Method of studying acceleration tolerance of pilots in flight conditions

The following procedure was used to study the pilot's tolerance to acceleration inflight. Experiments were carried out in a specially equipped plane with a dual monitoring system. Inflight the pilot performed 3 dives, attaining 3.0, 5.0 and 6.0 g for 30 sec at an interval of 1-2 min and an onset rate of 0.4-0.6 g/sec. The control over the health state and performance of the pilot was maintained by the coach as well as with the aid of breathing rate, ECG, ear pulse rate recordings and cynematography of the pilot's face during exposure to acceleration. These methods were employed in experimental flights of a good number of pilots. The results show that the methods may well be used to better medical monitoring inflight and to identify subjects with decreased tolerance to acceleration.