Abstract
Flyers are subject to nearly all the normal risks of life on earth, and also to others due to isolation within the aircraft and to the height and speed at which they fly. Altitude leads to damage from the low pressure, the lack of oxygen, and the enhanced effect of toxic substances; and also from cold and radiations. Velocity causes no practical problems of itself save lack of time for urgent decisions, and confusion due to jet-lag but too rapid change of velocity can be hazardous in impacts or in milder cases lead to disorientation or escape difficulties; and extreme velocities may lead to heating due to atmospheric friction. In practice, the resourcefulness of aviators keeps pace with the risks they run.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.