Aviat Space Envir Md
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General aviation accounts for the majority of aviation crashes and casualties in the United States, and general aviation safety has not improved in the past decade. ⋯ The most important correlates of pilot fatality are variables likely related to increased impact forces. Better occupant protection equipment, such as air bag and crashworthy fuel system, are needed for general aviation aircraft.
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Aviat Space Envir Md · Apr 1999
Testing of the AVL OPTI 1 portable blood gas analyzer during inflight conditions.
The "AVL OPTI 1" (AVL Medical Instruments, Saint-Ouen l'Aumone, France), a completely automated portable blood gas analyzer, was chosen because of its accuracy under usual sea-level conditions and because of its new technology which broadens the possibilities for in-flight blood determinations: a) a single use cassette made of plexyglass containing the measurement chamber and the aligned sensors required for pO2, pcO2 and pH determination; b) calibration coefficients memorized in a bar code label fixed on the packing material; c) a quality control of each individual cassette prior to the measurement and at least once a day by two standard reference cassettes simulating high and low levels of pH, pcO2 and pO2; and d) a fully automatic introduction of the blood sample. The complete analytical cycle requires about 3 min with a sample volume of 80 microL of whole blood. After the measurement, the cassette containing blood sample is destroyed. ⋯ The pressure value given by the AVL OPTI 1 was controlled before the experiment began and during the different depression levels. Barometric pressure results showed: a) concordance of pressure values with those of ground instrumentation; b) stable response; and c) absence of hysteresis. We conclude that the performance of the AVL OPTI 1 is satisfactory during inflight conditions.