The New Frontier

The New Frontier: Man's Survival in the Sky outlines the cause, effects and possible cures for problems that involve flying.

This book discusses the pressure of the atmosphere; incidence, cause, and prevention of decompression sickness; and altitude as a cause of anoxia. The failure of the pressure cabin, principles of protection from climatic stress, and conditioning of the aircraft cabin are also deliberated. This text likewise covers the measurement of the forces produced by flight, physiological mechanisms involved in positive “g” effects, and health and hygiene in air travel.

This publication is intended for individuals interested in how man adapts to strange, new, and exciting environments.

Introduction

I. The Background

The Composition of the Atmosphere

The Pressure of the Atmosphere

Temperature and Altitude

The Radiation of the Sun

The Cosmic Rays and Meteoritic Particles

II. When The Pressure Changes

The Decompression Chamber

Decompression Sickness

Incidence, Cause and Prevention of Decompression Sickness

Otitic and Sinus Barotrauma

Abdominal Distention and Pain

The Boiling of the Body Fluids

III. The Air Too Thin To Breathe

How the Body Obtains Oxygen

A Definition of Anoxia

Altitude as a Cause of Anoxia

The Picture of Anoxia at Altitude

The Prevention of Anoxia

Acclimatisation

IV. Protection From Low Pressure

The Pressure Cabin

Failure of the Pressure Cabin

Rapid and Explosive Decompression

Personal Protective Equipment

Oxygen Systems

Pressure Suits

V. The Climatology Of Flight, Basic Principles

The Control of Body Temperature

The Limits of a Comfortable Environment

The Zone of Evaporative Regulation and Beyond

Too Cold

The Zone of Body Cooling and Below

The Principles of Protection from Climatic Stress

Methods of Investigation

VI. The Climatology Of Flight, Methods Of Protection

The Conditioning of the Aircraft Cabin

Conditioning on the Ground

Protection in Emergencies

Clothing—the Basic Principles

Normal Flying Clothing

Flying Clothing with a Special Function

Survival

VII. Movement At Last

The Subjective Sensations of Movement

Velocity and Acceleration

The Measurement of the Forces Produced by Flight

Further Classification of the Forces in Flight

VIII. Accelerations Of Long Duration

Radial Acceleration

Positive 'g'

The Physiological Mechanisms Involved in Positive 'g' Effects

The Importance of Positive 'g'

Protection from Positive 'g'

Negative 'g'

Transverse 'g'

Angular Accelerations

IX. Less Than One Second

The Upper Limit to Forces of Short Duration

Accidents

Protection in Accidents

Emergency Escape

Parachutes

Ejection Seats

Low Level Ejection

High Altitude Ejection

High Speed Ejection

X. Sources of Information

Vision and the Eye

Equilibration

Hearing

Touch Smell and Taste

Vision in Flight

Equilibration in the Air

Sounds and Noise

The Toxicology of Flight

XI. Central Control

The Basic System

The Problem of the Input

Power Assistance

The Addition of Computers

Man Versus Automatic Control

Fatigue

Prevention of Fatigue

Selection of the Man

The Teamwork of Flying

Accidents

XII. Designing For The Man

General Considerations

Basic Design and Lay-Out

Instrumentation and Other Sources of Information

Controls and Control Systems

Control "Feel"

Personal Equipment

The Future

XIII. Special Problems of Passenger Transportation

Maintaining the Environment

Care and Contentment

Accelerations and Motion Sickness

The Crew

Health and Hygiene in Air Travel

Transportation of the Sick

Casualty Evacuation

The Future

XIV. Into Space

Escape Velocity

Weightlessness

Conditioning the Cabin

Radiation

Cosmic Rays and Meteorites

Space Suits

Re-Entry and Escape

Man and the Control System

The Psychological Dangers

Conclusion

Index