IFR/VFR - Monitoring the (Human) Engine Inflight (Full ATC)

[waynemcc999]

For very good reasons, we spend time, money and energy monitoring our aircraft engines. Today, using his Fitbit watch, we check on the condition of our pilot Levi’s human “engine”. We file IFR and shoot a couple RNAV approaches going missed, then nail a couple VFR landings... all while recording Levi’s heart rate. When compared with other normal daily events (e.g. sleeping, driving, exertion), how would you expect a pilot’s inflight heart rate to stack up… more or less stressful?
Wayne, GeezerGeek Pilot

[Steve]

Wayne:

Interesting video. The Navy did a study of fighter aviators' heart rates (HR) during different phases of the mission during the Vietnam war. There was a slight bump during launch from the carrier, and a fairly big elevation during ACM, but the highest HRs were seen coming aboard the carrier at the end of the mission, especially at night or in bad weather.

I did a study when I was teaching Ophthalmology Residents intraocular (cataract) surgery by recording the Resident's and teaching staff's (me) HRs during the surgery. Interestingly, with inexperienced Residents, the timing of peak HRs were often not synchronized (meaning the Resident didn't know he was getting into trouble and I did). More experienced Residents had their peak HR during the same phases as I did (sometimes never significantly elevating). It would be interesting to do the same for various levels of flight training (Primary, Instrument).

Steve

[waynemcc999]

Steve, thanks for watching... and BIG thanks for adding your legit expertise to the topic. On this one-pilot one-day data sample it was quite interesting that HR was influenced by phase of flight, but all the inflight measurements were way lower than simply driving home.
Best regards,
Wayne