Here it is.
Sunday Feb 18, 2007
I just returned from Winnipeg. The place is rightfully called Winter Peg as it is insanely cold. While I was there the temperatures were hovering in the -30 range (w/o the wind) and the locals were saying this was warm ;). Normally they get temps in the range of -40 so add the windchill factor and you will get temps around -50. The first day we got there, my buddy's coffee froze and his mug cracked while walking to a nearby building, less then 2 mins of being outside.
I was there for a week on an aeromedical course. Basically an introduction to physiological phenomena that can occur to pilots during flying. Things like hypoxia, hyperventilation, decompression or motion sickness.
Very interesting course. You learn a lot about your body especially during experiments in the decompression chamber. While wearing the fighter pilot gear like helmet and gas mask various demos are performed. This is the time we get paid to release gases ;-) While ascending to 30K feet the gases in your body want to expand, and what other way to let them out than through your 2 main sphincters lol Actually if you don't do that you end up in a lot of pain. For a while, I felt like there was a balloon in my stomach.
Night vision and oxygen deprivation tests were probably the most interesting. For the first one, they kept us in a dark room for about 1 hour where we watched various presentations in red light only. We learned some techniques that help you identify objects, their distance, orientation, etc. in very dark environments. The oxygen experiment is the highlight of the course. Once at 30K feet pressure we are disconnected from the oxygen supply and asked to perform simple tasks. The point of this is to recognize your first symptom of hypoxia (oxygen deficiency in your system) and act on it which means reconnect. Of course I had to be the highlight of the day. Wanting to feel a more severe effect I waited too long at which point (as they say) I became confused and didn't respond to questions. In my mind I was feeling perfectly fine but apparently I was loosing it ;) So my symptoms turn out to be hot and cold flashes and tunnel vision. Another guy had a case of euphoria and couldn't stop laughing.
PS. btw, here in Winnipeg, kids eat for free on Sundays but guess where ... at the Hooters ;)
Here are some photos from the Aeromedical Training in Winnipeg, MB
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2 comments:
Hi. Thanks for an incredibly interesting blog. I'm considering taking the same route as yourself. Question: at which point did you do the centrifuge training and is it compulsory for all pilots?
Hi. The centrifuge test/training is not until you actually get selected for jets. And even then, you start training on the Hawk first. Only after you pass that phase you might expect to go for centrifuge training. In other words, only once they are sure you will be flying the CF-18.
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