Congress Wants Air Force, Navy to Solve Pilot Physical Episodes Now

Fortunately there are years of intensive studies One idea is the toxin detector. If the brain senses something is out of alignment, the innate response is to eliminate a possibly ingested toxin. So when our balance center and vision are twisted up in knots, the mind believes we've swallowed a poison and triggers the nausea response. The second theory has to do with signals that the balance center sends to the heart when we're turned upside down and flipped in circles. The balance center, called the vestibular system, sits deep inside each ear, closely tied to the brain. When we feel unusual motions, the brain goes on alert, telling the heart to pump faster and redirecting blood flow to vital organs. This system also tells the stomach to empty its contents so any effort of digestion won't distract from more important fight-or-flight responses. Paraffin wax plugs placed in the ear can help by minimizing vestibule movement. Immediate line of site from the seat position can play a role as well, since the visual appearance of stationary object within a moving system (exampled in studies the carnival ride gravitron which uses g forces only to maintain your position as the floor drops away from you) enhances the brains recognition of movement, and transposes the reality as if the stationary visually referenced item is stationary then it the body in motion, causing the symptoms and others listed above. In design types where visual referenced line of site can not be adjusted to minimize this effect, using one eye can reduce the amount of data being received of the brain through the visual cortex and thereby aids in the reduction of these kinds of symptoms. Planes with technologies allowing them to pilot without true visual reference (such as the digital interface of Stealth technologies) are therefore likely to experience the least of these physical episodes) In cockpit design, with standard visual reference, seat positioning either in all window natural visual or alternatively placing pilot seating as far from the nose as possible gives the brain a nanoseconds head start to perceive where change in direction will be prior to the actual change, which just like sitting the 2nd or 3 cart of a roller coaster, can eliminate or reduce the physical episodes.
Also age plays a roll around the same time in life where we begin to need glasses, the inner airway begins to increase allowing greater vestibular movement, which in turn exacerbates these symptoms.
There is a reason adults cease carnival ride entertainment, and its not because they lost the desire for fun. Wanna see who is at risk for vestibular movement, a few rounds each on the gravitron and the zipper oughta serve the purpose well, the intensity as experienced by the body, owing to near ground visual reference, can also be used to desensitize pilots if used in immense repetition as intensive training. COL Mikel J. Burroughs Maj Marty Hogan SSG (Join to see) Col (Join to see) SP5 Mark Kuzinski Capt Dwayne Conyers SGT (Join to see) SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth Capt Christian D. Orr

Easier said than done...

For an organization that hasn't passed a real budget in years, after changing the fiscal year in the 70s because of the same problem, to micromanage to this degree is an obvious attempt to make themselves appear reative. There are people who are trained and experienced who are dedicating their efforts to solve the issue. Congress declaring something will not make it so, but causes more work, extra reports and desk jockeys to twirl in tight little circles trying to make their arbitrary deadlines.
Systems were designed, failed, cost lives and eventually were improved to the point where their promised effectiveness was achieved throughout my career, and not once was a bloviating congressman responsible for any improvement.