Altus Air Force Base News

 

Flight physiology reopens for aircrew on Altus AFB

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman J. Zuriel Lee
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The 97th Medical Operations Squadron recently reopened the flight physiology section after a one-year vacancy. The flight physiology section is housed in flight medicine, in the base clinic.

Flight medicine provides acute care for our flyers and their dependents, which includes sick call and small procedures. Flight physiology focuses on human performance and how stressors like fatigue and air sickness affect performance.

"We act as a tie between flight medicine and the flyers," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Amanda Burnette, 97th MDOS aerospace and operations physiologist. "We talk to the flyers about practical things they can do to be more effective and safe in their jobs."

When an Airman comes into flight physiology, the technician will discuss with the Airman the actions taken prior to and during the flight that may be causing their symptoms. If those actions are corrected and symptoms persist, the physiologist will use a Barany chair to help combat air sickness symptoms.

The Barany chair is specifically designed to help with spatial disorientation and air sickness management, averaging a 90 percent success rate.

"Altus AFB is a training base, and fatigue is a big issue with the flyers," said Burnette. "If they are having trouble with fatigue, we talk with them about mitigating that."

Our technicians take pride in ensuring Airmen are properly trained and physically fit while performing the mission.

"The best part of the job is knowing that we are helping Airmen get back on their feet to perform the mission," said U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Anthony Rescigno, 97th MDOS aerospace medical technician.

Air crew members who need to speak with a technician on human performance/human factors related issues, call flight medicine at 580-481-5181.