THE FLYER

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 68, 17 September 1927, Page 25

THE FLYER

SELECTION OF PILOTS

$ "Flight-surgons" is" the term used rlo designate a new class, of specialists •pbrought into being ,by the rapid advances of aeronautics since the World qWar, says "Science Service's Daily News Bulletin" (Washington). "jCt has been tragically demonstrated that spot every one who wants to fly can \&o so; and it is the job of the flightaurgeon to "spot" such individuals 'jjefore they get into the air, according itto Major L. H. Bauer, of the United States Army Medical Corps.: I " 'An immense amount of work has s>een done, both from the experimental gind practical sides, in this country and abroad,' Major Bauer explained. 'As & result of this work the percentage of giviation accidents due to physical Ipauses has decreased in a surprising ■jjnaniier.' The outstanding essentials, in the selection of a flyer, he explain■fsd, are good eyes and good nervous stability, quick reaction, and co-ordina-tion. By good eyes are meant not only jaormal vision and absence of' colour 's>liadness, but literally the ability to _|see out of the corner of his eye,' for Mn flying it is quite often necessary to Msnow what is Happening at one side ■;when it is imperative to keep 'eyes to see what is coming straight rahead. Quick; reaction time is essen•Jial, because lie flyer frequently has to yneet a situation where almost automatic reaction is needed. The ear, in ;:ppite of its connection with the sense Vpf balance, is not now considered of ;.4;reat importance in determining the status of an aviator. After jpyers are selected they are classified i^ith respect to their ability to attain into two groups, fainters and Hon-fainters. The decreasing supply Cof oxygen in the far upper reaches provinces physiological changes in the body £;o which different types react differSpntly. Symptoms develop insidiously, '^md the aviator may reach the fainting 'vjtage without realising that he is not ?jn a state of perfect well-being. Consequently a test has been worked out SJriiereby flyers are grouped according f-bo their altitude reaction into classes

J3^ unrestricted, B, restricted to 15,000 [•feet, and C, restricted to 8000 feet. The gjimit of consciousness without oxygen ;*U about 25,000 feet, and even with artificially supplied the limt ■«f altitude is 1 between 40,000 and 45,000 "jieet." i