Assessment of performance in a link GAT 1 flight simulator at three alcohol dose levels

P. H. Henry, J. A. Flueck, J. F. Sanford, H. N. Keiser, R. C. McNee, W. H. Walter IIIrd, K. H. Webster, B. O. Hartman, M. C. Lancaster

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

To evaluate the effects of drugs and environmental stresses on pilot psychomotor performance, an automated system was developed around a Link GAT 1 flight trainer. Performance was electronically scored during 1 hr simulations of cross country instrument flight, using special purpose analog and digital logic. The sensitivity of this system was assessed by observing the acute effects of three graded doses, 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 gm/kg body weight, of ethyl alcohol on scored performance. Three separate experiments were conducted using a total of 22 nonrated men, aged 21 to 29 yr. Statistically significant performance decrements were observed at all three dose levels. These decrements were small at the low dose, showed a progressive increase with the moderate dose, and became substantial at the high dose. The corresponding blood alcohol levels (average of pre and post task breath samples) for these three doses were in the order of 25, 55, and 85 mg% respectively, levels well below those currently employed in reference to automobile driving to define limits of legal intoxication.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)33-44
Number of pages12
JournalAEROSPACE MED.
Volume45
Issue number1
StatePublished - 1974

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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