Aviation Physiology Education teaches aircrew and aviation related personnel about the aviation environment, and its effects on the human who has to participate in activities in a high altitude medium. The objective of such training is to ensure that the person operating in this environment is safe.
To complement our highly trained specialist staff educators, SAC operates a comprehensive suite of facilities for the conduct of didactic as well as practical training to simulate the stresses that aircrew may experience while operating in the very dynamic and hostile flight environment.
Training Capabilities and Services
Training packages
SAC conducts pre-selected and customised Aviation Medicine training packages for aircrew and aviation-related personnel. Training courses comprise didactic lectures followed by practical training in our state-of-the art simulators. SAC is the only training centre in South East Asia which operates such extensive suite of aviation physiology simulators all at one location for the customer.
SAC has expanded its client base over the years to provide training and aviation physiology orientation to other air forces and government agencies, airlines and educational institutions like schools and universities. Training packages are specially selected to cater to the needs of customers and range from half-day visits to week-long programmes.
Practical Training
SAC is able to provide realistic physiological training to aircrew using sophisticated aeromedical simulators. These allow aircrew to experience many of the physiological stressors that they may be exposed to while operating their aircraft. The simulators available include the following:
Altitude (Hypobaric) Chamber
This simulator is able to simulate low atmospheric pressure environment found at elevated altitudes up to 80,000ft. This allows aircrew to experience the effects of rapid decompression of an aircraft, and the effects of hypoxia, breathing in rarefied air. The ability to perform rapid ascents and descents in the chamber also provides aircrew with the exposure to rapid rates of ascent and descent and the physiological problems associated with such situations.
Disorientation trainers
Somatogyral Turntable
This basic device demonstrates the limitations of the human vestibular system and how the balance organ systems can misinterpret aircraft motion and potentially confuse the aircrew controlling the aircraft. This provides the introductory exposure of the limitations of the vestibular system to aircrew. This device is also utilised for motion sickness desensitisation therapy for persons who suffer from motion sickness.
Advanced Spatial Disorientation Trainer
This six-degree-of-freedom simulator provides visual and vestibular cues that can demonstrate spatial disorientation illusions to aircrew. The trainee pilot flies the simulator in adverse visibility conditions and experiences realistic illusions that may result in spatial disorientation in a real aircraft and is debriefed as to how he or she should best manage the aircraft in such conditions.
Unaided Night Vision Trainer
Aircrew are exposed to a slide and sound training package teaching them about the limitations of the human visual system under low lighting conditions and the illusions that they may experience under poor lighting conditions.
Night Vision Device training
Aircrew are taught about the limitations of night vision devices in the aviation environment and how to adjust and optimise their devices for best performance. This is a restricted training programme and aircrew have to bring their own night vision devices (subject to Singapore customs and police clearances) in order to participate in this training using a slide and sound presentation package, and demonstrations on multiple terrain model boards.
Ejection Seat Trainer
Aircrew flying ejection seat equipped aircraft are taught the proper postural techniques for safe ejection from a stricken aircraft, so that they have the best chance of escaping from the damaged aircraft with minimal likelihood of injury.
Human Centrifuge
This device provides high-G training to aircrew who are flying high performance aircraft. The centrifuge can routinely provide training up to 9G at rapid onset rates of up to 6G/s. Aircrew are taught to optimize their G-protection equipment (anti-G suits and positive pressure breathing systems where appropriate) and most importantly, their Anti-G Straining Maneuver (or AGSM) under close supervision of a Physiology Training Officer and a Medical Doctor.
