1996 Meeting - Wroclow (Poland)

SCIENTIFIC AND PLENARY MEETINGS HELD IN WROCLOW, POLAND,
31st MAY - 02nd JUNE 1996
Hosted by the aero-club of Poland

Plenary Meeting

Attendants

Scientific Meeting

FAI MEDICO-PHYSIOLOGICAL COMMISSION (CIMP)

Recommendations of the 1996 Scientific & Plenary Meetings

(Wroclaw, Poland - May 31st to June 02 1996)

1. BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SELECTION OF MULTIFOCAL LENSES.

Vapaavuori

The combined corrections should not exceed the limits set by regulations.

• One set of glasses may be allowed to cover all distances.
• The spare set of glasses should be of similar correcting capability.
• Special Considerations:
  • The type of lens (Bifocal/Trifocal or Multifocal) should be selected so as to meet the needs of the flight/cockpit environment.
  • Pilots should be made aware of the distortions and restrictions of the visual fields that various types of lenses can cause.
  • The use of progressive (Multifocal) lenses should not be allowed when flying a rotary wing or certain other types of aircraft where the lower side visual fields must remain undistorted.

2.ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR:

• The CIMP advises all pilots who are instructors or Supervisors that abnormal behavior may arise from the use of drugs, alcohol, mental illness or any combination of them.
• As such, it is their ethical duty to ensure that the person concerned seeks medical advice and that the responsible doctor is made aware of how such conditions can adversely effect aviation safety.

3.ALCOHOL & MEDICATIONS

• Normal alcohol use can cause severe incapacitation with many seemingly innocent drugs. These may include allergy medications, sleeping pills and many others.
• This type of incapacitation may linger on for several days even after the use of only small amounts of alcohol or drugs,
• It is the responsibility of every pilot/everyone in aviation to spread the knowledge of this fact and to be alert of this potential serious impact on flight safety.
• All aviators should avoid alcohol when on any medication and always consult medical experts before using any new medications.

4.GPS - GROUND POSITIONING SATELLITE:

Dal Monte

• The CIMP wishes to draw attention to the aviation community of its concern regarding the increased risk for "aviation hazards" due to the high degree of trust now being placed in the various new high technology navigational systems such as GNSS(GPS).
• Although this problem may be well known, the human error factor that may result in faulty input or disorientation when "sudden shutdown" or "dysfunction" of such systems occur needs repeated clarification to ensure that airmen are not distracted from their "normal" flying alertness.

5."G" LOADS IN AEROBATICS:

Marek, Klukowski

• CIMP remains concerned about the possibility of permanent intro-cranial and other physiological damage to aerobatic pilots as a result of rapid changes in "G" loading.
• It urges the FAI Aerobatic Commission to develop competition rules which encourage "artistry" versus high "G" angular maneuvers

6.THE PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED PILOT:

• The CIMP recognizes it is the duty of the Commissions to encourage participation by physically challenged pilots.
• The CIMP suggests that medical advice is required to determine whether the handicap is static or progressive and to assist in its bio-mechanical description.
• Advice should also be solicited by CIMP regarding equipment modification that may be necessary to accommodate the pilot's needs and any special training that may be required.
• In providing such input, the outcome "performance standard" should be the same as for other pilots.

Plenary Meeting

Were present :

In the Chair : Dr. Colm KILLEEN, President of CIMP (Ireland)

Apologies for absence received from :

Dr. Rob W. LIDDELL, Delegate (Australia)
Dr. René MAIRE, Delegate (Switzerland)
Dr. John L. FIRTH, CIMP President of Honour (U.K.)
Dr. Dominique WEIBEL, CIMP President of Honour (Switzerland)