A-lock vs g-lock

ive heard that A lock is when the pilot is semi concious and g lock is totally out. Is this true? if not what is the difference?

A LOC = Almost Loss Of Consciousness
G LOC = Gravity-induced Loss Of Consciousness

A LOC is more of a disortient, this combined with the fact that A LOC generally lasts longer then G LOC (if I remember correctly) makes it deadlier.

As someone described it to me, A LOC is like the lights are on but nobody is home and G LOC is pretty much no one is home. Hope this helps.

Haven't heard about A-LOC before. http://aeromedical.org/Articles/g-loc.html doesn't mention it either.

Just a little correction, G-LOC stands for "G-force induced Loss Of Consciousness"'

You can read about G-LOC and some related things here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-LOC , thought it's not that much info.

I've also never heard of A-LOC. While there have been a number of mishaps attributed to G-LOC, I'm not aware of any being attributed to something called A-LOC.

runi_dk wrote:Haven't heard about A-LOC before. http://aeromedical.org/Articles/g-loc.html doesn't mention it either.

Just a little correction, G-LOC stands for "G-force induced Loss Of Consciousness"'

You can read about G-LOC and some related things here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-LOC , thought it's not that much info.

"G-force induced Loss of Consciousness"; would be the Wiki-version. Any one each red-blooded American fighter pilot refers to "G-LOC" as; "G induced Loss of Consciousness", omit the "force".

I think the pilots refer to A LOC as red out and G LOC as black out, could be wrong.

Then there's B LOC which is referred to as a whiteout.

OL

kori wrote:I think the pilots refer to A LOC as red out and G LOC as black out, could be wrong.

No, red out is the result of negative g resulting in blood rushing to the head. Black out or g- loc is the result of positive g and blood leaving the head. Never heard of a- loc either.

I thought that was positive G's? Man I am all kinds of condused >.>

stilesf-35 had it mostly correct in the original post. A-LOC is a situation short of G-LOC where the pilot loses some or all of his/her vision, but maintains some brain functionality. Gray-outs and black-outs where pilots can still hear and remain in control of their body are examples of A-LOC. However, A-LOC cannot be described as deadlier and does not necessarily last longer (although I suppose it could); both are dangerous situations for the pilot. Both are caused by positive G-forces pulling the blood (and therefore the oxygen) from the brain into lower parts of the body. Starved of oxygen in the eyeballs, your vision will either start to gray out at the edges, close in like a tunnel with the light at the end, or go completely black. Depending on several human factors and the rate of G-onset, one can go from fully awake to completely unconscious in the blink of an eye or over the span of several seconds.

For those non-flyers, the sensation is similar to standing up quickly after you've been laying down for awhile. Your arteries/veins are relaxed and open while you lay down to prevent your blood pressure from being too high, and when you stand up the blood rushes from your cranium into your lower extremities before your arteries/veins can restrict themselves and stop the blood. The resulting gray spots at the edge of your vision and dizziness closely resemble the effects of G-force on the brain and vision at least for a few seconds. OBTW, if you perform the AGSM during a situation like the one I just described, you'll find your vision returns quickly.

Thanks for clearing that up, I guess I was just a little confused

The board used this terminology, “almost” loss of consciousness (no acronym), uniquely for the F-22 accident. It was used primarily to explain the subsequent loss of situational awareness. I don’t believe it had been used formally prior to this for the “tunnel vision effect” or gray/black out while still conscious. You’re either conscious or you’re not. This is like “almost” pregnant.

Medically, ALOC is Acute Loss of Consciousness, of which GLOC is a subset.

ALOC, curiously, is also Acceptable Level of Competence.

OL

Ive experienced it where not because of flying but because of other rigorous activities where you lose oxygen in your brain or something like that, but u see "stars" and your vision starts to decrease and gray. Is this kind of like A-lock?

stilesf-35 wrote:Ive experienced it where not because of flying but because of other rigorous activities where you lose oxygen in your brain or something like that, but u see "stars" and your vision starts to decrease and gray. Is this kind of like A-lock?

I think thats just your girlfriend getting off of you.

stilesf-35 wrote:Ive experienced it where not because of flying but because of other rigorous activities where you lose oxygen in your brain or something like that, but u see "stars" and your vision starts to decrease and gray. Is this kind of like A-lock?

I think so, like standing up quickly after laying down?


Would G LOC be compareable to a roller coaster ride?