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INTRODUCTION: During fl ight, the ability of a pilot to maintain high cognitive and psychomotor performance is essential for fl ight safety. Hypoxia studies performed under normobaric conditions corresponding with oxygen pressures of 10,000 to 18,000 feet, suggest a decrease in fl ight performance. Currently, there is no published data examining the infl uence of hypobaric hypoxia (HH) on pilots’ fl ight performance. The purpose of the present study was to examine the infl uence of HH on pilots’ fl ight performance during exposure to simulated altitudes of 300, 10,000, and 15,000 ft and to evaluate physiological reactions. METHODS: Twelve male pilots were exposed to HH while fl ying in a fl ight simulator that had been placed in a hypobaric chamber in a single-blinded counterbalanced design. Flight performance was assessed in one score by fl ight profi le accuracy (FPA). Pilots’ alertness level was assessed using the Stanford Sleepiness Scale. In addition, SpO2, heart rate, minute ventilation, and breathing frequency were monitored. Post-hoc analysis compared the results of the 300 and 10,000 ft, and 300 and 15,000 ft conditions. RESULTS: A signifi cant diff erence was found (P=0.039) in fl ight performance between the three altitudes. Post-hoc analysis showed no signifi cant diff erence between 300 and 10,000 ft (P>0.05) and a trend was observed at 15,000 ft (P=0.077), suggesting worsening of fl ight performance at that altitude. Signifi cantly lower alertness levels were observed at the start of the fl ight at 15,000 ft compared to 300 ft (P=0.014) and at the end of the fl ight at 15,000 ft compared to the start at that altitude (P= 0.04). SpO2 (P=0.001) and BF (P |
