Aerospace Medicine

Ground and Cabin Crew Physiologic Training

Mayo Clinic has developed a new training product and curriculum designed to enhance aviation safety. The Mayo Hypoxia Awareness Training System enables pilots to safely experience the effects of a state of oxygen deprivation known as hypoxia. Hypoxia results in slower response time, impaired judgment and eventual unconsciousness and poses a serious aviation safety hazard.

The new educational device, which has a patent pending, employs a mixed-gas training technology developed for aviator training as far back as the 1920s. The modern-era use of mixed-gas technology for hypoxia awareness training has also been investigated and is in use by the U.S. Navy.

The new computer-based, portable system simulates the effects of hypoxia by introducing a precisely controlled mix of oxygen and nitrogen to pilots. During the test — which lasts between 7 and 10 minutes — pilots are prompted to respond to commands and carry out tasks. A video camera captures the pilots' responses and records their actions. Additional recording devices document pilots' physiological reactions. After the test, pilots view their response to the hypoxic environment through playback of the video. This is important because hypoxia may impair recall and thus diminish the pilot's ability to remember all aspects of the training exposure. In addition, each pilot and co-pilot team is trained together so that they learn to recognize each other's symptoms of hypoxia.

Previously, pilots could only experience hypoxia symptoms by completing training in an altitude chamber. Although chamber training provides the most accurate simulation of the high-altitude environment, it has several disadvantages. The changes in pressure experienced during chamber training can cause ear and sinus problems in some people. On very rare occasions, those who undergo chamber training also are vulnerable to decompression sickness (commonly called "the bends"), which can have serious health consequences.

Another limitation of chamber training is that pilots must travel to a chamber location to complete the training. Pilots are unable to fly the same day they complete training, as a return to high altitude during flight could increase their risk of developing decompression sickness. Testing could require at least two days of a pilot's time, which can have financial consequences for pilots and the companies that employ them.

Mayo Clinic's training product addresses many challenges of chamber-based systems. Pilots who complete the training are not at risk for developing pressure-related problems and therefore can fly the same day. In addition, the system is portable and can be administered anywhere.

Mayo Clinic continues to train professional pilots in Rochester, Minn. using this device and is licensing the technology for use by professional pilot training companies. Mayo also trains pilots and cabin crew at leading business aviation companies in the fractional aircraft ownership market.