Stress En Aviacion

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Stress and Fatigue in Aviation Operations
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Terminal Learning Objective
 ACTION: Reduce the adverse effects of stress and

fatigue on individual health, aviation safety, and mission completion
 CONDITION: While performing as a aircrew

member
 STANDARD: In Accordance With (IAW)

TC 3-04.93, FM 4-02.51, FM 22-51, Flight Stress, Fatigue inAviation, US Army Aeromedical Policy Letters (March 2008)

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Administrative Information
 Risk Assessment: Low  Environmental Considerations: None  Safety Considerations: None  Evaluation: 50 Question exam at the end of

Aeromedical Training at USASAM

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ELO A
 ACTION: Define the term stress  CONDITION: Given a list STANDARD: IAW TC 3-04.93 and Flight Stress

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STRESS!!

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STRESS

Hans Selye
 “The nonspecific response of the body to any

demand placed upon it”
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The Role of Cognitive Appraisal
 Lazarus (1968) – Psychological Appraisal

 Your thoughts about the situation impact how you

experience it Primary Appraisal  what meaning we place on the event  meaning is positive, negative, or neutral  Secondary Appraisal  how we view our ability to cope with the stress/event  Stress = Perceived Threat > Perceived Coping

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ELO B
 ACTION: Select the signs and symptoms of stress  CONDITION: Given a list  STANDARD: IAW TC 3-04.93

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UNCLASSIFIEDPhysical Responses
 Increase in adrenaline

 Sweaty palms
 Increased heart rate  Trembling  Shortness of breath  Gastrointestinal distress  Muscle tension  Sleep problems  Increased blood pressure

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Common Signs of Stress
 Behavioral Late to work Poor performance Explosiveness Alcohol and/or other drug abuse Social isolation SuicideUNCLASSIFIED

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Common Emotional Signs of Stress
 Irritability

 Hostility
 Anger  Anxiety  Sadness  Loss of self-esteem  Feelings of helplessness  Suppressed emotions

(Feeling numb, like you don’t feel anything)

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Common Signs of Stress
 Cognitive (Mental) Obsession or excessive worrying Decreased attention Impaired memory Poorjudgment Poor psychomotor coordination

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ELO C
 ACTION: Identify the types of stressors  CONDITION: Given a list  STANDARD: IAW TC 3-04.93 and Flight Stress

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Types of Stressors
 Psychosocial

External things that happen and impact you

emotionally
 Cognitive (Mental)

Internal ways you think and approachsituations
 Physiological

Your physical state and health
 Environmental
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Psychosocial Sources of Stress
 Some major events  Marriage / divorce

are:

 Death of a close

relative  Reassignment / deployment  Illness or injury (self or family)  Birth of a child  Financial issues  Problems with living arrangements/home
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UNCLASSIFIEDCognitive Stressors
 How you think and approach a situation will affect

your level of stress
“All or Nothing” thinking Failure to focus on the “Here and Now” Too many “Musts and Shoulds”

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Physiological Stressors
 Your physical health/state can cause

biological stress as well as change your ability to cope with external stressors  Aircrew membershave significant control over many physiological stressors Drugs Exhaustion Alcohol Tobacco Hypoglycemia (diet)
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Environmental Stressors
 Extreme temperatures  Speed  Aircraft design/characteristics  Flight conditions/altitude

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ELO D
 ACTION: Identify the impact of stress on crew

member performance
 CONDITION:...