ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the relationships between human physiology and flight with emphasis on the limitations imposed by the body on pilot performance. The human body is adapted to live under the influence of the force of gravity on Earth. Accelerations in aircraft can subject the body to forces of acceleration much greater than this, and for convenience are denoted as multiples of our 1G terrestrial environment. In the event of symptoms in flight it can be very difficult to distinguish between the effects of hypoxia and the effects of hyperventilation. Decompression sickness occurs in association with exposure to reduced atmospheric pressure and is characterized by the evolution of bubbles of nitrogen coming out of solution in body tissues. The only potential risk arises from very rapid decompressions but, provided the individual breathes out during the decompression, lung damage is extremely rare.
