Crew factors in flight operations VI : psychophysiological responses to helicopter operations

https://doi.org/10.21949/14035841994PDFTech ReportHelicopter pilotsShort haulPsychological aspectsStress (Psychology)Physiological aspectsFatigue (Physiological condition)Human factorsWork environmentResearch reportsFatigue countermeasuresNegative affectsSleep lossStress countermeasuresWork conditionsScotlandUnited States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Operations BranchGander, Philippa H.Barnes, Rory M.Gregory, Kevin B.Connell, Linda J.Miller, Donna L.Graeber, R. CurtisAmes Research CenterNTL-AVIATION-Aviation Human FactorsNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Human FactorsNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Vehicle DesignUS Transportation CollectionThis report is the sixth in a series on the physiological and psychological effects of flight operations on flight crews, and on the operational significance of these effects. Thirty-two helicopter pilots were studied before, during, and after 4- to 5-day trips providing support services from Aberdeen, Scotland, to rigs in the North Sea oil fields. Duty days began andended in Aberdeen. Half the trips studied took place in winter/spring, and the other half in summer/autumn. Heart rate, rectal temperature, and activity of the non-dominant wrist were monitored continuously by means of portable biomedical monitors. Subjects kept daily logs of sleep, timing and quality, food and fluid intake, medications taken, and medical symptoms. They also rated their fatigue and mood every 2 hr. while awake. For every segment flown,they rated their workload (on a modified Bedford Scale) for each phase of flight, and the following five environmental factors assumed to influence workload: 1) functioning of the aircraft systems (rated on a 5-point scale from `perfect' to `useless'); 2) weather conditions for landing; 3) the landing site; 4) letdown aids; and 5) air traffic control (2-5 each rated on a 5-point scale from `very favorable' to `very unfavorable').84