Human Factors Question

[ryda]

A regular smoker at sea-level can be assumed to be at an effective altitude of:
A) 2000ft
B) 5000ft
C) 8000ft
D) 1000ft
Answer is C

At what altitude is a smoker at MSL assumed to be?
A) 4000ft
B) 5000ft
C) 8000ft
Answer is B

Similar questions but different answers. Both are from books I have. So, which one is correct...

[ForkTailedDrKiller]

Both! Neither! They are both someones bit of a guess!

If the former were true, a well known smoking Prooner flying the FTDK at A0900 earlier this year was effectively at FL170, and therefore severely would have been hypoxic and likely to be comatose!

Could explain why he forgot to cancel his Sarwatch! :ok:

Dr :8

(Mad Dr dives for cover!)

[Lockers]

Hey Ryda,

Firstly Im no medical expert. I can provide you with a reference from my AFT ATPL Human Factor notes.

Under the sub-title of "Increses susceptibility to hypoxia" (Page 7.3 (b) of the AFT notes)

"Smoking- the regular heavy smoker is likely to have up to 10% of the bloods haemoglobin occupied by carbon monoxide and not available for oxygen carriage. Even at 5% saturation he/she is effectively up to 8000ft altitude before leaving the ground. However this difference reduces as height is increased becasues the drop of pressure with increasing height is not linear. By the time the smoker is at 5% saturation is at 5000ft, his effective altitude is about 10000 feet."

Hope this helps.:ok:

Lockers

[Lasiorhinus]

Dr K, the Prooner in question would have only been at an altitude of about 13,000 feet... which is fine for short stays of up to 30 minutes without oxygen.

Caution is advised if contemplating smoking while taking supplemental oxygen. Tests have shown mice become extremely flammable after breathing 100% O2.

To the OP, the answer as far as the exam goes is 8000 feet.

[ryda]

Ok, thanks guys.

[Cessna Capt]

E!....hehehe :}