CAA NZ PPL Human Factors cheat sheet

Hypoxia types: hypoxic (low alveolar PO2, e.g. altitude), hypaemic (anaemia or CO poisoning reducing O2 carriage), stagnant (reduced blood flow, e.g. G-loading), histotoxic (cells cannot use O2, e.g. alcohol, cyanide).

Time of useful consciousness without supplemental oxygen: roughly 20-30 min at 18,000 ft, 5-10 min at 22,000 ft, 1-2 min at 30,000 ft, 30 s or less above 40,000 ft.

New Zealand PPL flight above 10,000 ft pressure altitude requires supplemental oxygen for the pilot when flight is more than 30 min at that level; above 13,000 ft oxygen is required continuously.

Hyperventilation vs hypoxia: hyperventilation gives dizziness, tingling of hands and feet, and carpopedal spasm; hypoxia gives cyanosis, impaired judgement, and euphoria. Treatment for hyperventilation is controlled slower breathing; for hypoxia, descend and use oxygen.

CO poisoning: haemoglobin binds CO about 200-250 times more readily than oxygen; symptoms include headache, nausea, and cherry-red skin; treatment is 100% oxygen and descent.

Spatial disorientation: the somatogyral illusion (leans) follows a sustained turn after sudden recovery; the somatogravic illusion makes acceleration feel like a climb, prompting a nose-down push.

Coriolis illusion: head movement during a sustained turn creates a tumbling sensation; avoid head movements when banking or turning in IMC.

Decompression sickness (DCS): nitrogen bubbles form after exposure to low pressure; avoid flying within 24 h of diving (12 h for no-decompression dives) and 48 h after decompression-stop dives.

Barotrauma: equalise ears and sinuses on descent; do not fly with a cold or blocked Eustachian tube, as this can cause severe ear pain or rupture.

Hypoxia types: hypoxic (low alveolar PO2, e.g. altitude), hypaemic (anaemia or CO poisoning reducing O2 carriage), stagnant (reduced blood flow, e.g. G-loading), histotoxic (cells cannot use O2, e.g. alcohol, cyanide).

Time of useful consciousness without supplemental oxygen: roughly 20-30 min at 18,000 ft, 5-10 min at 22,000 ft, 1-2 min at 30,000 ft, 30 s or less above 40,000 ft.

New Zealand PPL flight above 10,000 ft pressure altitude requires supplemental oxygen for the pilot when flight is more than 30 min at that level; above 13,000 ft oxygen is required continuously.

Hyperventilation vs hypoxia: hyperventilation gives dizziness, tingling of hands and feet, and carpopedal spasm; hypoxia gives cyanosis, impaired judgement, and euphoria. Treatment for hyperventilation is controlled slower breathing; for hypoxia, descend and use oxygen.

CO poisoning: haemoglobin binds CO about 200-250 times more readily than oxygen; symptoms include headache, nausea, and cherry-red skin; treatment is 100% oxygen and descent.

Spatial disorientation: the somatogyral illusion (leans) follows a sustained turn after sudden recovery; the somatogravic illusion makes acceleration feel like a climb, prompting a nose-down push.

Coriolis illusion: head movement during a sustained turn creates a tumbling sensation; avoid head movements when banking or turning in IMC.

Decompression sickness (DCS): nitrogen bubbles form after exposure to low pressure; avoid flying within 24 h of diving (12 h for no-decompression dives) and 48 h after decompression-stop dives.

Barotrauma: equalise ears and sinuses on descent; do not fly with a cold or blocked Eustachian tube, as this can cause severe ear pain or rupture.