Varis Nikke, Parkkola Kai I, Leino Tuomo K
Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2019 Aug 1;90(8):720-724. doi: 10.3357/AMHP.5289.2019.
The incidence of hypoxia-like symptoms in military aviators is on the rise. Cases can be related to On-Board Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS) malfunction, air contamination, loss of cabin pressurization, hyperventilation, or a combination of these issues simultaneously. Normobaric hypoxia training in tactical fighter simulations has been conducted in the Finnish Air Force since 2008. This training helps aviators to recognize their individual hypoxia symptoms and refreshes hypoxia emergency procedures in a realistic cockpit. A flight mission included three set-ups and a return to base (RTB) after the third set-up. In a tactical Hawk simulator, different concentrations of oxygen were used (8%, 7%, and 6% oxygen in nitrogen) to create normobaric hypoxia exposures. During the RTB, the flight instructor evaluated the subjects' flight performance ( = 16) in order to estimate cognitive functions after hypoxia. A control flight was evaluated before or after the flight with normobaric hypoxia exposure. Instrumental flight rule performance during RTB decreased significantly from 4.81 to 3.63 after normobaric hypoxia and emergency procedures. Some pilots reported fatigue, headache, memory problems, and cognitive impairment as adverse effects up to 12 h after normobaric hypoxia training. Hypoxia has a significant effect on flight performance during RTB, even 10 min after hypoxia emergency procedures. Since 100% oxygen was used as emergency oxygen, as in a real aircraft, the oxygen paradox may decrease flight performance. Hypoxia training in tactical fighter simulations provides an opportunity for pilots to also understand the effects of the "hypoxia hangover" on their flight performance.
军事飞行员中类似缺氧症状的发生率正在上升。这些病例可能与机载制氧系统（OBOGS）故障、空气污染、机舱失压、过度通气或这些问题同时出现的组合有关。自2008年以来，芬兰空军一直在战术战斗机模拟中进行常压缺氧训练。这种训练有助于飞行员识别自己的个体缺氧症状，并在逼真的驾驶舱中复习缺氧应急程序。一次飞行任务包括三个设置阶段，以及在第三个设置阶段后返回基地（RTB）。在战术“鹰”式模拟器中，使用不同浓度的氧气（氮气中含8%、7%和6%的氧气）来制造常压缺氧暴露。在返回基地阶段，飞行教员评估了受试者的飞行表现（n = 16），以便估计缺氧后的认知功能。在进行常压缺氧暴露飞行之前或之后，对一次对照飞行进行了评估。在常压缺氧和应急程序后，返回基地阶段的仪表飞行规则表现从4.81显著下降至3.63。一些飞行员报告称，在常压缺氧训练后长达12小时内，疲劳、头痛、记忆问题和认知障碍等不良反应依然存在。缺氧对返回基地阶段的飞行表现有显著影响，即使在缺氧应急程序后10分钟也是如此。由于在实际飞机中一样，使用100%的氧气作为应急氧气，氧悖论可能会降低飞行表现。战术战斗机模拟中的缺氧训练为飞行员提供了一个机会，让他们也能了解“缺氧后遗症”对其飞行表现的影响。
