Appendix

Hypobaric Chamber Flight Profiles

MEDICAL CLEARANCE

  • A-1. All personnel must have a current flight physical and a current DA Form 4186 (Medical Recommendation for Flying Duty) indicating FFD before participating in any hypobaric chamber exercise.
    •

    • PURPOSE OF HYPOBARIC TRAINING

  • A-2. The purpose of hypobaric chamber training is to safely demonstrate—
    • Crew-member limitations associated with hypoxia at altitude.
    • Effects of trapped-gas problems on the body.
    • Effects of hypoxia on night vision.
    • Capabilities of oxygen equipment.
    •

    • CHAMBER PROFILES AND APPLICABILITY OF TRAINING

  • A-3. Figures A-1 through A-5 show the standard flight chamber profiles. For information regarding nonstandard profiles, contact USASAM, ATTN MCCS-HA, Fort Rucker, Alabama 36362-5377.

    The procedures for the profile in Figure A-1 are as follows:

    • Begin 30-minute denitrogenation.
    • Perform 5,000-foot ear and sinus check by 2,500 feet per minute.
    • Ascend main accumulator, and lock to 8,000 feet by 2,500 feet per minute.
    • Ascend main accumulator, and lock to 18,000 feet by 5,000 feet per minute.
    • Perform running break of main accumulator and lock; maintain lock at 18,000 feet.
    • Continue main accumulator ascent to 35,000 feet by 5,000 feet per minute.
    • Descend main accumulator to 30,000 feet for 90-second hypoxia demonstration.
    • Descend main accumulator, and lock to 25,000 feet by 5,000 feet per minute.
    • Begin five-minute hypoxia demonstration.
    • Descend lock to ground level by 5,000 feet per minute.
    • Descend main accumulator to 18,000 feet by 5,000 feet per minute for night-vision demonstration.
    • Descend main accumulator from 18,000 feet to ground level by 2,500 feet per minute.
    • Terminate chamber flight.
    •

    • Figure A-1. Type II 35,000-Foot USAF Original Training Profile

  • The procedures for the profile in Figure A-2 are as follows:
    • Begin 30-minute denitrogenation.
    • Perform 5,000 feet ear and sinus check by 2,500 feet per minute.
    • Ascend main accumulator from ground level to 8,000 feet by 2,500 feet per minute.
    • Ascend main accumulator from 8,000 feet to 25,000 feet by 5,000 feet per minute.
    • Begin five-minute hypoxia demonstration.
    • Descend main accumulator from 25,000 feet to 18,000 feet by 5,000 feet per minute for night-vision demonstration.
    • Descend main accumulator from 18,000 feet to ground level by 2,500 feet per minute.
    • Terminate chamber flight.
    •

    • Figure A-2. Type IV, 25,000-Foot, USAF Refresher Training Profile

  • The procedures for the profile in Figure A-3 are as follows:
    • Begin 30-minute denitrogenation.
    • Perform 5,000-foot ear and sinus check by 2,500 feet per minute.
    • Ascend main accumulator from ground level to 8,000 feet by 2,500 feet per minute.
    • Ascend main accumulator from 8,000 feet to 25,000 feet by 5,000 feet per minute.
    • Begin five-minute hypoxia demonstration.
    • Descend main accumulator from 25,000 feet to 18,000 feet by 5,000 feet per minute for night-vision demonstration.
    • Descend main accumulator from 18,000 feet to ground level by 2,500 feet per minute.
    • Terminate chamber flight.
    •

    • Figure A-3. Type IV, 25,000-Foot, USA Profile

  • The procedures for the profile in Figure A-4 are as follows:
    • Begin 30-minute denitrogenation.
    • Perform 5,000-foot ear and sinus check by 5,000 feet per minute.
    • Ascend main accumulator, and lock to 18,000 feet by 5,000 feet per minute.
    • Perform running break of main accumulator, and lock; maintain lock at 18,000 feet.
    • Continue main accumulator ascent to 35,000 feet by 5,000 feet per minute.
    • Ascend main accumulator to 30,000 feet for 90-second hypoxia demonstration.
    • Descend main accumulator to 15,000 feet by 10,000 to 12,000 feet per minute, with lock joining descent at 18,000 feet.
    • Descend main accumulator, and lock to 8,000 feet by 5,000 feet per minute.
    • Ascend main accumulator to 25,000 feet by maximum rate of ascent.
    • Begin five-minute hypoxia demonstration.
    • Descend lock to ground level by 5,000 feet per minute.
    • Descend main accumulator to 18,000 feet by 5,000 feet per minute for night-vision demonstration.
    • Descend main accumulator from 18,000 feet to ground level by 2,500 feet per minute.
    • Terminate chamber flight.
    •

    • Figure A-4. Type V, 35,000-Foot, USA/USAF HAP

  • The procedures for the profile in Figure A-5 are as follows:
    • Ascend main accumulator to 32,500 feet by maximum rate.
    • Ascend lock to 8,000 feet by 2,500 feet per minute.
    • Perform rapid decompression.
    • Main accumulator and lock equalize at 22,500 feet.
    • Descend main accumulator; lock to 18,000 feet by 5,000 feet per minute, then from 18,000 feet to ground level by 2,500 feet per minute.
    •

    • Figure A-5. Military Rapid Decompression Profile


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