Aeromedical Factors Flashcards
7 cards from real SPC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Aeromedical Factors flashcards as text
Which of the following BEST explains why alcohol impairs pilot performance even the day after consumption?
Answer: Residual alcohol and byproducts continue to affect the central nervous system
Acetaldehyde and other metabolic byproducts of alcohol remain in the body and impair CNS function well after blood-alcohol content drops to zero.
Autokinesis is an illusion in which a stationary light appears to move. This is MOST hazardous because it may cause a pilot to:
Answer: Make unnecessary control inputs attempting to track the moving light
A pilot who mistakes a stationary ground light for a moving aircraft may chase it, inadvertently altering altitude and heading.
Which in-flight condition is MOST likely to cause nitrogen to form bubbles in a pilot's joints and tissues?
Answer: Flying above 18,000 feet MSL after scuba diving
Decompression sickness (the bends) can occur when dissolved nitrogen in the blood comes out of solution due to low cabin pressure, typically at altitudes above 18,000 feet after scuba diving.
Which type of hypoxia results when the blood has adequate oxygen but tissues cannot use it properly due to a chemical interference?
Answer: Histotoxic hypoxia
Histotoxic hypoxia is caused by substances like cyanide or alcohol that prevent cells from using oxygen even when blood oxygen levels are normal.
A pilot is experiencing the 'graveyard spiral.' What sensation does the pilot INCORRECTLY feel?
Answer: The aircraft is in wings-level flight during the spiral
In a graveyard spiral, the pilot's vestibular system adapts to a prolonged bank, making them feel level when the aircraft is actually in a tight descending turn.
Which of the following is a symptom of middle ear barotrauma (ear block) during descent?
Answer: Pain, muffled hearing, and possible dizziness during descent
Ear block occurs when the Eustachian tube cannot equalize pressure during descent, causing pain, hearing loss, and sometimes vertigo.
What is the primary hazard associated with flying with a sinus infection or severe cold?
Answer: Inability to equalize sinus pressure during altitude changes, causing pain or rupture
Congestion blocks the sinus openings, preventing pressure equalization during climbs and descents, which can cause severe pain or sinus barotrauma.