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Cabin Cruising Altitudes for Regular Transport Aircraft

2008; Aerospace Medical Association; Volume: 79; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3357/asem.2272.2008

1943-4448

John Affleck, Arnold Angelici, Susan P. Baker, Ted Brook, Mary A. Cimrmancic, Robert A. Cocks, Chuck Dejohn, Leo Eldredge, James Elliott, D. Gareth Evans, Edmond Feeks, Karen Fox, Jim Fraser, Pedita Hall, Karen Heupel, Yuki Kakimoto, Jeffrey Kyff, Matt Lewis, Guohua Li, Tom Luna, Graeme Maclarn, R Marsh, Joe McKeon, Eduardo Mera, Verba Moore, Mike Muhm, Brian Musselman, Donna Murdoch, Greg Ostrander, Glenn Pascoe, Eduard M. Ricaurte, D. W. Ritter, Robert J. Ryan, Farhad Sahiar, Bill Salazar, Tarek Sardana, Dennis F. Shanahan, Joseph Sky, Tracy L. Smart, Jan Stepane, Nathan E. Villaire, Nicholas J. G. Webster, Deborah White, Alex Wolbrink, A. D. Woodrow, Rawson Wood, A. J. Wurmstein, Shawn Zarr,

Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue

The adverse physiological effects of flight, caused by ascent to altitude and its associated reduction in barometric pressure, have been known since the first manned balloon flights in the 19th century. It soon became apparent that the way to protect the occupant of an aircraft from the effects of ascent to altitude was to enclose either the individual, or the cabin, in a sealed or pressurized environment. Of primary concern in commercial airline transport operations is the selection of a suitable cabin pressurization schedule that assures adequate oxygen partial pressures for all intended occupants. For the past several decades, 8000 ft has been accepted as the maximum operational cabin pressure altitude in the airline industry. More recent research findings on the physiological and psycho-physiological effects of mild hypoxia have provided cause for renewed discussion of the "acceptability" of a maximum cabin cruise altitude of 8000 ft; however, we did not find sufficient scientific data to recommend a change in the cabin altitude of transport category aircraft. The Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA) should support further research to evaluate the safety, performance and comfort of occupants at altitudes between 5000 and 10,000 ft.