Coast Guard students train at Langley's altitude chamber

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Russell Wicke
  • Air Combat Command Public Affairs
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) --  Coast Guard aircrew students graduated technical training after completing a course on hypoxia and spatial disorientation, taught by 1st Fighter Wing Airmen here April 23.

The course at Langley, known for its use of the altitude chamber, is the only place the Coast Guard receives the training, and instructors tailor the class specifically to them, said Master Sgt. Rodney Morris, 1st Aerospace Medical Squadron NCO in charge of aerospace physiology.

The two-part training involves a classroom portion where Langley instructors travel to Elizabeth City, N.C., to teach. The second portion involves the altitude-chamber and is conducted here at a later date. Sergeant Morris said the Coast Guard students are usually aircrew on C-130s and a variety of helicopters.

Airman 1st Class Brendan Davis, 1st Aerospace Medical Squadron class instructor, interacted with the students by demonstrating the hazards of spatial disorientation. He used a spinning device called a Barany chair that simulates aircraft maneuvers using centrifugal force. The chair produces disorientation similar to what pilots commonly experienced during flight maneuvers. The training assists students to recognize their body's false indicators on positioning during aerial missions.

The largest portion of the training involved an hour in the altitude chamber. Based on their aircraft types, the Coast Guard students experienced a simulated altitude of 25,000 feet. The altitude simulation induced hypoxic symptoms in a controlled environment for the students by using vacuum pumps to draw air out of the chamber.

Hypoxia is a physical state resulting in low oxygen levels in the body. High-altitude environments (anything above 10,000 feet) will produce this condition because the air pressure isn't strong enough to force enough oxygen from the lung's air sacs into blood cells.

According to Sergeant Morris, the training is a safe way to teach students how to recognize symptoms of hypoxia, and don oxygen masks, before the ultimate symptom occurs: loss of control or consciousness.

Students are taught to recognize symptoms such as blurred vision, tingling sensations, dizziness, sleepiness and mental confusion, just to name a few.

"[The chamber] allows students to get hypoxic in a controlled situation," said Sergeant Morris. "We have instructors there so it's completely safe." He also mentioned it allows students to witness the symptoms in other people.

Airman Davis said the chamber is necessary because experiencing the symptoms makes a deeper impression as opposed to learning about them. Also, not everyone's body reacts with the same symptom of hypoxia, he said.

"If you haven't had the chamber training then you don't know what your symptoms to hypoxia are - and that's the scary part about it," said Sergeant Morris. "Hypoxia doesn't hurt - it actually feels good. One of the most common symptoms is euphoria; a state of well being."

He compared the feeling to having two or three alcoholic drinks.

"Unfortunately, it's a significant downfall after that," he said. "After the state of feeling good, you'll get mental confusion, dizziness ... and eventually you won't be able to do your job." He said the biggest danger is not being able to recognize the symptoms.

Coast Guard Airman Andrew Wood, aviation maintenance technician student, said the overall training was very helpful. He added that training with the Air Force has been his best experience in a joint environment, after training with two other services.

The 1st FW holds classes for the Coast Guard about every other month, said Sergeant Morris.

He said for the Coast Guard, students are usually experiencing the altitude chamber for the first time.

The last class had 18 students, the maximum number for the altitude chamber here.