Hypoxia: an analysis of hypobaric chamber training

Hypoxic hypoxia is a physiological condition which can manifest as a result of reduced barometric pressure, resulting in an insufficient amount of oxygen for use by the tissues in the body. Hypoxic hypoxia is of concern to pilots due to dangerous impairment the condition can cause in-flight, such as short term memory loss, incoordination, or incapacitation. Several aircraft incidents and accidents have been attributed to hypoxia in the past ten years. To train for hypoxia recognition, high altitude chambers are used to induce hypoxia in participants, through a reduction of pressure inside a reinforced chamber. The training allows participants to experience their personal physiological symptoms of hypoxia in a controlled environment, in order to be trained in recognition and intervention techniques. This study surveyed 110 participants of high altitude chamber training to analyze perceptions, experience, and attitudes of respondents toward the training. Significant results were found; to include 99% of participants stating they would recommend the training to others, and 96.8% stating they felt they were a safer pilot, crewmember, or other support personnel due to attending high altitude chamber training. Two questions related to formal regulatory oversight revealed non-significant results. The purpose and results of this study are intended to support the improvement of aviation physiological training practices, in an effort to reduce hypoxia-related aircraft incidents an accidents in the future.