Female Performance Under High-G During Fatigue and After G-Layoff.
Abstract
The effects of fatigue and G-layoff on performance during high-G are mostly unknown for the female population. This research was conducted in the centrifuge Dynamic Environment Simulator (DES). Eight male and eight female active-duty personnel were trained to fly the F-16 simulation while thirty performance measures were recorded. Performance was re-evaluated after 24 hrs. of sleeplessness and after either 2 or 4 weeks of layoff. Neither male nor female overall performance was significantly affected by sleep status, although individual tasks showed sensitivity; call-sign reaction time was longer by 33% and missile survival was less likely. Also, perceived effort and physical demand were higher while perceived performance was lower when sleepless. No differences in performance were found in either gender due to layoff, although some physiologic deconditioning was apparent. Women commanded and endured the same amount of G load as men, however on average they could not perform the tracking task quite as well. Women also reported more adverse effects of exposure. Nothing was found that suggests that women should not fly high performance aircraft.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA314478
Entities
People
- Tamara L. Chelette
Organizations
- Armstrong Laboratory