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Publication AbstractsRelaxed Acceleration Tolerance In Female Pilot TraineesP. D. Navathe, G. Gomez, and A. KrishnamurthyAviat Space Environ Med 2002; 73:1106-8 AbstractBackground: Female pilots now fly many types of aircraft including military fighters capable of maneuvers that produce high, sustained acceleration in the +Gz axis. Although women have participated as subjects in various centrifuge studies, little is known about the acceleration tolerance of female pilots. Methods: Between April 1995 and December 1997, 17 female pilot trainees were studied at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Bangalore, India. The subjects were 23.2 ± 1.4 yr old and led physically active lives. Their relaxed +Gz tolerance limits (defined as peripheral light loss) were tested using the High G and Disorientation Demonstrator. The protocol included a series of rapid onset runs (RORs) to tolerance followed by a single gradual onset run (GOR) to tolerance. Results: The mean ROR tolerance was 4.2 ± 0.4 G. The mean GOR tolerance was 5.2 ± 0.6 G. Three of the subjects were unable to complete the GOR due to severe nausea. Two women reported breast discomfort at levels of 3.5 G and beyond. No other problems were reported. Conclusions: The acceleration tolerances for the female pilot trainees were comparable to those for male pilots previously studied in our laboratory.Keywords: women, +Gz tolerance. Information on subscribing, and on obtaining copies of an article or of an entire issue. Table of Contents for Volume 73, Number 11 of the ASEM journal.
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