F-35A: Let the Training Begin
-
- Elite 2K
- Posts: 2895
- Joined: 24 Oct 2008, 00:03
- Location: Houston
F-35A: Let the Training Begin
Posted by Amy Butler
Dec 17, 2012
The U.S. Air Force has finally approved the beginning of formal pilot training for the F-35, a major step forward to eventually declaring initial operational capability for its budding F-35A fleet.
The approval comes after more than a year of delay.
Gen. Edward Rice, who heads the Air Education and Training Center, finally gave the formal nod ..The training courses will begin in January.
The Air Force had slated to begin formal pilot training last fall, but that plan slipped owing to concerns offered by the Pentagon’s chief tester about the single-engine, stealthy jet’s readiness for regular operations. The Air Force opted instead to institute a rigorous process to test the training syllabus during a formal operational utility evaluation (OUE), which ended earlier this fall. “We didn’t expect any surprises and we didn’t have any surprises,” Rice tells Aviation Week of the OUE.
Meanwhile, the Marine Corps has been training pilots using its F-35B aircraft at Eglin. ...
Though the OUE used the syllabus for the F-35A Block 1A version, the first class to go through formal pilot training will use the Block 1B software, Rice says. Six classes, each with six student pilots, are slated for the next year. That pilot production rate of 36 pilots is likely to hold for the foreseeable future, ...
The 1A software simply allowed for basic flying and approaches into Eglin. The 1B software includes some data fusion in the cockpit avionics and security features. Weapons capability does not show up, however, until Block 2B.
All the pilots to be trained in the next year will be instructors.
Maintainer training began earlier this year with the arrival of the first F-35A. Nine F-35As owned by the U.S. Air Force, 11 F-35Bs owned by the U.S. Marine Corps and two F-35Bs owned by the United Kingdom are housed at Eglin.
Source: http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx? ... a7890f25bd
Excellent!
- Active Member
- Posts: 158
- Joined: 04 May 2012, 03:09
- Location: Miami
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla -- Following an independent evaluation of Eglin's capability to conduct F-35A Lightning II pilot training, Air Education and Training Command announced today the 33rd Fighter Wing can do so, starting in January.
"The preliminary results provided by the Joint Operational Test Team show the F-35A aircraft and its pilot training and sustainment systems, are robust enough to conduct the planned pilot transition and instructor upgrade courses," said Air Education and Training Command commander, Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr.
AETC will initiate syllabus training in order to meet Air Force-defined requirements. A deliberate process will be used that continues to validate the training system's effectiveness through advancing training blocks as they are made available by the military's F-35 Program Office and Lockheed Martin.
The Operational Utility Evaluation, which started Sept. 10 and was slated to last 65 days, encompassed intensive classroom and simulator training along with six flights, for four primary and two backup upgrading student pilots.
With favorable conditions to include "good weather, an accomplished maintenance team and talented instructors to train the pilots, the OUE process lasted only 46 training days," said Col. Andrew Toth, 33rd Fighter Wing commander, an F-35A instructor pilot who spearheads the joint and international F-35 efforts at Eglin.
"You are here making a lasting impression on how the team will execute F-35 both flying and maintenance training over the next 50 years," he said during conversations to wing members following the successful OUE.
During the OUE, experienced pilots transitioned from the F-16 and A-10 aircraft, to the world's first multi-role stealth fighter. Two pilots, Maj. John Wilson and Maj. Matthew Johnston were from Eglin's 58th Fighter Squadron and two, Lt. Col. Brian O'Neill and Maj. Joseph Scholtz and were from operational test units at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
"Their performances were superb... that smile each student had after landing his first flight showed they were well prepared and the jet was easy to fly just as I had experienced with my first flight," said Lt. Col. Lee Kloos, 58th Fighter Squadron commander, who is charged with overseeing the squadron's daily flying operations. He is also the first non-developmental test pilot to fly the F-35.
The OUE was initiated by the Joint Strike Fighter Program Executive Officer based in Wash. D.C. and was intended to best arm the AETC commander with comprehensive data from an independent source so Rice could decide how to proceed with future F-35A pilot training at Eglin.
"The OUE showed the men and women at Eglin are ready," said Rice. "I'm very proud of both those in uniform and the contracted support who put in years of hard work. The culmination of those labors was successfully demonstrating the Integrated Training Center can conduct safe and effective flying operations in addition to academic training."
Training is slated to begin Jan. 7 with four 58th Fighter Squadron pilots and two operational test pilots.
The focus of the OUE evaluation team was on the ability to conduct pilot training but leadership agree they couldn't do it without their maintainers.
"The maintainers are the backbone of the flight operations. Had they not performed the way they did, we could not have finished the OUE about two weeks ahead of schedule," said Toth pointing to his skilled team in the 58th Aircraft Maintenance Unit and Lockheed Martin contracted logistics support.
With RFT declared, the wing's integrated training center gets closer to running at full capacity of 100 military pilot students a year along with the 2,100 maintenance students.
"We look forward to 2013 as we integrate the Navy's 'Grim Reapers' and F-35C into our flying operations along with our international partners, the Dutch and UK. The pace of operations will not slow as we continue to grow and we are ready for the new challenges next year will bring to wing personnel and it's F-35 Integrated Training Center."
Approximately 36 Air Force pilots are expected to go through the training program next year.
"The team at Eglin went through a rigorous process to lead the way for F-35A training. We look forward to starting off the new year with more history in the making as they put the JSF Integrated Training Center to task to provide a world class training program," said Rice.
Source: http://www.eglin.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123330196
-
- Elite 5K
- Posts: 28404
- Joined: 05 May 2009, 21:31
- Location: Australia
U.S. Air Force approves formal start of F-35 pilot training 17 Dec 2012 By Andrea Shalal-Esa
http://www.xe.com/news/2012/12/17/31203 ... _RSS_Art11
"...He said Monday's decision cleared the way for six groups of six pilots to be trained to fly the Air Force's conventional takeoff and landing model of the F-35, a single-seat, single-engine warplane, over the course of the coming year....
...A Dutch pilot may also be trained next year, Rice said.
RIGOROUS TRAINING
For now, only experienced pilots who have been instructors for other aircraft will be trained to fly the F-35 A-model, he said, adding that it was not yet clear when the first group of brand new pilots would be trained on the new fighter.
Eventually the Air Force expects to train 100 or more pilots a year to fly the jet, and will also train some 2,100 mechanics to service the planes.
Starting Jan. 7, the Air Force said new F-35A pilots will receive about 130 hours of classroom instruction, as well as time on a full-mission simulator that helps prepare pilots for in-flight emergencies such as an engine fire.
Each pilot will also spend nearly 23 hours training on a ground-based device that prepares them to use the plane's ejection seat.
Rice, who flew B-52 and B-2 bombers, said the sophistication of the sensors and other systems on board the F-35 meant that the plane's pilots needed different skills than the pilots who trained for aerial dogfights during World War Two.
Today's F-35 pilots will distinguish themselves more by being able to maximize the capabilities of the high-end electronics systems than by their prowess in maneuvers...."
More or less whatever else is at the jump is seen already but go there anyways.
http://www.xe.com/news/2012/12/17/31203 ... _RSS_Art11
"...He said Monday's decision cleared the way for six groups of six pilots to be trained to fly the Air Force's conventional takeoff and landing model of the F-35, a single-seat, single-engine warplane, over the course of the coming year....
...A Dutch pilot may also be trained next year, Rice said.
RIGOROUS TRAINING
For now, only experienced pilots who have been instructors for other aircraft will be trained to fly the F-35 A-model, he said, adding that it was not yet clear when the first group of brand new pilots would be trained on the new fighter.
Eventually the Air Force expects to train 100 or more pilots a year to fly the jet, and will also train some 2,100 mechanics to service the planes.
Starting Jan. 7, the Air Force said new F-35A pilots will receive about 130 hours of classroom instruction, as well as time on a full-mission simulator that helps prepare pilots for in-flight emergencies such as an engine fire.
Each pilot will also spend nearly 23 hours training on a ground-based device that prepares them to use the plane's ejection seat.
Rice, who flew B-52 and B-2 bombers, said the sophistication of the sensors and other systems on board the F-35 meant that the plane's pilots needed different skills than the pilots who trained for aerial dogfights during World War Two.
Today's F-35 pilots will distinguish themselves more by being able to maximize the capabilities of the high-end electronics systems than by their prowess in maneuvers...."
More or less whatever else is at the jump is seen already but go there anyways.
-
- Elite 2K
- Posts: 2895
- Joined: 24 Oct 2008, 00:03
- Location: Houston
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123330275
AETC declares Eglin ready for F-35 training
by Maj. Karen Roganov
Team Eglin Public Affairs
12/17/2012 - EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- Following an independent evaluation of Eglin's capability to conduct F-35A Lightning II pilot training, Air Education and Training Command announced Dec. 17 that the 33rd Fighter Wing can do so starting January 2013.
"The preliminary results provided by the Joint Operational Test Team show the F-35A aircraft and its pilot training and sustainment systems, are robust enough to conduct the planned pilot transition and instructor upgrade courses," said Air Education and Training Command commander, Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr.
AETC will initiate syllabus training in order to meet Air Force-defined requirements. ...
The Operational Utility Evaluation, which started Sept. 10 and was slated to last 65 days, ...
.. the OUE process lasted only 46 training days," said Col. Andrew Toth, 33rd Fighter Wing commander..
....
"Their performances were superb... that smile each student had after landing his first flight showed they were well prepared and the jet was easy to fly just as I had experienced with my first flight,"...
..
"The OUE showed the men and women at Eglin are ready," said Rice. "I'm very proud of both those in uniform and the contracted support who put in years of hard work. The culmination of those labors was successfully demonstrating the Integrated Training Center can conduct safe and effective flying operations in addition to academic training."
Training is slated to begin Jan. 7 with four 58th Fighter Squadron pilots and two operational test pilots.
..
"The maintainers are the backbone of the flight operations. Had they not performed the way they did, we could not have finished the OUE about two weeks ahead of schedule," said Toth, pointing to his skilled team in the 58th Aircraft Maintenance Unit and Lockheed Martin contracted logistics support.
With RFT declared, the wing's integrated training center gets closer to running at full capacity of 100 military pilot students a year along with the 2,100 maintenance students.
"We look forward to 2013 as we integrate the Navy's 'Grim Reapers' and F-35C into our flying operations along with our international partners, the Dutch and UK. ..
Approximately 36 Air Force pilots are expected to go through the training program next year.
...
little more at the jump
AETC declares Eglin ready for F-35 training
by Maj. Karen Roganov
Team Eglin Public Affairs
12/17/2012 - EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- Following an independent evaluation of Eglin's capability to conduct F-35A Lightning II pilot training, Air Education and Training Command announced Dec. 17 that the 33rd Fighter Wing can do so starting January 2013.
"The preliminary results provided by the Joint Operational Test Team show the F-35A aircraft and its pilot training and sustainment systems, are robust enough to conduct the planned pilot transition and instructor upgrade courses," said Air Education and Training Command commander, Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr.
AETC will initiate syllabus training in order to meet Air Force-defined requirements. ...
The Operational Utility Evaluation, which started Sept. 10 and was slated to last 65 days, ...
.. the OUE process lasted only 46 training days," said Col. Andrew Toth, 33rd Fighter Wing commander..
....
"Their performances were superb... that smile each student had after landing his first flight showed they were well prepared and the jet was easy to fly just as I had experienced with my first flight,"...
..
"The OUE showed the men and women at Eglin are ready," said Rice. "I'm very proud of both those in uniform and the contracted support who put in years of hard work. The culmination of those labors was successfully demonstrating the Integrated Training Center can conduct safe and effective flying operations in addition to academic training."
Training is slated to begin Jan. 7 with four 58th Fighter Squadron pilots and two operational test pilots.
..
"The maintainers are the backbone of the flight operations. Had they not performed the way they did, we could not have finished the OUE about two weeks ahead of schedule," said Toth, pointing to his skilled team in the 58th Aircraft Maintenance Unit and Lockheed Martin contracted logistics support.
With RFT declared, the wing's integrated training center gets closer to running at full capacity of 100 military pilot students a year along with the 2,100 maintenance students.
"We look forward to 2013 as we integrate the Navy's 'Grim Reapers' and F-35C into our flying operations along with our international partners, the Dutch and UK. ..
Approximately 36 Air Force pilots are expected to go through the training program next year.
...
little more at the jump
-
- Elite 5K
- Posts: 28404
- Joined: 05 May 2009, 21:31
- Location: Australia
TOP STORIES OF 2012: Eglin becomes ‘center of the universe’ for F-35 training By LAUREN SAGE REINLIE / Daily News, December 30, 2012
http://www.nwfdailynews.com/local/top-s ... ng-1.71927
"...A pilot took off in an F-35 for the first time March 6 [2012]. Since then, pilots have taken 739 flights, moving the jet from test flight mode to operational capacity, said Marine Col. Art Tomassetti, vice commander of the 33rd.
The base received its first Marine Corps variant, the F-35B, which was designed for short takeoff and vertical landing, early in 2012. The Marines then shipped off a crew to stand up the first F-35 operational unit in Yuma, Ariz., in November.
The first international students, from the United Kingdom, also started academic training this fall to fly and maintain their own aircraft.
The year culminated earlier this month with a visit from Air Force Gen. Edward Rice, who gave the school the official go-ahead to start graduating Air Force pilots and maintainers next year....
...On Jan. 1 [2012], six Air Force variants of the plane, the F-35A, were parked in hangars. At year’s end, the fleet has grown to 22 planes: nine F-35As and 13 F-35Bs, including two UK jets.
About 26 pilots and 500 maintainers went through the program at the training center....
...It also will receive its first F-35C, the Navy’s variant of the jet. Dutch students also are set to begin training in January [2013]....
...He, Tomassetti, the maintenance group commander and the operations group commander all will leave for new positions by next summer [2013], Toth said...."
BEST to read it all at the Yump.
http://www.nwfdailynews.com/local/top-s ... ng-1.71927
"...A pilot took off in an F-35 for the first time March 6 [2012]. Since then, pilots have taken 739 flights, moving the jet from test flight mode to operational capacity, said Marine Col. Art Tomassetti, vice commander of the 33rd.
The base received its first Marine Corps variant, the F-35B, which was designed for short takeoff and vertical landing, early in 2012. The Marines then shipped off a crew to stand up the first F-35 operational unit in Yuma, Ariz., in November.
The first international students, from the United Kingdom, also started academic training this fall to fly and maintain their own aircraft.
The year culminated earlier this month with a visit from Air Force Gen. Edward Rice, who gave the school the official go-ahead to start graduating Air Force pilots and maintainers next year....
...On Jan. 1 [2012], six Air Force variants of the plane, the F-35A, were parked in hangars. At year’s end, the fleet has grown to 22 planes: nine F-35As and 13 F-35Bs, including two UK jets.
About 26 pilots and 500 maintainers went through the program at the training center....
...It also will receive its first F-35C, the Navy’s variant of the jet. Dutch students also are set to begin training in January [2013]....
...He, Tomassetti, the maintenance group commander and the operations group commander all will leave for new positions by next summer [2013], Toth said...."
BEST to read it all at the Yump.
-
- Elite 5K
- Posts: 7505
- Joined: 16 Oct 2012, 19:42
neptune wrote:http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post:e3d72c19-a851-41ca-8a80-d1a7890f25bd
F-35A: Let the Training Begin
Posted by Amy Butler
Dec 17, 2012
Went there to see the trolly comments. Was not disappointed as Peter Horde Goon commented that the F-35 is "vibey" and noisy in the cockpit.
Nothing at all desperate from the APA crew LOL
- Elite 2K
- Posts: 2346
- Joined: 09 May 2012, 21:34
XanderCrews wrote:Went there to see the trolly comments. Was not disappointed as Peter Horde Goon commented that the F-35 is "vibey" and noisy in the cockpit.
Nothing at all desperate from the APA crew LOL
When was the last time Kopp or Goon went up in an actual fighter jet? A C-37B (G-550) doesn't count, despite the high performance of the aircraft. How do they know the noise level of the cockpit of a F-35?
[humor]I asked for a ride in one... they wouldn't let me go up in a F-35
[/humor]-
- Elite 5K
- Posts: 28404
- Joined: 05 May 2009, 21:31
- Location: Australia
Perhaps the F-35 pilots can use noise cancelling listening to the Beach Boys 'Good Vibrations'?
Beach Boys (New STEREO) Good Vibrations HD 1966
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwrKKbaClME
Beach Boys (New STEREO) Good Vibrations HD 1966
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwrKKbaClME
-
- Elite 5K
- Posts: 7505
- Joined: 16 Oct 2012, 19:42
Checking up on Peter Goon's Twitter, and his comments on aveweek this guy is only going to get crazier as the F-35 succeeds more. He is convinced the F-35 is a conspiracy and all those who support it are involved in it.
- Elite 2K
- Posts: 2346
- Joined: 09 May 2012, 21:34
spazsinbad wrote:Perhaps the F-35 pilots can use noise cancelling listening to the Beach Boys 'Good Vibrations'?
Beach Boys (New STEREO) Good Vibrations HD 1966
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwrKKbaClME
In all seriousness, they do have "active noise reduction" noise-cancelling headset integrated into the HGU-55 helmet, if required, and we had it over 10 years ago. If the cockpit vibrations majorly exceeded the earlier jets, they'd have more to worry about than pilots getting uncomfortable, like flutter problems in the airframe.
-
- Elite 5K
- Posts: 28404
- Joined: 05 May 2009, 21:31
- Location: Australia
How Good Is The World's Most Expensive Fighter Jet? By Larry Abramson 02 Jan 2013
First of two parts [stop right there Larry - quit while you are almost A-head]
http://wkar.org/post/how-good-worlds-mo ... ighter-jet
"...Lt. Col. Todd LaFortune walks away from his plane after a training run. He is still wearing his pressure suit and is a little flushed from his flight. LaFortune is now qualified to be an F-35 instructor. He'll never fly an old F-16 again.
"We decided once you start flying the F-35 we're not going to be dual-qualified. So now, I should be done with the F-16 for the rest of my life," he says. "That was a sad day, but it's one of the coolest things I've ever done in my life, was being selected to come fly this aircraft and then get to actually fly it now. It's pretty neat."...
Don't bother with the rest - just more of the same old same old rehash of drivel.
First of two parts [stop right there Larry - quit while you are almost A-head]
http://wkar.org/post/how-good-worlds-mo ... ighter-jet
"...Lt. Col. Todd LaFortune walks away from his plane after a training run. He is still wearing his pressure suit and is a little flushed from his flight. LaFortune is now qualified to be an F-35 instructor. He'll never fly an old F-16 again.
"We decided once you start flying the F-35 we're not going to be dual-qualified. So now, I should be done with the F-16 for the rest of my life," he says. "That was a sad day, but it's one of the coolest things I've ever done in my life, was being selected to come fly this aircraft and then get to actually fly it now. It's pretty neat."...
Don't bother with the rest - just more of the same old same old rehash of drivel.
-
- Elite 2K
- Posts: 2544
- Joined: 31 Jan 2004, 19:18
- Location: SW Tenn.
That has to be one of the most poorly constructed articles I've ever read. Took him 18 paragraphs to say absolutely nothin'. 
- Elite 2K
- Posts: 2346
- Joined: 09 May 2012, 21:34
I find it suprisings the instructors are putting away the old "F-16s" F-22 pilots have commented that getting a few flights in a F-16 before the Raptor made the transition easier. I had heard the instructors were flying F-16s for currency.
- Forum Veteran
- Posts: 850
- Joined: 15 Oct 2009, 18:43
- Location: Australia
XanderCrews wrote:neptune wrote:http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post:e3d72c19-a851-41ca-8a80-d1a7890f25bd
F-35A: Let the Training Begin
Posted by Amy Butler
Dec 17, 2012
Went there to see the trolly comments. Was not disappointed as Peter Horde Goon commented that the F-35 is "vibey" and noisy in the cockpit.
Nothing at all desperate from the APA crew LOL
Peter Horde Goon's cranium is definitely "vibey" and noisy
. Not to mention echoey as there is alot of empty space up there :p.-
- Elite 5K
- Posts: 28404
- Joined: 05 May 2009, 21:31
- Location: Australia
'neurotech' said: "...I had heard the instructors were flying F-16s for currency...." Before the F-35s were allowed to fly F-16s were the cab of choice to remain current (along with the F-35sims). New pilots out of flight school apparently will get some G grunting flights in F-16s to prepare them for the F-35 (and the sims). All that newbie stuff to be worked out though. Experienced pilots probably get some F-16 time while they wait for F-35 flights but then apparently that will be that for some of them. I guess it is easy for the quoted pilot to say what he said but others may have a different experience. Who knows. Is anything ever set in stone? I don't think so. Who thought F-22s would be grounded for months at a time. A-4 pilots with the pure oxygen under pressure had similar symptoms to those outlined but of course not at the extremes of the flight envelope of the F-22. A-4 cough after low level high G flights was quite common along with the ValSalvaManuvver, from the oxygen leaking out of soft tissue such as ears to cause blockages even long after the flight over. Sometimes that could be quite painful until ears cleared. Some pilots suffered from the 'cough' more than others though.
_______________________
“...a high concentration of oxygen at low altitudes can lead to “absorption atelectasis,” in which too much oxygen can wash away necessary nitrogen within the lungs and cause lung tissue to collapse.”...
http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.asp ... 497809.xml
___________________________
"Physiology of Flight
Another oxygen effect which may be loosely grouped under the general heading of oxygen toxicity is atelectasis while breathing 100 percent oxygen during + Gz acceleration, although the term “oxygen toxicity” in this context is a misnomer. Acceleration atelectasis is included in this section only because it occurs when an aviator is breathing 100 percent oxygen. The primary factor responsible for the atelectasis is probably the complete cessation of basilar alveolar ventilation under acceleration. There is also markedly increased blood flow to the basilar alveoli as opposed to the apical ones, along with a reduction in basilar alveolar volumes as the weight of the lung under acceleration compresses the bases against the diaphragm. With these factors acting in concert, and when the alveoli in question contain only oxygen, water vapor, and carbon dioxide, oxygen absorption (the main cause of acceleration atelectasis) leads to alveolar collapse, and atelectasis can occur very rapidly.
If nitrogen is present in the inspired gas, the gas absorption and consequent alveolar collapse are greatly slowed. The time required for complete absorption of gas contained in the lower quarter of the unventilated lung, with normal blood flow distribution, is increased from five minutes on 100 percent oxygen to about 25 minutes on 50 percent oxygen, 50 percent nitrogen. In addition, there is evidence that nitrogen in the lung acts as a “spring” by preventing alveolar collapse when all the oxygen is absorbed.
Pulmonary atelectasis during flight may result in several performance-degrading effects, including distracting or perhaps even incapacitating cough and chest pain and arterial hypoxia due to the shunt of venous blood through the nonaerated alveoli. The Flight Surgeon should remain aware that coughing, substernal pain, and decreased altitude tolerance may indicate the development of this condition. In any event, acceleration atelectasis usually resolves itself in a few days with little or no treatment...."
http://www.operationalmedicine.org/Text ... Manual.pdf
_______________________
“...a high concentration of oxygen at low altitudes can lead to “absorption atelectasis,” in which too much oxygen can wash away necessary nitrogen within the lungs and cause lung tissue to collapse.”...
http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.asp ... 497809.xml
___________________________
"Physiology of Flight
Another oxygen effect which may be loosely grouped under the general heading of oxygen toxicity is atelectasis while breathing 100 percent oxygen during + Gz acceleration, although the term “oxygen toxicity” in this context is a misnomer. Acceleration atelectasis is included in this section only because it occurs when an aviator is breathing 100 percent oxygen. The primary factor responsible for the atelectasis is probably the complete cessation of basilar alveolar ventilation under acceleration. There is also markedly increased blood flow to the basilar alveoli as opposed to the apical ones, along with a reduction in basilar alveolar volumes as the weight of the lung under acceleration compresses the bases against the diaphragm. With these factors acting in concert, and when the alveoli in question contain only oxygen, water vapor, and carbon dioxide, oxygen absorption (the main cause of acceleration atelectasis) leads to alveolar collapse, and atelectasis can occur very rapidly.
If nitrogen is present in the inspired gas, the gas absorption and consequent alveolar collapse are greatly slowed. The time required for complete absorption of gas contained in the lower quarter of the unventilated lung, with normal blood flow distribution, is increased from five minutes on 100 percent oxygen to about 25 minutes on 50 percent oxygen, 50 percent nitrogen. In addition, there is evidence that nitrogen in the lung acts as a “spring” by preventing alveolar collapse when all the oxygen is absorbed.
Pulmonary atelectasis during flight may result in several performance-degrading effects, including distracting or perhaps even incapacitating cough and chest pain and arterial hypoxia due to the shunt of venous blood through the nonaerated alveoli. The Flight Surgeon should remain aware that coughing, substernal pain, and decreased altitude tolerance may indicate the development of this condition. In any event, acceleration atelectasis usually resolves itself in a few days with little or no treatment...."
http://www.operationalmedicine.org/Text ... Manual.pdf
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot] and 19 guests