why the military is reactive in its battle against Combat and Operational Stress (COS) and how it can become more proactive. The study examines not only the adverse impact that stress has on a soldier's performance, but it also addresses an individual's ability to function once he or she is no longer in a stressful combat or operational environment. Early identification of COS is important to its treatment. More attention is being given to service members who return from combat with PTSD. However, a more effective use of resources can be achieved by providing a basic education that identifies what COS is and how one can minimize its short- and long-term negative effects. This in turn can minimize the number of service members that need to be treated for long-term medical conditions that develop because of COS. This study examines how the U.S. military can better prepare its service members to handle COS. The adverse effects of COS include physical, mental, and emotional problems; loss of personnel due to combat ineffectiveness; misconduct stress behavior; and other short- and long-term conditions. These adverse effects are known as maladaptive stress reactions. The paper addresses prevention rather than treatment. It postulates that if a program incorporating education, training, and phased prevention is developed and integrated into military life, then the military can minimize the negative effects of COS in its service members.

Survival at Sea for Mariners, Aviators and Search and Rescue Personnel

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA485550&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf

This AGARDograph summarizes the current scientific knowledge of sea survival for mariners, aviators, search and rescue technicians and medical staff. The text discusses key issues such as drowning through cold shock and swimming failure induced by immersion in water particularly below 15 deg C, survival prediction curves and non-freezing cold injuries. It emphasizes the importance of integrating good human engineering practices at the beginning of a project involving survival equipment such as lifejackets, life rafts and lifeboats. Manikin testing to evaluate survival suit insulation is described. The latest helicopter ditching statistics and helicopter underwater escape protocols are presented. Practical advice is given on the causes and treatment of seasickness. Finally a discussion is had on the importance of understanding how humans mentally process information under stress and why this should be included in every survival school curriculum.

Quantitative Electroencephalographic (QEEG) Data Analysis for the Performance Sustainment of Two Man Crews Throughout 87 Hours of Extended Wakefulness

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA485179&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf

Military operations require army aviation units to operate around the clock during time of conflict. Sleep management, naps, and pharmacological fatigue countermeasures may be combined to assist in achieving successful military outcomes. We used QEEG methodologies in an effort to elucidate the CNS effects of stimulants (modafinil, dextroamphetamine and caffeine) and nap combined with the sleep deprivation factor. In regards to sleep deprivation effects, results indicate that by the end of the study all groups experienced increases in slow-waves (mainly delta) and decreases in alpha waves. Caffeine, modafinil, and dextroamphetamine, respectively, reversed during the initial 42 hours the electrophysiologic effects of sleep deprivation with smaller increases in delta activity and less deterioration of alpha activities. Caffeine and modafinil appeared to have the greatest degree of effect with respect to producing delays on alpha activity deterioration. Alpha activity remained close to baseline levels for the first 46 hours. We observe a marked deterioration of alpha after 22 hours in the dextroamphetamine and placebo groups. There is virtually no increase in theta activity across the sleep deprivation cycle, for all groups, including placebo. These may represent effort levels consistently across all groups. Additional analysis could systematically correlate cognitive tasks and QEEG data for each pharmacologic intervention.

Efficacy of Tactile Cues from a Limited Belt-Area System in Orienting Well-Rested and Fatigued Pilots in a Complex Flight Environmen

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA485178&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf


In the years 2003-2005 the U. S. military lost in excess of $500M and 30 lives per year due to SD mishaps, over half of which involved brownout. Current standard Army aircraft cockpit displays do not provide drift information leaving the pilot guessing as to the direction and magnitude of the aircraft's drift vector when close to the ground. This information is critical to the safe landing of helicopters in brownout or whiteout conditions. This effort tested a system that provides drift information through the tactile sense (8 tactors placed every 45 degrees) via a belt around the waist. The belt was worn by pilots flying the USAARL UH-60 helicopter with vision restricted to the instrument panel only, the same pilots flew a repeated series of maneuvers close to the ground with and without the system before and after 37 hours of fatigue. The pilot's performance was significantly better using the belt than without in both rested and fatigued conditions. The TSAS-Lite system used in this study demonstrated that a limited tactile display can provide increased mission effectiveness and safety in the critical areas of low speed maneuver near the ground in degraded visual conditions. The system also has the potential to increase a pilot's situational awareness and reduce both the perception of drift and the overall mental stress of flight in this challenging environment.

Evaluation of a Gentex (registered trademark) ORO-NASAL Oxygen Mask for Integration with the Aqualung (registered trademark) Personal Helicopter Oxyge

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA485763&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf

In current U. S. Army operations, rotary-wing aircrew can be repeatedly exposed to moderately high altitude (up to 18,000 feet pressure altitude), making hypoxia, and its performance effects, a real hazard. The United States Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL) was tasked by the Product Manager Air Warrior to evaluate an oxygen mask for use with the Personal Helicopter Oxygen Delivery System (PHODS) for potential use by U. S. Army helicopter aircrew. The mask was tested on pilot volunteers at altitude to determine efficacy. The mask and PHODS was able to maintain aircrew blood oxygen at acceptable levels up to and including 18,000 feet.