BACKGROUND: High-temperatures in the cockpit environment can
adversely influence pilot behavior and performance.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of high thermal
environments on Chinese pilot performance in a simulated cockpit environment.
METHODS: Ten subjects volunteered to participate in the tests under
40°C and 45°C high-temperature simulations in an environmentally
controlled chamber. Measures such as grip strength, perception, dexterity,
somatic sense reaction, and analytical reasoning were taken. The results
were compared to the Combined Index of Heat Stress (CIHS).
RESULTS: CIHS exceeded the heat stress safety limit after 45 min
under 40°C, grip strength decreased by 12% and somatic perception
became 2.89 times larger than the initial value. In the case of 45°C,
CIHS exceeded the safety limit after only 20 min, while the grip strength
decreased just by 3.2% and somatic perception increased to 4.36 times
larger than the initial value. Reaction and finger dexterity were not
statistically different from baseline measurements, but the error rate of
analytical reasoning test rose remarkably.
CONCLUSION: Somatic perception was the most sensitive index to
high-temperature, followed by grip strength. Results of this paper may help
to improve environmental control design of new fighter cockpit and for pilot
physiology and cockpit environment ergonomics research for Chinese pilots.
