Pilots’ Tolerance to the Plus and Minus Gravitational Acceleration Changes

Abstract

Flights with alternating ±Gz acceleration in a cockpit of agile aircraft with high maneuvering capabilities invoke a cardiovascular response of the organism named a Push-Pull effect. This phenomenon is characterized by the rapid and significant decrease of blood pressure accompanied by a slower return to the standard value as a result of compensation reaction. Particularly the slower return of blood pressure to the original value after its previous rapid decrease is a very dangerous factor during flights. The new LBNP (lower body negative pressure) examination method with the simulation of the Push-Pull effect is an important training stage preceding pilots’ centrifuge training. Blood pressure is a significant parameter reflecting the cardiovascular regulation level and it responds very sensitively to both a Gz acceleration and an LBNP exposure.