BDAM Model for Testing the Resistance of Air Force Pilots to Hypoxia

Hypoxia training is normally performed using the hypobaric simulation method in hypobaric chambers. The method entails disadvantages such as a lack of appropriate workplaces, high financial and personnel demands, and also the risk of decompression sickness and other dysbarisms. A safer alternative is the normobaric method of simulating a hypoxic environment - the so-called Reduced Oxygen Breathing Method (ROBM). The ROBM is less demanding in terms of finance and personnel, and the risk of decompression sickness is eliminated. In this review paper, the authors analyze and compare methods of testing pilots for resistance to hypoxia: i.e. using hypobaric and normobaric simulations of hypoxic environment. The results show that the normobaric method will significantly enhance the level of safety of aeromedical training while increasing its effectiveness. The risk of decompression sickness and other dysbarisms is zero in the normobaric method, and minimized if combination of hypobaric and normobaric Combined Altitude and Depleted Oxygen (CADO) methods are applied. Based on the findings, a new breathing depleted air mixture (BDAM) model of aeromedical training of military pilots is proposed to be safer, more efficient, and less demanding in terms of finance and personnel than the current forms of training. The results of the paper also indicate the possibilities of making this training more accessible to civilian pilots and thus they can contribute to the desirable improvement in aviation safety training.