The U.S. Air Force has assembled a team to investigate “unexplained” physiologic events that some aircrew members have experienced in flights and identify methods to prevent such episodes.
The UPE Integration Team, led by Brig. Gen. Bobbi Jo Doorenbos, will explore ways to increase human performance for tactical aviation missions, the Air Force said Monday.
“As part of the integrated effort to address physiological events, the Air Force is providing more resources to understand UPEs, standardize response actions to such events and assess options for more robust aircrew training to recognize and respond to these events,†Doorenbos said.
Lt. Gen. Chris Nowland, deputy chief of staff for operations at the Air Force, said the service branch intends to share results of the UPE study with other military services and industry partners.
The Air Force trains aircraft operators on physiological symptom recognition and response as part of safe aircraft recovery operations.
The branch noted that physiological events can result health-related factors that affect flight operations such as hypoxia, disorientation, hypocapnia or hypercapnia.
