R
EVISION
:
-
D
ATE
:
12/29/04
P
AGE
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20
Copyright
2004 Glasair Aviation, LLC Arlington, Washington All rights reserved
or any other vital part of the machine. The pilot has the sole
responsibility for determining his or her own reliability prior to entering
the airplane for flight. When piloting an airplane, an individual should
be free of conditions that compromise alertness, reaction time or the
ability to make correct decisions.
Fatigue
Fatigue generally slows reaction times and causes errors due to
inattention. In addition to the most common cause of fatigue
(insufficient rest and loss of sleep), recent illness, the pressures of
business, financial worries and family problems can be important
contributing factors. If you are tired, don’t fly.
Hypoxia
Hypoxia is a lack of sufficient oxygen to keep the brain and other body
tissues functioning properly. There is wide individual variation in
susceptibility to hypoxia. In addition to progressively insufficient
oxygen at higher altitudes, anything interfering with the supply of
oxygen to the brain, such as anemia, atherosclerosis, high blood
pressure, certain drugs and even postural changes (twisting the head,
for example, can block blood supply to the brain) can contribute to
hypoxia. Persons who have recently overindulged in alcohol, who are
moderate to heavy smokers or who take certain drugs may be more
susceptible to hypoxia. Susceptibility may also vary in the same
individual from day to day or even morning to evening.
It is impossible to predict when or where hypoxia will occur during a
given flight, or how it will manifest itself. Some of the common