United States Air Force regulations on the centrifuge training for aircrew and features

Abstract

Objective To review the United States Air Force regulations on the centrifuge training for aircrew and know its training method, rules and management. It may provide available reference for improving our aircrew centrifuge training regulations. Literature resource and selection United States Air Force Instructions (AFI), Air Force Pamphlet (AFPAM) and research papers, reviews and monograph published in China and aboard. Literature quotation Two United States Air Force Instructions, one United States Air Force Pamphlet, one monograph, four different versions of North Atlantic Treaty Organization Standardization Agreements (STANAG) and nine papers were cited. Literature synthesis United States Air Force Instruction (AFI) 11-404, Centrifuge Training for High-G Aircrew, is the core regulation for conducting high G centrifuge training of aircrew, and is compatibly applied with AFI 11-403, Aerospace Physiological Training Program, and Air Force Pamphlet (AFPAM) 11-419, G-awareness for Aircrew. The main purpose of aircrew centrifuge training is to enhance aircrew's skills and capability of correctly performing an effective anti-G straining maneuver under high G-stress so that to increase G tolerance. United States Air Force conducts pertinent training for different kinds of fighter aircrew according to requirements of fighter performances and for different phase of flying training so as to insure the G tolerance could meet the requirements of different kinds of fighter. AFI 11-404 defines five types of centrifuge training and requirements, and five kinds of centrifuge ride G profiles. It has established G tolerance standards for aircrew training, dictated the procedures for handling of non-completion training program and waivers, designated the authority of centrifuge training facilities. It's major features are: ①The initial training is arranged during the phase of pilot student training; ②Meeting the fighter maneuverability requirements is the prerequisite for establishment of G tolerance standards, different fighter types correspond to different standards; ③Attaching importance to academic instruction and centrifuge training for pilot instructor. Conclusions United States Air Force has relatively complete regulations on centrifuge training for aircrew. AFI 11-404 and AFI 11-403 are the fundamental regulations on centrifuge training for United States Air Force aircrew. Successful completion of centrifuge training program is the prerequisite of qualification for United States Air Force fighter pilot. Key words: United States; Physical Education and Training; Acceleration; Constitution and bylaws; Human centrifuge; Aircrews