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Friday 18th July 2008
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Brainteasers Interactive Quiz #41:
Medical Facts for Pilots

The Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI) is the FAA organization responsible for medical certification, research and education. The CAMI Web site features a series of "Medical Facts For Pilots" brochures covering subjects like alcohol, altitude sickness, OTC medications, pilot vision, seat belts, smoke toxicity, and human factors. These are the basis for Irv Siegel's latest interactive quiz. Try it ... you'll learn something!

by Irv Siegel

AVweb isn't the only resource on the World Wide Web for pilots who are interested in expanding their aviation knowledge. The Federal Aviation Administration Office of Aviation Medicine, Civil Aeromedical Institute, publishes several brochures for pilots on their Web page at http://www.cami.jccbi.gov/AAM-400A/400brochure.html. The questions on this quiz are based on information taken from these brochures.

1. Alcohol is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and small intestine, and
a. 1/5 to 1/4
about ________________ oz. of pure alcohol per hour.


average, healthy person eliminates pure alcohol at a fairly constant rate --
b. 1/4 to 1/3
c. 1/3 to 1/2
considerably from person to person, and are influenced by variables such as
d. 1/2 to 1
e. 1 to 1.5
gender, body weight, rate of consumption (time), and total amount consumed. The
transported by the blood throughout the body. Its toxic effects vary
2. Which of the following can speed up the elimination of alcohol from the
a. Cold showers
b. drinking black coffee
body?


c. breathing 100% oxygen
d. none of the above
3. The maximum legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) to act as PIC is .04%.
Studies have shown decrements in pilot performance with blood alcohol
a. .035
b. .025
c. .015
concentrations as low as __________%.


d. .005
4. Decompression sickness (DCS) describes a condition characterized by a
a. Breathing 100% oxygen during flight (ascent, enroute, descent) without
b. Remain physically active while flying at altitudes above 18,000 feet.
c. Acclimate your body with repetitive exposures to altitudes above 18,000
cause inert gases (mainly nitrogen), normally dissolved in body fluids and
d. Refrain from alcohol consumption prior to flight at altitudes above 18,000
feet.


following procedures can provide protection from DCS?


oxygen pre-breathing.


tissues, to come out of physical solution and form bubbles. Which of the
variety of symptoms resulting from exposure to low barometric pressures that
5. If you are taking an over-the-counter medication and the label warns of
a. As long as you are not experiencing any of the side-effects, there is no
b. Do not fly until the recommended dosing interval has passed.
c. Do not fly until double the recommended dosing interval has passed.
d. Do not fly until triple the recommended dosing interval has passed.
possible side-effects, how soon after the dosing interval should you wait before
reason to wait.


you fly?

6. If you fly over water or under hazy conditions with the horizon obscured,
a. 30 minutes
b. 15 minutes
c. 5 minutes
d. 60 to 80 seconds
distance focus to relax under such conditions?


e. 20 to 30 seconds
known as "empty field myopia.") How long does it take for your
or between cloud layers at night, your distance focus relaxes. There is nothing
specific on which to focus, and your eyes will revert to an intermediate focal
7. The fovea, the central part of the retina, is where our vision is
a. 30
b. 15
c. 5
d. 1
sharpest. This conical field of view is about _____ degree(s).

8. What is the approximate ratio of midair collisions where the aircraft
a. 5 to 1
aircraft was overtaken by another on the same course?


b. 2 to 1
c. 1 to 1
d. 1 to 2
e. 1 to 5
were approaching each other head-on, compared to midair collisions where one
9. Where should the seat belt be placed in order to lessen the chance of
a. High on your hip bones
b. Low on your hip bones
c. On your abdomen
d. On your thighs
internal injuries in an accident?

10. What is the primary cause of death in most aircraft fires?
a. Burns
b. Lack of oxygen
c. Smoke inhalation
d. Internal injuries due to subsequent crash of the aircraft