Final Exam March 2010 Aviation Human Factors Question Bank

Introduction to Human Factors and Flight Physiology

1. The ICAO has used the concept of the SHEL model to better define the role
of human factors in
aviation and how they interrelate.
a) Define SHEL model and give example each of it. (10 marks)
b) Define human factor and explain why we should learn about it. (5 marks)
2. Physiology is the study of the body functions at the cellular level.
a) Define flight physiology. (3 marks)
b) Explain about brain, the spinal cord and peripheral nervous system
together with their functions
(6 marks).
c) Explain the function of respiratory system and circulatory system. (6
marks)
3. Respiration is essentially the process by which we liberate energy to
maintain life by the oxidation of
food.
a) Explain the main purposes of respiration process. (2 marks)
b) Describe 2 types of respiration take place in human body. (6 marks)
c) Explain the process of respiration in lung (7 marks)
The Atmosphere and Hypoxia
4. Hypoxia happens when there is not enough oxygen taken into human body.
There are four types of
hypoxia which are hypoxic, hypemic, stagnant and histotoxic hypoxia.
a) Describe factors that can cause hypoxia. (3 marks)
b) Compare hypoxic hypoxia with hypemic hypoxia (6 marks)
c) Briefly explain the treatment needed to overcome hypoxia. (6 marks)
5. Stagnant means not flowing. Stagnant hypoxia leads to oxygen-rich blood
in the lung isnt moving
to the tissues that need it
a) Explain about stagnant hypoxia and state one form of stagnant hypoxia. (3

marks)
b) Provide 2 causes that lead to stagnant hypoxia. (3 marks)
c) Explain the stages of hypoxia (9marks)
6. Medically, hypoxia is a pathology condition in which body as a whole or
region of the body is
deprived of adequate oxygen supply.
a) Define histotoxic hypoxia. (2 marks)
b) State 2 major causes that can lead to histotoxic hypoxia. (3 marks)
c) List at least 5 of hypoxia symptoms that can be summarized and describe
each of them. (10 marks)Hyperventilation and Cabin Pressurization
7. They are very few know about the important of adequate carbon dioxide in
the bloodstream. High
or low carbon dioxide in blood can lead to adverse effects on the body.
a) Provide important carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. (4 marks)
b) State the process of hyperventilation (6 marks)
c) Explain the relationship between hypoxia and hyperventilation (5marks)
8. Hyperventilation can result by rapid or deep breathing which occur when
respiratory rate increases
from required 12 per minute to 15 per minute and remain elevated for a
prolonged time.
a) State 3 causes that can result to hyperventilation. (3 marks)
b) List 3 symptoms and 3 treatments of hyperventilation. (8 marks)
c) Explain the ways to prevent or overcome hyperventilation (4 marks)
9. In hyperventilation, low level of carbon dioxide resulting in changes of
body pH value which will
leads to the constriction of the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain.
a) Explain how carbon dioxide tend to be main factor that result in
hyperventilation (3 marks)
b) Explain the different between hyperventilation and hypoxia (9 marks)
c) State three (3) causes of Hyperventilation other than emotional problems.
(3 marks)

10. Cabin pressurization is important to maintain a safe and comfortable

environment for crew and
passengers in the low outside atmosphere pressure.
a) Describe in detail main purpose why aircraft cabin need to be pressurized.
(9 marks)
b) Explain how cabin pressurization works. (6 marks)
11. There are three types of depressurization which can lead to serious and
fatal injuries to aircraft and
passenger.
(a) Explain cabin depressurization and state the immediate effects of rapid
decompression. (6 marks)
(b) Discuss the factors affecting severity and times of decompression. (9
marks)
Decompression Sickness and Trapped Gas
12. Decompression sickness could be prevented by pressurized the aircraft
cabin and limitation at high
altitude.
a) By using some illustration, explain Henrys law and relate it with
decompression sickness syndrome.
(10 marks)
b) Why do you think flying in the commercial aircraft after diving may cause
decompression sickness?
(2 marks)
c) What the main causes of decompression sickness. (3 marks)13. As the gas
above the solution decrease, the amount of gas dissolved in solution
decreases and forms
a bubble of gas within solution.
a) Define decompression sickness. (3 marks)
b) State 5 symptoms of decompression sickness and its explanation. (10
marks)
c) List 2 prevention steps of decompression sickness. ( 2 marks)
14. As pressure change at altitude its effect certain body areas (cavities).

When the gas in these cavities

cant equalize with ambient environment, the gas is considered to be
trapped.
a) Name the cavities that being affected by trapped gas. (4 marks)
b) Explain how gastrointestinal tract is being affected (6 marks)
c) If trapped gas affected gastrointestinal tract, explain the treatment
needed to solve this problem.
(5 markah)
15. Middle ear, parasinuses, gastrointestinal tract and the teeth are body
areas that affected during
pressure change.
a) Explain how Boyles Law can be related with trapped gas. (5 marks)
b) State the effect to human cavities due to trapped gas problem. (10
marks)
16. The Konoha Airliner pilot wants to fly A320-200 aircraft to south Japan.
Unfortunately he is catching
a cold on that day.
a) If he insist to fly the aircraft even though his catching a cold; which cavities
do you think will affected
him during flight? (2 marks)
b) Please describe how are those cavities could be affected. (6 marks)
c) Valsalva is one treatment method for this probem. Briefly explain about
valsalva method and
another three (3) treatment methods for this situation. (7 marks)
Vision
17. Lens, retina, pupil, iris and cornea are the eyes part which have different
function.
a) Choose only TWO eye parts and describe their function (4 marks)
b) List and explain 3 types of visions. ( 6 marks)
c) Briefly explain how you can see by using your eyes. (5 marks)
18. Eyes are one of the most important human parts which are use for our

sight. However, due to

human limitation and capabilities human eyes might be defected. Explain
about impairment of
vision. (15 marks)
19. Photopic vision, scotopic vision and mesopic vision are the three (3) types
of vision. However our
vision sometimes is limited due to several factors.
a) Explain about the causes of impaired vision (8 marks)
b) Explain how to have better scan of object in the flight. (7 marks)G-Force
and Accelerations
20. A pilot in a vertical turn may experience forces of acceleration (G-force)
equivalent to many times
the force of gravity.
a) Explain in details the effect of high Gz forces. (12 marks)
b) Briefly explain two (2) prevention steps of G-force. (3 marks)
21. When the pilot flies the aircraft there are certain forces acting on pilots
body; such Gx, Gy, Gz.
a) Roughly explain Gx and Gy forces (4 marks)
b) State the different between +Gz and Gz forces. You may explain the
difference by providing
diagram to help you. (6 marks)
c) Explain about red-out phenomena (5 marks)
22. As g-force is progressively increased the pilot may experience Grey out,
Blackout, G-LOC, Red-out
and death. To prevent this situation, the pilot has been trained with the
method of anti-G straining
maneuver.
a) Explain about Grey out and blackout. (5 marks)
b) Explain about G-LOC (5 marks)
c) Explain about anti G straining maneuver. (5 marks)
Alcohol and Flying

23. 70% of aircraft accidents occur because of human error. This human error
involving of low
awareness of flight physiology and safety as well as security, attitude and
miscommunication.
a) Discuss the regulation restricted by Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR)
involving alcohol. (5 marks)
b) Explain how alcohol can lead towards hypoxia. (5 marks)
c) Explain how alcohol can affect the human performance.
24. In US, the percentage of pilot with elevated blood alcohol levels involved
in fatal general aviation
accidents remain 10%-30% in recent time, 43% in early 1960s and 15%-20%
during 1970s.
a) List at least 5 effects of alcohol on impairment of higher cortical functions.
(10 marks)
b) State 5 symptoms of hangover effect. (5 marks)
25. The ingestion of alcohol influences virtually every system in human body
in some way or another.
Discuss in details the effect of alcohol to human body. (15 marks)
Jet lag and Fatigue
26. Studies have shown that complex bodily functions, such as those
measurable by reaction time,
performance and decision time are affected by rapid shifts through several
time zones
a) What is Jet lag? (2 marks)
b) Why does jet lag occur? (7 marks)
c) Explain how jet lag can affect air crew performance. (6 marks)27. Lack of
adequate sleeps and rest results in sleepy and fatigued pilots. Air crash
research revealed
that the unsafe and dangerous situations can result from a crew that has not
had adequate sleep.
a) Define fatigue

(2 marks)

b) Explain two (2) types of fatigue (5marks)

c) Discuss the causes of fatigue (8 marks)

28. Fatigue is noted by aviation community for many years as having a strong
impact on flight safety and
efficiency while jet lag can cause serious problem of air crew performance if
not treated well.
a) Discuss how to prevent fatigue. (5 marks)
b) Explain the way to minimize Jet lag problem. (5 marks)
c) Briefly explain the symptoms of fatigue. (5 marks)
Stress
29. In aviation, accidents almost always occur in a sequence of mistakes.
Stress is one of the first
contributing factors lead into the rest causing the effect.
a) Explain the causes of stress (9 marks)
b) Discuss the symptoms of stress. (6 marks)
30. Stress can be defined as physical and physiological tension caused by
dealing with difficult
situations. In order to maintain safety in aviation, stress must be managed to
avoid an accident.
a) Explain in details how stress affects human performance in aviation.
(8marks)
b) Explain on how to manage stress. (7marks)